District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett filed for a second term on Thursday.

Bennett, 57, of 1638 Massee St. in Albert Lea, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2014 when she earned 53 percent of the vote in a three-candidate race.

She authored and helped pass legislation this biennium to address Minnesota’s teacher shortage problem, as well as what she called common sense reforms and initiatives to help both students and teachers.

She said the legislation helped reduce unnecessary testing and burdensome paperwork in K-12 schools, provided extra funding to help struggling students through an early intervention and reading program and other measures.

“Bipartisan work at the Legislature resulted in a budget that respected Minnesota taxpayers and invested in priorities like education and caring for Minnesota seniors,” Bennett said in a press release. “I am running for re-election so I can continue the important work of improving our schools, fixing our child protection system, job creation and improving the lives of our aging loved ones.”

She touted her vote to pass a tax relief bill that passed this session.

“Our common sense tax plan provides relief for farmers, middle class families, small business owners, military members and more,” Bennett said. “With our state’s $900 million surplus, I’m proud to promote a balanced tax policy that gives hardworking Minnesotans a break on their taxes and improves our state’s job climate.”

She promised that if re-elected, she will push for common tax policy that benefits middle class families and job creation in the area and the state.

Bennett is the vice chairwoman of the Education Innovation Policy Committee and serves on the Agriculture Finance Committee and K-12 Education Finance Committee. She was appointed to the legislative Child Protection Task Force in 2015, which has recommended additional reforms for Minnesota’s child protection system and provides oversight.

According to the release, in Bennett’s first year at the Capitol, she chief authored multiple proposals that were eventually signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton and worked to pass a bill to designate Shell Rock River as a state waterway.

Bennett — a former third-grade teacher at Sibley Elementary School — retired in 2015 after a more than 30-year career.

 

Two file for District 27A Senate seat

Republicans Cynthia Gail of 1520 Ashley Court in Albert Lea and Gene Dornink of Hayfield earlier this week filed for election in District 27 to challenge incumbent Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin.

Look to the Tribune for more information on the District 27 candidates in future editions.