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Republicans unanimously endorsed District 27A Rep. Peggy Bennett last week at the District 27 GOP convention.

This is the fourth time that Bennett, of Albert Lea, has received unanimous support from District 27A Republican delegates as she seeks to run for her fourth term in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

“I am humbled and blessed to have the continued trust and support of the Republican delegates,” Bennett said. “It’s been an honor to serve this amazing area, and it is my hope to earn the continued support of the voters of 27A in November as well.”

Bennett, 61, a former longtime first-grade teacher, was first elected in 2014 and represents almost all of Freeborn County and smaller sections of four other surrounding counties.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed so many people and systems to the brink … hospitals laying off staff, farmers dealing with a struggling market, small businesses on the brink of bankruptcy, and the thousands of people in our area who have been laid off from their jobs,” Bennett said. “I want to be able to use the understanding and maturity I’ve gained from my years of legislative experience, and of spending tax money wisely, to help our people, businesses, hospitals and communities navigate the tough times to come successfully so we are able to come back stronger than before.”

She said she anticipates the state will be dealing with a significant deficit next year because of the pandemic, and legislators will have to make some tough decisions. She said she thinks legislators need to stick to the basics, such as education, roads and bridges, and caring for the vulnerable.

She said decisions need to be made in a common sense, compassionate and level-headed manner.        

In addition to the economy, another priority will be health care.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bennett said she was working on introducing a bill that would get rid of hospital moratorium rules in rural areas of the state, preventing new hospitals from having to go through the Legislature on a case-by-case basis to have the moratorium lifted.

She said rural access to hospitals and medical care has always been an important issue for her.

Because of the pandemic, she is concerned with making sure rural hospitals don’t go bankrupt because they haven’t been able to conduct elective surgeries, which is where most of their funding comes from to pay nurses and doctors.

“I’m concerned about that,” she said. “We’re going to have to really watch that and watch the cost of our health care.”