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AUSTIN — Four years ago, Joe Pacovsky ran as a DFL challenger to Rep. Peggy Bennett in District 27A. Now Pacovsky is running again, officially announcing Thursday at the Coffee House on Main that he was running against Rep. Patricia Mueller in District 23B.

The announcement came before a small, but enthusiastic base of supporters where Pacovsky listed off a number of areas he wanted to focus on if elected this November.

Those areas included education, environmental health, farmers, infrastructure funding and women’s rights.

“A vote for me is a vote for progress,” he told those gathered.

Prior to the announcement, Pacovsky said his entry into the race came from observing what was happening in the state today.

“I just saw what was happening, some of the issues facing us in the district and decided to do it,” he said. “You hear some of the things I talk about; it’s a women’s right to have the freedom to do what they want, we need to grow the district with jobs and different types of industry and opportunities for people.”

“Basically, I thought I could contribute to that,” he added.

That first part Pacovsky spoke on a few times, referring to not only wanting to protect those within his own family, but women all over the state.

Pacovsky said he wanted to ensure that women had the freedom to make decisions in relation to their own bodies without government involvement.

“The government doesn’t belong in the examination room,” he said during the announcement.

But just as important, Pacovsky said, was ensuring that the district and those living within it have the necessary backing needed to compete, while at the same time not putting extra burdens on taxpayers.

“Getting state money, as much as possible, as much as we can get from them that’s not having to be paid for by local taxpayers,” he said.

Pacovsky acknowledged the vitriol of modern day politics, but said that he was only here to do what he could for those he might represent should he be elected.

“I’m just going to talk about what I want to do and let the chips fall where they may,” he said, before adding that he thought the state itself was heading in the right direction and that he wanted to play a part in ensuring it continued in that direction.

At the same time, in a press release he issued prior to the announcement, Pacovsky said he would meet what the opposition had to offer and strive to be a positive influence.

“When reasonable people work together, they can come to an agreement and problems can be solved,” he said in the release. “When those who represent us only listen to the extremes who are hell-bent on derailing government, there is no room for those of us who want to see our government work.”

“I will be a positive messenger, seeking solutions and working to move forward as a state,” his statement continued. “I will go to St. Paul as a voice for the reasonable and hard-working people who live in District 23B.”