In the past couple of weeks, I have attended a couple of hugely significant meetings in our community. These were the Level 3 sex offender meeting presented by the Albert Lea Police Department and the Minnesota Department of Corrections and the human trafficking summary meeting presented by the ALPD and the federal Office of Justice Programs.

The purpose of both of these forums was to alert our community so we could be prepared as citizens through awareness and education. I learned a lot at both of these forums, and there was much information to ingest and process. At these meetings, a clear pattern of information was that much of the control of both these community issues lies at the state level with our state legislators. I heard a very adamant concern from our presenter at the Level 3 meeting that some significant adjustments need to be addressed by our state legislators.

In addition, at the human trafficking forum, concerns arose that must be addressed that are clearly in the hands of our state legislature. I want to thank the ALPD, the DOC, the OJP and all of the other agencies that participated in making these informational forums available to the public. The better educated we are as citizens and communities, the better prepared and safe we can be.

I want to thank Peggy Bennett, who was the only candidate for District 27A state representative who attended and participated in both of these significant community forums. This was information that every candidate needed in order to be able to assist our police departments, schools and citizens to be better prepared.

George Marin

Albert Lea