Albert Lean Peggy Bennett has always liked interacting with people.

For that reason and others, the Republican candidate for District 27A House of Representatives has made it her campaign slogan to put people before politics.

“People are important to me, and I want to see them truly represented,” said Bennett, 56.

Bennett, a first-grade teacher at Sibley Elementary School, will face off against Shannon Savick, DFL-Wells, and Tom Price, I-Alden, in the Nov. 4 general election.

Growing up in the Twin Cities area, Bennett moved to Albert Lea in 1981 and now resides at 1638 Massee St. with her dog and two cats. She has been teaching for 33 years, a majority of which has been first grade, and is on a leave of absence during her campaign for office.

Outside of teaching, Bennett said she is involved at Grace Christian Church as an elder and a part-time worship leader. In the last few months, she also has volunteered with nonprofit organization Ruby’s Pantry. In the past, she was heavily involved with Youth For Christ, helping to start The Rock, the downtown youth drop-in center for grade school and high school-aged children.

Throughout her years working with people, she said she has learned a lot about human nature and even about how to work with people she may not agree with.

“I’ve got good communication skills, good people skills,” Bennett said, noting she thinks she is grounded in common sense and the ability to differentiate between needs and wants.

“I think before I act,” she said. She likes to research a subject and find out how it might impact others before forming her opinion.

“Many of our laws, if we would take the time to talk to the people who are involved, we’d prevent a lot of headaches.”

Though she classifies herself as a conservative, Bennett said she will not be afraid to stand up for the needs of District 27A, even if it goes against her party.

For example, she said there are many Republicans who are anti-ethanol, but she supports ethanol because of its impact on the local economy. She would ask the members of her party to support ethanol by allowing it to be brought to the pump and letting the free market decide.

“I want to put people first because I believe the people have the answer,” Bennett said. “Government often doesn’t have the answer.”

She said jobs, health care, education and property taxes are the top concerns she’s heard from residents she has met with, and these concerns have in turn become some of the top priorities in her campaign.

In addition, she supports more local government control, particularly when addressing issues such as bullying. She said as a teacher she has seen that a “cookie-cutter approach” often doesn’t work.

“We need to get back to letting the people direct their lives,” she said.

Bennett said she never anticipated she would be running for elected office, but she has enjoyed getting to know the residents in the area.

She has been door knocking and visiting nursing homes, service groups and volunteer fire stations.

“I love to be able to talk to people,” she said. “I tell them about me and hear from them about what’s important to them.”

She hopes residents will educate themselves on all of the candidates before going out to the polls.

“There’s so many mistruths going around on both sides,” she said.