There are many interest groups who are keenly interested in getting the attention of candidates for office in the hopes that those who win are then either their friends, or have made commitments to them. (such as the “pledges” on their issues)

Many of these pledges are firm promises to vote one way or another on certain legislative issues. Many are worded as explicit promises to vote for or against legislation that has not yet been written, much less debated and vetted.

I have chosen to refuse all requests to commit to un-written legislation. I have a standard response that I do not commit to legislation I have not yet seen. Many of these groups “rate” you poorly if you refuse to make their requested commitments.

The latest interest group is the River Heights Chamber of Commerce, and they came up with a novel request. They wanted a 100 word or less response to the question: “Why do you want to be voted into public office as an elected official?”

This is what I wrote (100 words!):

I am running to restore pride in our nation and in basic American principles – private property, limited government and personal responsibility. Our ideals are admired throughout the world. Our entrepreneurs build their success on this foundation.

Our founders rejected the right of kings to rule us. They dared to say we should govern ourselves. I agree. The growing thicket of taxes and red tape in St. Paul is a threat to self-government and our prosperity.

We have a bright future if we stand strong on our principles, rule ourselves, and stop trying to rule each other through the legislature.

It is a pleasure to respond to a group that poses a thoughtful challenge to clarity rather than a hard commitment to their issues.

I look forward to working with the River Heights Chamber.