Born in Rochester in 1956, I grew up on Toogood Plaza (17th Street) in SW Rochester. I attended Golden Hill elementary school, Central Junior High and Mayo High School, where I graduated in 1975. My parents, Paul and Arlene, were divorced when I was in 5th grade but both stayed in Rochester and still live here. Paul, who will be 81 soon after on Election Day 2010, worked in the insurance for many years and is a past winner of the Exchange Club’s "Book of Golden Deeds" for his community giving. Arlene worked as a school teacher in Rochester and is a former member of various musical groups where she played the piano. My sister, Lauren, a graduate from Mayo High School in 1979, now lives with her family in New Mexico.

My wife, Sue, is originally from Manchester, MN (just outside of Albert Lea). Sue and I have been married for almost 30 years. Sue has been an employee at the Mayo Clinic for 30 years but is now on disability leave. We have two children; Holly and Andrew (Drew). Holly graduated from Mayo in 2001, Wartburg College in 2005 and now works and lives in Olathe Kansas. She has been working for a litigation support firm in Kansas City since her graduation and was recently married (August 2009) to Steve Owens. Drew graduated from Mayo in 2004, University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2008 and now works for Heartman Insurance in Rochester. He was just married (May 2010) to his wife Keeley – they now live in SE Rochester.

I spent 18 years working at the Mayo Clinic where I spent the majority of my years working as card manager at the Mayo Employees Credit Union. I have always been a believer in the credit union theory of “people helping people." I left Mayo to accept the General Manager Job at Express Personnel for several years. In 2002 the position of Executive Director of the Rochester Amateur Sports Commission opened up. As an enthusiastic active board member I applied for, and was offered, this position. The Sports Commission is a 501 (c) 3 organization that promotes and supports amateur sports in the Rochester area. In a little over three years the commission has enjoyed record growth and been recognized as one of the top Sports Commissions in the country by the National Association of Sports Commissions.

I have been able to experience the “American Dream” my entire life in Rochester. I believe the key to the quality of life in Rochester is the people who live here. I am proud to tell people this is my home, no matter what Money Magazine says! If elected, I will do all I can to ensure those who currently live here, and those who may in the future, have the opportunity to enjoy the same opportunities I did.

In 1998 I decided not to seek re-election but spent those years watching my 13 and 14 year olds grow up. They have done this now and I have enjoyed the opportunity to serve the city where I grew up and raised my family.