The Republican running for the seat, Ben Davis from the town of Merrifield, did not respond to our invitation for this program.

The Democrat running for House District 6A is current Grand Rapids City Counselor Rick Blake.

- I'm Rick Blake, and I'm the DFL endorsed candidate for House District 6A.

I was born and raised in northern Minnesota, and my wife and I raised our four children here.

I decided to run for a number of reasons, but these three are the main ones.

First, we cannot continue to get nothing done.

The last legislative session was a dismal failure.

Our communities were relying on what was in the tax bill, including a rewrite of the local government aid formula and additional local government aid dollars that would've helped our communities keep the lid on property taxes, but it went nowhere.

Another example, replacing lead water supply lines is critical to the health of our children.

Its funding also went nowhere.

Second, many legislators who are good at getting things done are leaving.

Examples are Senator Kerry Rud, a Republican from Breezy Point, representative Paul Markler, a DFL-er from Dilworth, Representative Rod Hamilton, a Republican from Mountain Lake, Senator Tom Bach, an independent from Cook, and the late Senator David Tomassoni, and independent from Chisholm.

These were all legislators who effectively represented their legislative districts, but they were also very good at sitting down and working together to get things done.

None of these effective legislators will be in the legislature next year.

Third, and I must say it is by far mostly on the Republican side, local party conventions have nominated candidates with extremist views.

That includes the Republicans in the district I am running in, district 6A.

In summary, first, we can't continue to get nothing done.

Second, we're losing a boatload of effective legislators, and third, we're nominating extremists who will find it difficult to work effectively with others.

We need effective representation in St. Paul that gets things done for us in northern Minnesota.

My life experience has prepared me for this role.

I have over 30 years experience working with people in the paper, mining, and construction industries, and I know how to get things done.

I have a small business.

I've been on the Grand Rapid City Council and associated boards and commissions for over seven years now.

I have a proven track record of getting things done on a nonpartisan basis because I know how to listen to different viewpoints and find common ground.

I'm a strong supporter of our public schools.

Education has been a way out of poverty for so many in our society because of responsible, caring teachers.

My daughter was a middle school teacher who, like all teachers, believe all students deserve the freedom to learn an honest history of our nation, both the good and the bad, so that they can learn from our mistakes and create a better Minnesota and a better future for all Minnesotans.

Parents deserve the freedom to send their kids to safe and welcoming public schools that prepare their children to become successful, contributing adults.

Minnesotans also need freedom to access high quality, affordable, comprehensive healthcare, including mental healthcare.

As a volunteer, I've helped senior citizens negotiate their way through the maze of choices when it comes to Medicare options.

As parents, my wife and I cared for our young son and later our adult daughter as they fought hard battles with cancer.

I know how hard we sometimes had to fight with insurance companies to provide the medicine and treatments our children needed.

I understand on a very personal level the need for good, quality, accessible, affordable healthcare.

I will fight to protect our freedom to manage our own healthcare, including a woman's freedom to manage her own reproductive health.

I am also familiar with the issues that are important to Minnesota's towns and cities because I am an active member of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, an organization that fights for the interests of greater Minnesota.

I think we need people like me who know how to work well with others in the legislature.

Please vote for Rick Blake on November 8th.

Ask your friends and neighbors to pick Rick too, thank you.