Joe McDonald, Delano, is the Republican endorsed candidate for the Minnesota House District 29A seat. House District 29A contains most of the Annandale area, including Annandale, South Haven, Corinna, French Lake and Southside Townships. Other towns in 29A include Rockford, Delano, Montrose, Waverly and Howard Lake. Previous to the redistricting of 2012, McDonald represented House District 19B. McDonald will face the DFL endorsed candidate Susann Dye in the November general election.
Irish roots
McDonald’s ancestors emigrated from Ireland in the 1800s and settled in Hollywood Township, near Watertown, where they farmed.
McDonald, born in 1966, was the fifth of seven children born to KJ and Barbara McDonald. At the age of nine, he got his first paying job as a paper boy. At the age of 14, McDonald took on a second job at a local grocery store.
"I learned from a young age that hard work and discipline could turn a profit," McDonald said.
Besides working in high school, McDonald took part in activities such as wrestling, baseball, theater and was the yearbook photographer. Joe’s father, KJ, is a photographer and owned and operated McDonald’s Studio in Minneapolis and Watertown. KJ served as Watertown’s mayor and then served 14 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. The elder McDonald is currently mayor of Watertown once again.
In 1988, after earning his Associates degree in photography from Hennepin Technical College, McDonald, at 22, opened a studio of his own in Delano. McDonald earned the level of a Photography Master’s Degree from the Professional Photographers of America organization’s merit and degree program in 2003 and earned the distinction of Photography Craftsman in 2008.
Community activism
MacDonald is active in his community and is a member of the following organizations: the Delano Lion’s Club, Son of the American Legion; a member of the Knights of Columbus; Delano Fourth of July committee; Delano Chamber of Commerce; and the Jaycees. He volunteers regularly at Delano schools and is an active member of the Delano Catholic Community where he is a lector and cantor.
MacDonald is married to Rachel and has three boys, Alex, Jacob, and Aiden. McDonald is fully engaged and active in the lives of his family members.
"God, family and country first, is what I live by," McDonald said.
Political career
In 2000, McDonald won a seat on the Delano City Council and was re-elected in 2004. In 2006 he was elected as mayor of Delano. In 2010, McDonald was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives from House District 19B. In the last legislative session McDonald sat on the following committees: Division on Property and Local Tax; Health and Human Services Finance; Health and Human Services Reform; Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy; and Finance.
"I am proud of the progress we made at the Capitol the last two years in helping people get back to work and getting our state budget in order," McDonald said.
In a letter to his 19B constituents following the 2012 Legislative session, McDonald said, "Those issues were unquestionably our top priorities as the current majority took office in January 2011. We faced an abnormally high unemployment rate, a state budget shortfall of more than $6 billion and a set of very difficult decisions. A top mission must remain finding ways finding ways the state can deliver better outcomes at a better price. We formed the Sunset Commission in 2011 to examine ineffective, wasteful state practices so we can either make improvements or cease certain practices altogether."
Q and A
McDonald is a conservative, both fiscally and socially. In a recent interview, McDonald answered the following questions:
Q: Would you support a constitutional amendment that would requirea three-fifths majority to raise taxes in the state of Minnesota?
A: Yes and I supported such an amendment in 2011.
Q: Would you support eliminating business property taxes, over a period of 12 years?
A: Yes, but over a period of six years.
Q: How should the state of Minnesota handle the illegal immigration problem?
A: We should prohibit sanctuary cities and find measures that would discourage businesses from hiring illegals.
Q: Would you support civil unions between same sex couples?
A: Maybe, I would need to see what this entails.
Q: Would you support Minnesota becoming a "Right to Work" state?
A: Yes
Q: Would you support ending the last-in, first-out system of teacher tenure?
A: Yes,I did support this in the last session.
Q: Would you support eliminating the Minnesota Department of Education?
A: Perhaps, at least downsizing a bit.
Q: Would you support making Highway 55 a four-lane highway to at least Annandale?
A: Perhaps, I would have to look a the concept plans and the costs.
Q: Would you support a smaller, uni-cameral Minnesota Legislature?
A: I would have to look at the pros and cons.
Q: Would you support cutting the number of counties in half as a cost cutting measure?
A: It sounds like a good idea – I would have to look into the benefits.
Q: What is your stand on abortion?
A: I am pro life!
McDonald is looking forward to serving the Annandale area.
"I am accessible and if I can help, I will," McDonald said. "But most importantly, I want to be in St. Paul to help get government out of people’s lives and reduce our tax burden."
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