Principled. Common Sense. Leader.
Your Choice for a Stronger, Thriving Minnesota.
Why I’m Running
“For over a decade, Representative Kiel dedicated herself to the cause of bringing our values and priorities to St. Paul. The work she has done and the progress she made for families, agriculture, fiscal accountability, education, and personal responsibility are worth preserving and building upon. If elected, it will be my goal to do exactly that, according to the preferences of the people I will serve.”
I believe the role of an elected official is serving people, not the other way around. In the coming months, I look forward to learning more about your priorities and opportunities while meeting folks throughout the district.
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About Steve
Dr. Steve Gander, an Optometrist in East Grand Forks and Crookston for 37 years is seeking the Republican endorsement for House District 01B, currently represented by Rep. Deb Kiel who announced her plans not to run for reelection.
Gander has served as Mayor of East Grand Forks for the past eight years. He previously served as Council Member at Large. Other past service includes Chair of the East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce, President of the Minnesota Optometric Association, and service on his local church council. Gander attended school in East Grand Forks, the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, and the Illinois College of Optometry in Chicago, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1987.
Gander lives in East Grand Forks. He and his wife Rosalynd have been married for 34 years. They have two grown sons, Tom and John, a daughter-in-law Bailey, and two grandchildren. In his free time, he enjoys running marathons, singing, hunting, fishing, kayaking, snowmobiling, scuba diving, woodworking, and riding motorcycle. Gander is a die-hard Vikings fan. He also enjoys other professional and amateur sports.
“In 1975, the group Northern Light recorded the song ‘Minnesota’. If you want to recall what you love about our state, go back and listen to that song. It starts out, ‘Minnesota—I can almost smell the air. I can feel her hand, and my feet in the sand, in the lakes under trees back home…’ Let’s make this the kind of place we can be proud of—with great opportunities for people of all ages.”
On the Issues
Sanctity of Life and Protection of the Unborn
I am a pro-life candidate who supports the protection of life from conception to natural death. After repealing pro-life protections in 2023, there are those who want to continue the assault on life by advocating assisted suicide legislation. I will firmly oppose their culture of death.
Second Amendment
Efforts to undermine the rights enshrined in the US Constitution must cease, and I am grateful for the courts’ defense of these provisions; legislatures should refrain from eroding them further.
Education
Quality education is essential for the success of the next generation. We need to focus on reading, writing, technology, and mathematics while allowing parents to guide the moral and ethical development of their children.
Taxes and Spending
Working individuals deserve to retain a larger portion of their earnings. Excessive taxation, akin to burdensome regulation, drives both businesses and citizens away to states with more favorable tax rates, a trend that must be stopped.
Government Overreach
Excessive regulation stifles business growth and inhibits job creation, driving potential business ventures to other states and thereby impeding Minnesota’s economic progress. Moreover, it imposes constraints on individuals, ultimately diminishing their quality of life.
Jobs
Robust job growth results from various factors, including a societal embrace of the value of work. Excessive regulation and taxation, as noted, hinder job creation, while access to quality, affordable childcare facilitates higher employment rates.
Infrastructure
We must prioritize the maintenance and enhancement of transportation infrastructure, encompassing roads, bridges, airports, and rail, to ensure the safe and efficient movement of people and goods.
Health Care
Quality care is fundamental to a healthy lifestyle, necessitating comprehensive coverage across all regions of the state and ensuring affordability for all. Fair compensation for healthcare providers is essential to sustain quality care delivery.
Public Safety
We must equip our law enforcement officers with adequate staffing, training, and technology to perform their duties at the highest level. Additionally, our legal system should effectively convict, incarcerate, and rehabilitate criminals to ensure our communities are safe.
Agriculture
Support family farmers and the agricultural industry—the foundation of our economy
Did you know?
Under Minnesota’s Political Contribution Refund program, your donation is fully refundable up to $75 for an individual and $150 for a married couple.
Latest News
East Grand Forks Mayor Gander Vetoes City Sales Tax (2022)
East Grand Forks Mayor, Steve Gander vetoed the Council’s proposed city sales tax Tuesday evening. The tax would be used for renovations at the Civic Center and VFW Arena.
East Grand Forks businesses, lawmakers decry Walz orders, briefly consider mass reopening
Mayor Steve Gander organized a meeting at which East Grand Forks business leaders rattled off the hardships their businesses have endured under Gov. Tim Walz’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic generally, and in the wake of a particularly restrictive executive order.
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