Embedded Files
Candidate Introduction
Candidate Introduction
Jeff is a thirty-year plus resident of Austin, Minnesota where he and his wife LeeAnn raised their four children. He has worked for years to strengthen his community and for those who have been left out of our economy, from his business career to the charitable works of the Hormel Foundation to his current role as the co-chair of Governor Walz's Council on Economic Expansion. He's the former CEO of Hormel Foods, where he and the team created thousands of good-paying jobs, expanded profit sharing for the company's workers, and was named Most Responsible CEO of the Year. Jeff Ettinger is not a politician. He's never run for office before, and he's in this race now to address the problems that politicians seem unwilling or unable to fix. As he's done his entire career right here in Southern Minnesota, Jeff will work hard to build solutions that work for everyone.
Background
Background
Moved to Austin area 30 years ago from Southern California
Active member of Austin community
Former CEO of Hormel Foods in Austin
Chair of Hormel Foundation - charitable foundation
Co-Chair of Governor Walz’s Council on Economic Expansion
Contact Information
Contact Information
Website: https://www.ettingerforcongress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SouthernMN4Jeff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SouthernMN4Jeff
Email: info@ettingerforcongress.com
Positions
Positions
Position statements were compiled from candidate Meet and Greet Notes and Video Recording, which can be viewed below.
Healthcare
Healthcare
Believes public option is needed so that more people have coverage
Recognizes that farmers need better access healthcare to address costs
Supports negotiating on prescription drugs, which Klobuchar has advanced
Wants transparency in medical costs
Climate & Environment
Climate & Environment
Supports the climate plan outlined in Build Back Better bill
Supports moving away from fossil fuels
Has worked with Conservation Minnesota & the Environmental Defense Fund
Advocates for regenerative farming, and soil and water conservation
Economy & Trade
Economy & Trade
Prioritizes expanding broadband access in Minnesota
Support offering credits for adopting green or regenerative practices.
Believes we should help families retain their farms
Wants to make it easier for retiring farmers to “pay-it-forward” to new farmers through amended gifting rules or a donation credit
Wants to help people live more affordable lives
Recognizes that inflation has multiple causes; supports Biden’s release of strategic oil reserves
Supports production of more goods locally to avoid global supply chain issues
Education & Equity
Education & Equity
Grew up in Pasadena and attended very diverse public high school; when came to Austin in 1990, was a bit of a culture shock, pretty much all Caucasian community in those days
Supported Austin’s Welcome Center; championed board diversity at Hormel; founded the chaired the Diversity Inclusion Council
Brought scholarship program to Austin, which enabled 36 primarily first-generation students to attend college
Supports public education, stands against vouchers
Supports fully funded special education
DFL Candidate Forum (5/10/2022)
Opening: Identifies himself with Walz, Public education, no vouchers, Pell grants; Support for family farms not just big producers
On healthcare: Public options for health insurance.
On climate crisis: Pass environmental provisions of build back better.
On Roe v. Wade: Would codify Roe. Need to codify and protect right to marry.
On education: more than 50% students in Austin are students of color, computer science, tech program, some loan forgiveness but "not gonna give it to everybody."
On gun violence: close loopholes, gun safety classes, not sure what type of guns to ban... focus on bad actors.
Closing remarks: would be like Tim Penny and Tim Walz.
Marijuana: Jeff believes in decriminalizing marijuana so that people don't end up in prison for using it and police officers can focus their time on crimes that actually impact public safety.
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