I
grew up in Jackson County; got my first job at Hardees in Black River
Falls at age 14, then worked at the Big Chief truck stop in BRF fueling
semi's while in high school. Graduated from BRF High School in 1989;
worked for the DNR and the US Forest Service the summer after
graduating high school as a forest fire fighter in Idaho.
Worked
to put myself through college (UW-Stevens Point) and law school
(Hamline). Obtained my Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and drove
roll-off truck and dump truck for BFI and McNulty Trucking while in
school.
Clerked at the Ramsey County Courthouse in downtown St.
Paul, MN for various Judges while in my final semester of law school
and up until passing the bar exam, at which time I began my legal
career by working 2 years for Southern Minnesota Regional Legal
Services in Winona representing
extremely low income persons and families with dire legal needs.
Opened
a private practice in BRF in 1999 and have remained in private practice
ever since. While in private practice, I have continued my public
service background by providing pro bono legal services to several
local non-profit organizations, such as the Boys & Girls Club
of
Jackson County, the local domestic abuse shelter and the local Veterans
Park.
As a small business owner I understand how hard small
business owners have to work to be successful. Tough decisions have to
be made on a day to day basis. Working your budget may mean deciding
between health insurance coverage or retirement coverage or increases
in wages for your employees. No small business owner wants to work hard
to be successful only to have our government tax you into submission.
Our leadership in Madison needs to be made up of people who
know
how to start up and run a business.
My
greatest asset is my family. I became a single parent
with custody
of my son Vance when he was 2 years old. I finished my final year of
law school, passed 2 bar exams (MN & WI), began my career as an
attorney and have built up 2 successful businesses; all while keeping
Vance as my main priority. When people tell me one person can't change
Madison, I politely disagree. I watch my wife Becky, who I was lucky
enough to marry this past summer, get up every morning and go to work
with the sole purpose of helping the elderly stay out of the nursing
home as long as they can, and assist them in maintaining dignity and
quality of life. She is living proof that one person can make a
difference.
