Pauline Bratt, St. Cloud
Joe Perske, Sartell mayor, teacher and coach, is the endorsed DFL candidate for U.S. House in Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District.
Perske has deep roots in the 6th District. He grew up in Sauk Rapids and St. Cloud and was a teacher and coach with the Department of Defense in Germany and in Sartell for 37 years.
As mayor of Sartell, Perske was there when the town’s major business, a paper mill, was destroyed by an explosion and fire. It was devastating to the community. He led the coordination of more than 100 fire departments there to help, and he led the effort in finding jobs for hundreds of displaced workers.
Perske is a marathon runner, having run more than 90,000 miles.
“This race will be the race of a lifetime,” Perske said. “I will race until I drop.”
Fixing a broken system in Washington is what motivates Perske to seek election, the candidate said.
“This race is not about me,” Perske said. “It is about you, your kids, your grandkids, the elderly, and the kids who haven’t been born yet. It’s about coming together to solve problems.”
Perske says he is passionate about caring for the elderly, the vulnerable, the young and the veterans who have served our country. He wants to improve the Affordable Care Act so it covers more people more efficiently.
“This great nation cannot survive the collapse of its middle class,” Perske said. “As a representative of the 6th Congressional District, I will work with others to restore the middle class and provide families the opportunity to realize the American Dream. This is an issue that stokes a fire that burns inside me and drives me to run for Congress in this election.”