Jack’s Priorities
Empowering Local Businesses & Real Affordability
Jack is moving the conversation on affordability beyond simple talking points. Drawing on 30 years of running Featherstone Farm, he understands that true affordability comes from a healthy local economy where wealth stays in the community. He aims to stop the "bleeding" of local ownership to big-box stores and Dollar Stores. By critically reviewing regulations that benefit large corporations at the expense of "ma and pa" shops, Jack plans to champion the entrepreneurs who serve as the backbone of Senate District 26.
“I believe that affordability is a byproduct of a healthy local economy, where wealth is not sucked out of community by Dollar Stores and Big Box stores. As your next Minnesota Senator, I’m going to work like hell to stop the bleeding.”
Fighting Fraud
Jack spent more than thirty years leading Featherstone Farm’s growth from three acres and a pickup truck to a thriving business with $3 million in annual revenue. He didn’t do that by taking a relaxed approach to financial management. He knows his way around a spreadsheet, and he’ll bring that skillset to the Minnesota Legislature.
“As the owner of a large, complex farm business with tight margins, I can’t afford waste or fraud. That’s why I’m so angry about fraud against our at the state level: it steals money from taxpayers, and it undermines faith in government. I don’t tolerate fraud or waste at my farm business; I hold people accountable. As your state senator, I’ll bring common-sense accountability back to our state government.”
Strengthening Public Education
As a member of the ISD 861 school board and a parent of three sons who attended Winona Public Schools, Jack has a boots-on-the-ground perspective on the challenges facing our education system. He will advocate for the resources and support schools need from St. Paul to ensure every student — from pre-K through post-secondary — has a fair chance to succeed. District 26 is fortunate to host Winona State University, a top-ranked public university within the Minnesota state system.
“Our young people are our FUTURE, and we must invest in the VERY best publicly funded education system that we can provide, full stop.”
Protecting Healthcare Access in Rural Communities
Through his wife Jenni’s two decades of work as a mental health provider across the region, Jack has seen firsthand the gaps in our local healthcare system. He is a fierce advocate for maintaining local clinics and ensuring that residents of small towns don't lose access to essential services close to home. Jack's goal is to keep healthcare both available and affordable for every family in rural Minnesota, preventing the hits to community quality of life that occur when local clinics close.
"When small town clinics close and communities lose access to healthcare close by, life in districts like this one takes a hit. We can’t let this happen! As your Minnesota Senator I’ll work like crazy to keep healthcare affordable and available for all."
Dignity of Labor & Support for Immigrant Workers
Jack’s leadership at Featherstone Farm is defined by a commitment to the dignity of work, a value reflected in the farm’s fair labor certifications. He recognizes that the success of his business was built by a "powerhouse" of both local and immigrant labor. In St. Paul, Jack will stand up for those who work with their hands—from farmers and caregivers to the immigrant laborers who are vital to our food systems—ensuring that their contributions are respected and protected.
"I am someone who believes strongly in the dignity of work. Direct service work for sure—teachers and first responders and care givers. But also people who work with their hands, who build and fix and make things that all of us use in our daily lives."
Clean Water and Healthy Driftless Environment
Jack understands that the Driftless area of southeast Minnesota is a unique and uniquely fragile environment in the state. He is committed to protecting the region’s precious groundwater from unsustainable extraction for data centers, bottling plants etc. As a Minnesota Senator, Jack will work to promote common sense, win-win agricultural practices like cover cropping and small grains production.
“As a Fillmore County farmer, I depend 100% on healthy soil and water, and on a stable climate. As a Minnesota Senator I will work hard to find common ground between farmers and environmentalists, to keep this part of the State healthy for all.”