State Representative Al Doty (DFL Royalton) announced recently that he will be seeking re-election to his seat representing District 12B in Morrison and Crow Wing counties.

“This area is one of the hardest hit by unemployment anywhere in the state,” said Rep. Doty, “and there are no quick easy solutions. We’re starting to see some hopeful signs that the worst is over, but unemployment is not projected to return to pre-recession levels for almost two more years. That means that state revenue will continue to fall short of the increasing needs that our people have when times are rough. That translates into hundreds of tough choices and hundreds of extra hours working on complex issues that affect every citizen of Minnesota and 12B. I’m asking the voters to send me back to keep working for them on those issues.”

Rep. Doty said his main reason for seeking re-election is the high level of support and input from hundreds of district residents who have sent information to help solve problems and ideas for projects that would help the area.

“I’ve introduced bills to help transition our veterans back into civilian life, bills to help family farms survive in our area, bills to help our nursing homes and home care providers care for senior citizens and vulnerable citizens, and several bonding projects for our area.

Sometimes it takes years to get legislation that works in all parts of the state and I plan to continue to work on school funding issues, tax breaks for our local charitable gaming organizations and a funding formula that will work for local governments in rural Minnesota.”

The endorsing convention for District 12 candidates is March 6, at The Fort in Fort Ripley.