Teacher, guardsman hopes to challenge Gil Gutknecht
10/23/2005
By Joseph Marks,
Albert Lea Tribune staff writer
Tim Walz, teacher, businessman and National Guardsman from Mankato stopped by Albert Lea, Thursday morning during an exploratory tour through southern Minnesota. Walz plans to run in the DFL primaries to challenge the area’s sitting U.S. Rep. (R) Gil Gutknecht.
Since 1994, Walz has taught geography and cultural studies at Mankato West High School. His wife also works in the district, studying and implementing new educational policies.
Walz and his wife have also spent many years organizing and leading summer trips for high school students to China.
“If anyone tells you they understand China,” said Walz, “don’t believe them.”
Be that as it may, Walz hopes that through his China program, students will, at least, begin to see China as friend rather than a foe.
“It’s hard for kids who go on these trips to see China as a big threat on the horizon,” he said.
Walz also served for 24 years in the Army National Guard, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major in the spring of 2005. From 2003 to 2004, Walz served overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
“The fact that I was always an artillery man and enlisted soldier, for me, is a sense of pride,” said Walz, “because it personifies actually doing the work.”
Walz has not officially announced his candidacy, but began putting his campaign together last February.
“I definitely never planned my life around doing this,” he said. “But my life prepared me to do this. People were asking for a real citizen with leadership capability.”
Not surprisingly, education, the ongoing war in Iraq and veteran’s issues are high on Walz’ list of priorities.
Walz was especially critical of his Republican opponent on the issue of the Iraq war. Gutknecht’s only plan, he said, was to win the war without explaining how he would do it.
Walz said he thought it was important American troops remain in Iraq, but more energy should be focused on restoring infrastructure to the country.
When 95 percent uninterrupted power was restored in Kosovo, the violence decreased, said Walz. Where’s the plan to restore 95 percent uninterrupted power in Iraq?
Walz also said he thought the cost of the war should be paid now, rather later and he was willing to explore all options to do so.
“I’d lay everything on the table,” he said. “We’ve received very little economic benefit from the massive tax cuts in the last years. If we need to make cuts in programs, I’m willing to look at that too. I’m not saying tax the rich and that’s that, but they need to pay their fair share too.”
On the issue of education, Walz said he supports teacher accountability, but not the version offered by No Child Left Behind.
“The idea of accountability of schools absolutely has to happen,” he said. “The public should be asking for that. If there’s a fault, it’s that we (teachers) have not been as vocal about taking the lead and doing that ourselves.
“I understand, as a teacher, that the needs of the Albert lea School District are different from the needs of the Mankato School District.
“I’m fine with federal oversight. But I’m not fine with the mandate coming all the way to the classroom. Because the implication is your community doesn’t want accountability and doesn’t know how to improve.”
Voters can learn more about Walz at http://www.timwalz.org.
Gutknecht is a six-term incumbent. His Web site is http://www.gil.house.gov.