Meyman signs on as DFL candidate for House Seat

Lifelong Waseca resident Zack Meyman, 48, has thrown his hat in the ring as the Democratic candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives district 19B–an area which spans the communities of Medford, Owatonna, and Waseca.

 

Meyman will be facing off against one-term Republican incumbent Tom Sexton, also a Waseca resident.

 

Waseca County DFL committee chair Deb Hogenson praises Meyman for his willingness to serve, and points out his candidacy is part of a large-scale accomplishment for the Minnesota DFL–the party has a candidate in place for every legislative seat. 

 

Meyman says his decision to run is based on his desire to see everyday individuals placed at the center of legislative decisions and actions. His perception is that the wealthy and powerful cultivate relationships with those in political office in order to acquire undue influence, to the disadvantage of those who are not particularly wealthy or powerful.

 

Strengthening rural healthcare, he says, is one of the chief components of his platform. He would like to see the legislature find funding and programs which reverse the trend of declining clinics in smaller communities.

 

He says state leaders should also be working to ensure broadband internet access is readily available for rural residents.

 

Also one of Meyman’s priorities is finding ways to help rural schools be more efficient, possibly including cooperative programs which use technology to allow instructors to have a presence in a number of school districts at the same time. He would also like to see a more equitable funding system which overcomes the inequities created by differences in population densities among the state’s school districts.

 

Meyman expresses disappointment that large corporations can use their influence to acquire rights to minerals and other underground resources located on public land. Along with that, he wants to see closer scrutiny before data centers, some of which take up massive amounts of space, place strain on local energy supplies, and occupy large areas of land, are considered. Some such centers, Meyman says, were rushed in without sufficient research, sometimes taking community members unawares.

 

Meyman, a 1996 Waseca High School graduate, worked for Itron for 23 years prior to its closing. He is now a shift supervisor at Life Fitness in Owatonna.

 

He says his path to candidacy began with his dissatisfaction over state and federal decisions. A 10-year member of the Waseca County DFL, he says he was encouraged by meetings and conversations this spring, including support and suggestions from DFL Senate District 19 chair Paula Person, and from fellow Waseca County DFL members. 

 

He made the decision to join the race in April and so far has been running a one-person campaign. He has been setting aside large blocks of his free time to visit homes in various communities in district 19B.

 

“I’ve learned you need to wear sunblock when you go doorknocking,” he says lightheartedly. “You can get a lot of sun walking from house to house.”

 

He says visits with area voters have been pleasant, regardless of people’s political affiliation.

 

“I know I can’t win this race if I’m relying only on votes from people who think of themselves as Democrats,” he observes. “I want people to know I will represent everyone, and look out for the best interests of their whole community.”

 

Meyman invites anyone who wants to volunteer with his campaign or provide financial support to contact him at his 

 

email address: MeymanforMN@gmail.com. More information is also available on his website, www.meymanformn.com.