CHANGE IS OPTIMISM IN ACTION

ABOUT ERIC

I’m proud to be a long-time resident of Minnesota’s Second District, a place where I’ve grown up, raised my family, built my career, and committed myself to public service. From serving on the Prior Lake–Savage School Board to my time in the Minnesota Senate, I’ve been guided by a clear mission: to build an economy that empowers hardworking families, ensure every student has access to a quality education, and keep our neighborhoods safe by standing with the men and women who protect and serve. Whether in St. Paul or now in the fight for Congress, I’ve carried the values of our community into every decision I make. I’m running for Congress to bring those values, and the voice of the Second District, to Washington.

GROWING UP

I’ve called Prior Lake home since the mid-1970s, when my family moved and planted roots in the Second District. My dad worked in real estate, and my mom spent over 25 years as a teacher in Shakopee.

My interest in public policy began in ninth grade when I wrote a paper on inflation after hearing my parents talk about it at the dinner table. While my paper’s findings were what you’d expect from a 9th Grader, the experience sparked a lasting interest in how government impacts people’s lives.

Those early years helped define the role I wanted to play in the community. A role grounded in leadership and service to others.

After graduating from Prior Lake High School, I earned a scholarship to the University of Colorado Boulder, where I received a B.A. in Economics and played outside linebacker for the Buffaloes under Hall of Fame coach Bill McCartney. Competing at the Division I level taught me the value of hard work, discipline, and grit, lessons I’ve carried into business and public service.

After earning my degree in 1987, I worked in banking and finance, then returned to school in 1993 to earn an MBA in Finance from the University of St. Thomas.

College

FAMILY

I’m proud to share my life with my wife of 34 years, Tina, and our two children, Cam and Sammi. Family has always been at the center of our lives.

Being a husband and father has shaped how I lead and why I serve. Strong families are the foundation of thriving communities, especially here in the 2nd District, and that’s what drives me to advocate for policies that help families grow and succeed.

I know from personal experience that there is no better place than Minnesota’s Second District to raise a family, and I want to help keep it that way.

Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to roles where something needed to be built or fixed, and I’ve been fortunate to do that at several great companies, including Target where I spent 11 years, and U.S. Bank for 14 years. Whether it was launching first-in-class systems or helping lead a division out of the recession, I’ve always embraced the challenge and valued the chance to work alongside talented teammates.

Those experiences taught me the importance of strong leadership, how to navigate complex situations, particularly when working with limited resources, and, most importantly, how to do it the right way.

SERVICE

I began my career in public service in 2000, just as my kids were starting school. Our district was over $1 million in debt, test scores were flat, and families were concerned. I ran for the Prior Lake–Savage School Board to help turn things around. During my time on the board, we balanced the budget, built a $3 million surplus, raised test scores, and cut property taxes by a whole percentage point, all while enrollment doubled.

In 2012, I brought that same mindset to the Minnesota Senate. Since then, I’ve focused on delivering practical, results-driven policies for families, workers, and small businesses, including:

Securing $10 million to expand childcare businesses to help make childcare more accessible while creating new jobs
Launching a pilot to expand the Workforce Development Tax for small businesses to help small businesses grow
Creating the Mainstreet Revitalization program to attract investment in struggling areas to help keep our communities strong

From the school board to the State Capitol, my goal has always been to deliver real, lasting results that make our communities stronger.