Thaddeus Laugisch

Thaddeus Laugisch was born on the Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Nebraska. He earned a high school diploma from the Bellevue East Highschool and attended Metro Community College, Concordia University, and the North Dakota State College of Science. Laugisch’s career experience includes working as a construction professional, an agricultural facility designer, and a safety director for a general contractor.[1][2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A designer and Safety Director of 16 years for a commercial ag general contractor, I have made a career of reutilizing existing structures to meet the market demands of today. Simply put, I fit ten pounds in a Five pound bag, at the cost for two. I have learned to reallocate thinking outside and reuse what is existing when the funds aren't there while also training in safety to ensure every worker has come home. As a father of two daughters, and husband for nearly twenty years, community volunteer and established artist, I am committed to what say I will do, and I will work for what is best for our district 4B and the state of Minnesota.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Action matters in H4B. It is important that a Representative speaks for all their constituents and that starts by interacting and listening to both the concerns and successes of those who reside in their district, to then carry those voices to the meetings both during and out of session. Action is willing to provide solutions than only well thought words. I am not afraid to work with others, to come up with solutions to our issues to finally change the topic of our conversations each election cycle.Access is greatly needed as we also hold on to our local traditions as we grow. Our rural communities are essential to the continual growth as a state and nation. It is important to ensure the basic needs are available to those who still reside in our rural communities as we continue to grow our urban ones as well.Small businesses do make up the local economies for our communities. As we have an economic diverse district with lake tourism, agriculture, and even industry, we need to provide the assistance needed to upkeep and revitalize our businesses and historical landmarks so that the memories of our past generations can be enjoyed by everyone today.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Health, senior and child care access, quality and funding. Agriculture, Individual tax relief, local economic and community growth with environmental security.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy as they focus on the growth through challenge that made our country proud. Ambition with the mindset to better a nation of an individual, is greatly needed in office.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

A book, Community by Peter Block.

A better understanding would be a couple quotes by a great former statesman, Paul Wellstone.

"We all do better when we all do better." -Paul Wellstone

"Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people."- Paul Wellstone

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

To listen to all of their constituents and project that voice to other representatives as you are present in and out of session among members to ensure that voice is heard so that you have support to create the means to meet their needs.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Willing to listen to the demands and work for ways to meet those needs. Creative to make something that exists to work better than its initial purpose, rather than build or invest into something completely new.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To focus on the needs of those who supported you by electing you and gain the trust to work for those who did not. You do this by putting your personal wants aside so that you can properly focus on the needs of the many, rather than a few or even an individual.

What legacy would you like to leave?

To be a nameless helper in re-creating our communities in images that reflect their past but with the security and growth needed for their future as the populations work together in more self-sustaining communities to carry their individual pride once again.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Chernobyl

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Very first, mowing neighbor's lawn. Corporate job was burger board at Burger King

What is your favorite book? Why?

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail of 72'- Hunter S. Thompson. It opens the gates and pops the elegant bubble of politics as it give an outside perspective looking in the world of politics that is sadly similar today.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Frodo Baggins

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Forever Young- Alphaville

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I have a disability from birth that I once felt was a struggle. At first it brought me insults and shame along with the inability to physically participate in certain areas, such as service. As it provided me with the need to reutilize my environment to meet my needs and cancel the limitations set on me, I now consider it more of a strength. It has taught me patience, to listen, rationalize before I act, while also teaching me the weakness that resides behind words.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

A professional, respectable, and unbiased relationship.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Sustaining and continuing our current growth within the state.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Our current demands and political climate isn't created by inexperienced individuals, but those who have and continue to hold the experience while the demands still exist. I believe any person who is willing to put their personal focus aside to focus on the greater of those around them, and has shown that through their actions of volunteer service, is all the qualifications needed.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Of course, building relationships is a foundational need to better a policy or bill. I personally feel that more minds working on a solution is best as others see and help correct any error and one may not.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Paul Marquart and Paul Wellstone

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

If my personal work could help the betterment of another position, I would be open to the challenge.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

The day after a local festival, my campaign manager and myself came across a couple in their garage. Not wanting to bother their work, I began to greet them, but then quickly asked if I could assist them. After attaching their mower deck and then helping with their drive belt, the couple thanked me and stated they lost the morning trying to figure it out and would still be burning the afternoon if we didn't stop by. They then proceeded to say how the festival wasn't like it use to be. That the parade was but only five minutes long and no one was in town. That when they started the festival the streets were packed with residents and guests, but now its a memory. As this is a somber story in the end, It impacts me as this community use to have twenty-two small businesses and is now down to three, including the bank.

Tell us your favorite joke.

I would, but I can't 'knock' with a mouse pointer...

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Legislators should follow the parliamentary procedures and provide their input when it is required.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

A bill to address subsidy for existing small businesses to revitalize and re-build their locations with funds allocated to energy-efficient updates and infrastructure demands. To also include materials and services provided. Examples- lumber, paint, plumbing and electrical, storage units and shelving. Energy efficient a/c and heating units that qualify under the Inflation Reduction Act, as well as computer and retail software.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Planned Parent, DFL Party, DFL Rural Caucus, DFL Senior Caucus

What committees interest you?

Agriculture, Education Finance and Policy, Taxes, Children and Families, Economic Development, Environment, Health, Housing, Human Services, Public Safety, Veterans and Military Affairs, Workforce Development

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

All finances gathered, accrued, or raised from taxpayers and taxpayer funded research, should be 100% transparent.

Would a state ballot initiative process be good or bad for your state?

The bad part of ballot initiative is the when you have a singular majority along with a variety of minority sectors of the population. With initiative, we need to ensure that a diverse population makes up the signatures as singular group can provide amendments that could focus on not a singular need, want, or belief. The good part, is that it provides the opportunity for the general public to gain access and have their voices heard if the elected body choses to ignore or neglect their voice. That said, I remain neutral but would side with good if amendments were made to how the initiative qualifies.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a working class member, a father of two, a Designer and Safety Director for a Commercial Ag general contractor of twelve years, I feel that we can easily do more for the working class and farmers in our district as by providing alternate options for our existing crops, capitalizing on a new insurable crop perfect for our existing soil, and focus on our education by restructuring our curriculum and introducing trade at an earlier age. Growing up in the Bellevue, NE I went to school in a well funded school district as it received funds for the military children like myself that attended. This gave more electives that some students today, no longer see. After graduation I first studied in the field of Psychology that I later abandoned as I wasn't comfortable with the thought of suggesting a mental illness on someone based on previous case studies. I switched to Architectural Drafting, Design and Estimating program when we moved to my wife's hometown of Wahpeton, ND. After graduating, I moved to Moorhead where I still design facilities and expansions to existing ones. My work can be seen throughout Eastern ND and Western MN from multi-million storage facility to glutton-free processing lines, while ensuring our workers follow proper safety practices through weekly meetings and accident investigations to prevent further incident. I've taken complicated factors and worked with and around them to meet the demand of our clients, now I want to do that for our public issues.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

A working voice, for a fresh start.We need to work together to tackle the issues that really effect us.The time for change in Washington is now. Western Minnesota also deserves a fresh start

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Agriculture: Give the farmer the availability to sell their product to other industries to create more demand, higher price for commodities. Do this by providing E-30 Ethanol at every gas station until researching smaller and better ways to store energy to make electric transportation affordable, while removing our demand on fossil fuel. Introduce a multi-industry, insurable crop that our district can capitalize on its future markets.

Education: We are currently ranked 25th(PISA) among nations in our education. We can't compete economically and defensively with our current 'quality' of education. Charter schools are NOT the answer as they have a 40% failure rate while separating funds from public education. Refocus our teaching from WHAT to learn, to HOW to learn. We need to restructure our curriculum around critical thinking more so than what to learn for a standardized test as we need to remove the test altogether. Offer preparatory courses to help rather than let them fail and try to catch up. We also need to ensure our children have enough food so they can focus on their studies rather than the hunger pangs. I've been there, a child shouldn't have to suffer for something they cannot control.

Economy: Introduce trades and other career options at a primary level to give the children a better choice before choosing debt for studies in low demand careers. Provide training to meet experience demand needed today.

Also passionate in Healthcare, Social Security, Other

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I want to follow the examples of FDR as he focused on the building of the country as a whole, more so than the singular growth of a few. He helped preserve the natural beauty of our country while trying to equally balance industry to have us compete with the growing world while also connecting us through accessible means of transportation with roads and more rails. I follow the drive that was seen in JFK with his willingness to do what was right, and gamble on a race that pushed our capabilities to meet our imagination. You can see their drives are desperately needed today with the need to remove our demand from fossil fuel while being able to curve our demand on lumber as well. We need to utilize the technology and innovation of today, and apply it to our issues to better ourselves tomorrow by providing securities to the general public instead of relying and a rich man's game. We can curve our emission output, as long as we do not focus on the alternate news that is produced from the companies that will hinder from the change. We need to refocus on the benefits of the many, to make our lives a little less stressed. Most want to make enough just to enjoy some time for themselves without worrying which bill to hold off, or if they should go in to get checked out without the worry of a co-pay or another bill to juggle with their next stagnate check.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

My views have been related to many books, some more extreme than others such as Marx and Peter Block's 'Community". We shouldn't determine our views based off a singular book, or a similar topic discussed in multiple books as it inadvertently creates a tunnel perspective on matters outside of those topics and views. All people have good and bad ideas, no matter their philosophy. To label one based off a single or a couple ideas, only removes the many other good ideas that they have. That said, over a duration of time, can easily determine which ideas a person has more of, and its our job as citizens to remove those who cause more harm or even decide not to act at all.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Good ethics, with bi-partisan views to do what is right for the majority versus the few. The amount of money a person own, shouldn't qualify them for a position to represent, more so than a person that works for his team and contributes to the best overall for the team than themselves.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a problem solver. I take in information for all relatable angles and develop ways to create the desirable outcome while utilizing existing resources to save on cost.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To take in all circumstances and the outcomes of those circumstances before making a decision on how we should progress as a nation.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Correcting the path to ensure the rights for all citizens are met with a more productive and independent tomorrow for everyone.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Besides Desert Storm, where my father was stationed overseas for 6 months, I'd have to say September 11th really sticks out to me. I remember the news, the somber feeling of surreal as it all crashed to reality when I personally drove to the back entrance of Offutt AFB, where I met with a wall of Sheriffs standing in front of their vehicles with shotguns, blocking the road. At that moment I seen Air force One take off as Bush hunkered down in the bunker for a time that day. That was the start of my senior year of high school, 17 years old, and a lot changed after that day.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Fast Food Worker at Burger King started at 15 and left after turning 16 and being of age to work at Arby's where family members and friends worked. I occasionally worked at the same chain till my second year of college.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Hard question, too hard to determine as a favorite fits the moment. I'd have to say the Lord of the Ring series as it depicts the smallest provider, a group of hobbits, that are always overlooked by many, alone brought down the evils at bay with a seemingly impossible task.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Spider-man, but not in the sense as everyone seems. Not by only what he does, but in how selfless he does it. He fights those looking to do harm onto others without the recognition of his success to better himself. We need more working individuals to selflessly take on our issues than the ones that think removing and buying new, will fix the issues.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Ticket to Ride- The Beatles (its in my head right now)

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

My disability. It has created a harder approach to life than the average person. However it is also my strength as I do not let it effect me for accomplishing my goals while helping those around me also reach their goals.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The ability to form legislature to accommodate the many, while maintaining and holding those accountable who intentionally harm others in the process of their personal gain... at least that is what it is suppose to do.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. I say this as I look where that assumption has gotten us today. Our representatives should be made up of equal representation from careers, class and race of all the country's citizens. We need to have representation from all so that no one is left out. Today we have a majority of our elected officials disconnected from their constituents as they equally play in their own political game now. By using deflection they all push around without providing ideas or solutions to our actual issues, such as health care, education, stagnate wages, inflation costs, in-equal pay of workers compared to executives who do not physically do the labor needed to create the product or provide the services needed to keep their company a float and their over inflated wages coming in each year.

What do you perceive to be the United States' greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Our current quality of education will greatly affect our competition with the remaining nations. We need to invest in our education so that we can compete.

Relying only on big corporations will greatly deduce competition, to later reduce the value of our commodities. We need to utilize other industries to create demand on our renewable resources. Our consumer demand for 'picture perfect' commodity also fuels the need for control of aspects of the commodity, including the workers and farmers. Currently we demand such high quality for our food that we will drop and forget hours later, needs to be reconsidered.

Smaller Government, as it only puts the power of the people into fewer hands, giving the ones with it, usually a business owner, the power to take advantage over the many as we already see today. The theory that smaller government costs less is false as we see it in our military spending. In the 90's a lot of military bases began to privatize departments to 'save money' yet look how much we spend each year to it now. Smaller government only creates fewer in power, in turn creating fewer to collect even more money.

If you are not a current representative, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

I would love to be apart of the agriculture committee as well as the education committee. I would welcome discussions with members of all other committees to help come up with creating solutions to solve as many issues as we can.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

We need equal representation and a two year term can hinder any new direction as it only allows a candidate a year to focus on issues as the second makes one focus on campaigning instead of tackling issues. However, a two year term also allows the removal of those who do not wish to contribute more than a challenger may be willing to do. Personally we shouldn't focus on the campaigning as we currently do for all elected positions. The work they do should determine if they deserve the position instead of a familiar name. That said, yes, a two year term is ideal as long as the person is productive or there are others more productive willing to do the work instead.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Our today is as temporary as yesterday. Term limits help ensure the most up-to-date in industry and technology as well as their ideas that are needed to maintaining a contemporary day to day as most of us live by.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

Too new to take on leadership roles above district representation. Instead I would be more than willing to work with current leadership to develop ways to actually tactical our issues instead of skirting around them.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Sadly, all stories are about the same. Individuals that can not afford medicine, going to the doctor, or getting their own place to live, even though they have a job. Business owners see a lack of patrons, especially during the summer months where tourists are their need, yet a state program to bring in more tourists, isn't working. Farmers looking at their crops rotting waiting on a trade deals to finally go through with little to no return on their crop, even though they were promised the 'best trade deal'. The stories are often similar, and even my own can relate to the hardships that we have been facing for more than 4 years, they have just gotten worse to bring more down to our level in the past four years.