Patch Candidate Profile: Eric Tessmer For SoWashCo School Board

SOUTH WASHINGTON COUNTY, MN — This fall, Woodbury and Cottage Grove residents will vote on school board members for South Washington County Schools.

Eric Tessmer is one of nine candidates running for School Board in the Nov. 2 election.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Are you running for School Board? Contact Morgan Reddekopp at morgan.reddekopp@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to Patch.

Age (as of Election Day): 41

Position Sought: ISD 833 School Board Member At Large

Party Affiliation: (No answer)

Family: Rebecca (wife) Dane (15), Brynn (12), Cora (8), Laney (8)

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?: I am a police officer

Education: Bachelor of Arts - University of MN Duluth

Occupation: Police Officer, 16 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: None

Campaign website: VoteEricTessmer.com

Why are you seeking elective office?:

I am seeking this office because I believe in parent choice and freedom in their children’s health decisions, policies that value all our student voices equally and celebrate students as individuals, high standard curriculum, and fiscal transparency/responsibility.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it:

The most pressing issue in this district is the policy mandating face coverings for students. I stand for a parent’s/student’s choice to protect themselves or their child however they would like. I am not opposed to face coverings, I am opposed to govt/school boards dictating to parents on how to keep their own children safe. I am for freedom and choice. The question of wearing a face covering or not is a choice for the individual, not for the school board to decide. I believe in common sense mitigation. Keep your kids or yourself home when sick, quarantine if you feel it necessary. Wash your hands.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?:

Incumbent candidates have voted to adopt divisive, racial equity policies that are destructive to the individual, put our students into groups and assign them value based on that group association. They are not inclusive policies, do not promote equity, and instead breed animosity and suspicion amongst our students. I believe in teaching our students the whole truth of our National/world history, whether it’s good, bad, or ugly. I believe in celebrating American Exceptionalism while understanding the wrongs of the past and present can and are leading us to a more enlightened and harmonious future.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency):

The current board has failed the community by adopting a policy titled “Racial equity and Inclusion.” As I stated in the previous question, this policy is not equitable nor is it inclusive. It values students on racial lines or because of their backgrounds. I believe all students, no matter their physical, cultural, religious, emotional, ethnic differences, are all individual human beings who deserve to have an equally listened to voice and be treated with respect.

How do you think local officials are performing in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?:

I believe local officials have initiated a massive over-reach of govt authority. The virus is real and is a problem, however, we are all supposed to be free people - free to make our own choices about our health and the health of our children. Face coverings should be a choice, vaccines should be a choice. We must not sacrifice freedom for a small amount of security. Freedom is too valuable and fragile. If elected, in any decision I make, I will ask myself if the decision furthers the cause of individual freedom, and then ask if it benefits our students’ education while supporting our classroom teachers.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

As a current non-board member, I am not privy to the many details, side discussions, workshop discussions, and committee meetings that occur to decide on budget/fiscal matters. I will not pass judgement on this board in this regard, but what I can assure the voters is that I will work to ensure tax dollars are spent wisely. I will ensure that our classroom teachers are supported so they can successfully educate all of our children.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?:

I am a father of four children. I am an educated and informed citizen and voter. I am a 16 years veteran police officer. I have worked with members of the community, from all walks of life and have a unique understanding of peoples’ hopes and fears for themselves and their children. I am a critical thinker and am confident in my ability to make good decisions that will impact the community. I understand the gravity of this position.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The best advice I ever received was from my Dad. He told me, shortly after I was married, to work diligently at my marriage and respect my wife. He told me that the best way to raise healthy, happy children that become productive citizens, was to take care of my marriage first.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?:

I would like all those in the community to have confidence that in the decisions I make as a board member, I will always put the interests of all our students and all our teachers first. I do not seek this position for power or authority, but I seek it to help create a learning and teaching environment that is positive, optimistic, and sets high standards for our children. I believe all our students are individual Americans, and they deserve to be treated as such. Finally I believe in freedom and choice. Freedom is the most beautiful gift we have in this country.