Nolan: Bringing people together gets things done

Wetland issues, essential air service, and border crossings were discussed at the local meetings.

Nolan breaks down the issues into two categories: global and localized issues.

Global issues, which he said affect all Americans, include the national deficit, “wars of choice,” joblessness, growing inequalities, and “the way we do our politics in this country.”

Localized issues facing the 8th District include sustaining tourism, mining and forestry industries and vary a lot within the large district.

“There is a tremendous amount of diversity in the district,” he said. “I love working on the global issues, but my greatest joy and satisfaction comes from rolling up my sleeves and fixing things and getting things done, bringing people together to make things happen.”

Nolan says there is a need for people with a depth of experience in bringing people together. “That’s how you get closer to the larger global issues — you take care of the small stuff and the big stuff falls into place,” he said.

Nolan, 64, was the youngest member in the Minnesota House when he was elected in 1969 and served three terms. He also served in Congress from 1975-1981.

He was named a “Most Respected” member of Congress (1975-1981) by nationally syndicated columnist and congressional critic, Jack Anderson.

He said people wonder how old he is when they hear when he served in the state and federal offices.

“I’m not that old,” he said laughing. “I was just very young. but I spent the last 30 years of my life in business and learned a great deal about balancing budgets, investment decisions, finances and sales and marking and what it takes to be successful in business.”

He also served in a variety of volunteer community positions.

“Between my business experience, my volunteer community service, and my experience in elected office, where I served honorably and well and was recognized for that, I feel I am better prepared today than I have ever been in my life.”

And, he said, if elected he would retain seniority gained in Congress earlier, which would benefit the district. At a minimum he would be the head of the newly elected class and would be a ranking member, if not a chairman of a committee depending on who controls Congress. And that is where the work of Congress is done.”

He said he’d like to be a part of the transportation and national resources committees.

His business experience involves domestic and international experiences. Nolan notes that he is chairman, president and CEO of the Minnesota World Trade Center, credited by the World Trade Magazine for helping generate Minnesota jobs and expand exports. He is the chairman of International Association of World Trade Centers Trade Policy Committee, the world’s largest private sector international trade group and has 31 years international business experience exporting American-made goods and services, generating U.S. jobs, selling U.S. products, setting up distributorships, joint ventures, partnerships, agency relationships, business training and finance for U.S. Companies.

He is the former president, owner, and CEO of Emily Forest Products, a sawmill and pallet manufacturer in Emily.

He used the wood-pallet industry as an example of issues facing the district.

“The advocates of free trade are missing something,” he said. “Most countries have found ways to incentives their own domestic manufacturers, whether it be wood products or anything else. We’ve done just the opposite. We have incentives our businesses to move their stuff off shore and we have got to reverse that.”

The U.S. has lost in the last 20 years 50,000 manufacturers and 8 or 9 million jobs, he said.

In America, business must pay for a variety of insurances and abide by health, safety and environmental regulations. “By and large, very good stuff. Extended our life expectancy... created a quality of life largely unparalleled in the world. But it’s not fair to the business community to say go compete with societies that don’t have any of that. It’s fundamentally unfair and not good economic sense.”

Fixing that involves tax and trade policy, he said. “On the trade you have countering duties to compensate for those differing factors and through general tax policy you determine tax breaks. Do you get a break for moving it off shore or keeping it here?”

Instead of rebuilding abroad, he said America must rebuild within by improving infrastructure and expanding mass transit.

As an owner and investor in a sawmill and pallet business, he said he brings valuable insight into forestry and said mining will continue to play a role in the 8th District.

“In the long run, tourism will be as important if not more important than mining (because of mining’s limited resources),” he said.

Nolan said he was disappointed and somewhat surprised that he will face a primary election despite winning DFL endorsement. He said the endorsement brings an increase in funding to the campaign, as well as support from many DFLers.

But he said early on that he would support whomever the DFL endorsed because of the value of the 8th District seat and would support the party’s nomination.

He said he’s also surprised by the amount of money in the campaign. “It’s getting to be obscene,” he said. “I raised more money this quarter than I ever raised in an entire congressional election in the past and that’s dwarfed by the amounts of money these other candidates have.”

He suggests limiting the campaign to a 60-90 days period and eliminating the ability for corporations to make contributions.