Tim Walz

Tim Walz is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 1st district of Minnesota.

Background

The son of a public school administrator and community activist, Congressman Tim Walz was born in West Point, Nebraska on April 6, 1964. Raised in a rural community, Walz spent his summers farming with his extended family. In 1982, Tim Walz graduated from Butte High School along side his 24 classmates.

Walz enlisted in the Army National Guard at the young age of 17, serving as a member of the Guard for twenty yeaars. After high school, Walz worked a number of odd jobs before accepting a temporary teaching position at the Native American Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. It was his experience at the Pine Ridge reservation that convinced Tim Walz to follow his father’s lead and become an educator.

Prior to his retirement, Tim Walz was the highest ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern MinnesotaPrior to his retirement, Tim Walz was the highest ranking enlisted National Guard soldier in southern Minnesota. In 1989, Walz earned a B.S. in social science education from Chadron State College in Nebraska. That year he earned the title of Nebraska Citizen-Soldier of the Year.

After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in the spring of 2005. Prior to retiring, Walz served overseas with his battalion in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.^[1]

Harvard and China

With his teaching degree complete, Harvard University offered Walz an opportunity to gain a new perspective on global education by teaching in the People's Republic of China. Working in China during 1989-1990, Walz was a member of one of the first government sanctioned groups of American educators to teach in Chinese high schools.

Following his return, Tim Walz seized the opportunity to develop a program of cooperation between American and Chinese students. Walz established a small business called Educational Travel Adventures, Inc. through which he conducted annual educational trips to China for high school students. The business includes a scholarship program that allows students to travel and study in China regardless of their financial situation.

Walz has also served as a visiting Fellow of International Relations at the Macau Polytechnic University, a position that "helped develop his knowledge of China’s unique international status".^[2]

Service

Upon his return to the U.S. in 1990, Walz served full-time in the Army National Guard. He subsequently accepted a position teaching and coaching in Nebraska where he met his wife, Gwen Whipple. In 1993, Walz was named the Outstanding Young Nebraskan by the Nebraska Junior Chamber of Commerce for his service in the education, military, and small business communities.

Married in 1994, Tim and Gwen Walz moved to Mankato, Minnesota two years later. The couple accepted positions teaching and coaching at Mankato West High School where Tim taught until his run for Congress in 2006.

Tim Walz’s inspiring approach to teaching has gained him recognition as the 2002 Minnesota Ethics in Education award winner, 2003 Mankato Teacher of the Year, and the 2003 Minnesota Teacher of Excellence. Walz completed his master's degree in educational leadership in 2001 and is currently working on his doctorate at St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota.^[3]

Politics

On November 7, 2006 Tim Walz won election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated six-term incumbent Gil Gutknecht by a margin of 53% to 47%. On November 4, 2008 Walz was re-elected overwhelmingly in the traditional swing district held by Republicans most of its existence.

Tim Walz represents Minnesota's 1st Congressional District which includes the communities of Worthington, Mankato, Albert Lea, Austin, Rochester and Winona.^[4]

Committees

Walz is a member of the House Agriculture Committee, the Veteran's Affairs Committee and was recently named Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, of which Tim is also a member.^[5]

Supported by Council for a Livable World

The Council for a Livable World, founded in 1962 by long-time socialist activist and alleged Soviet agent, Leo Szilard, is a non-profit advocacy organization that seeks to "reduce the danger of nuclear weapons and increase national security", primarily through supporting progressive, congressional candidates who support their policies. The Council supported Tim Walz in his successful House of Representatives run as candidate for Minnesota.^[6]

Planned Parenthood

Walz received $5000 in lobbying funds from Planned Parenthood in 2008.

Lobbied by communist Mark Froemke

Minnesotans were well-represented at the June 25, 2009 Washington DC rally for health care reform. Among the union members urging Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Rep. Tim Walz and Rep. Collin Peterson to support health care reform that will "offer quality affordable health care to America now" were: Linda Slattengren, president of MNA, Laura Askelin, president of SE MN ALC, Mark Froemke, president of the Western Minnesota ALC and Tim Lovaasen, president of the CWA State Council.^[7]

Staff

As at April 18, the following had worked as staff members for Tim Walz:^[8]

External links

Walz's website with the House of Representatives

References

Template:Reflist

[1] Tim walz for Congress, official bio

[2] Tim walz for Congress, official bio

[3] Tim walz for Congress, official bio

[4] Tim walz for Congress, official bio

[5] Tim walz for Congress, official bio

[clw-6] CLW website: Meet Our Candidates

[7] Minnesota AFL-CIO blog, Minnesota Labor Leaders Lobby for Health Care Reform, Submitted by jhayssen on June 30, 2009

[8] Legistorm: Tim Walz (accessed on April 18, 2011)

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