HD 15A
I’m Nathan Schmig. I’m running for Minnesota House District 15A. I’ve been working as a garbage man for Olson Sanitation for about 15 years.
I was born in Milbank, South Dakota and grew up on farms in Stockholm, South Dakota and Canby. I graduated from Canby. I’ve lived in Minneota, Minnesota for about thirty years. I’m married and I have four kids.
I’ve never lobbied a legislator at the capitol or been president of an organization larger than the Friends of the Minneota Public Library. I have helped fundraise, clean and move many heavy things to restore the Big Store in Minneota and turn it into the new Minneota Public Library. It was (and continues to be) a community effort.
I have helped fundraise, clean and move many heavy things to reopen and support the Canby Theater. I still have a high vis shirt splattered with black paint from helping paint the ceiling in theater one. I volunteered a few (hundred?) hours popping popcorn, working concessions and doing whatever odds and ends needed doing at the theater. It was (and continues to be) a community effort.
In your eyes, what needs fixing in St. Paul, whether it’s policies or anything else you feel needs improvement?
I’m asking voters to give me the thankless job of trying to deal with the mess dropped into the laps of Minnesotans by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Republican legislators like our own Representative Michelle Fischbach at the federal level. This law cut taxes for extremely wealthy people and corporations and cut benefits for just about everyone else. I’m a supporter of universal healthcare. I support feeding kids in school. I support education - K through 12, tech schools, apprenticeships and higher ed. These aren’t my only concerns, but they seem like areas of improvement to me.
Summarize your platform.
I have a couple of core principles. One: People are the most important things there are. Two: Because we can’t see into the future, we don’t know what we’re going to need going forward. Therefore, wasting resources, the environment or other species is a sin.
If you remember only one thing, remember that people are the most important things there are. You are the most important thing. Because people are the most important thing, I support universal healthcare to free people from being locked into a job “for the insurance,” and to free businesses from having to find plans for their employees. Businesses are drawn to Minnesota because we prioritize education. Democracy requires educated people to thrive.
I believe it’s the duty of the strong to protect the weak. Masked agents entered our state, snatched people from their homes, ignored due process, tear gassed children and shot people - in OUR streets. Many people feel out of place. Isolated. Alone. They wonder if the world has gone crazy or if it’s all in their head. You are not the only one who thinks something is wrong. Join together. Support each other.
List two issues that you intend to focus on if elected.
Education and healthcare. Excellent education expands opportunities for people now and into the future. Affordable healthcare keeps those opportunities realized now and into the future.
