A local candidate for you who isn’t a career politician is what most of us say we want. There is one candidate like that in the race for state assembly and it isn’t the incumbent. Jeffrey Mursau has been in state and local office since Bill Clinton’s first inauguration. The overwhelming majority of his funds since July 1 come from out-of-district donors, political parties or PACs. He will serve his political party before he serves you.

Since July 1, Ben Murray has received almost 10 times as much in donations from people who live in his district. He has the support of teachers, unions, veterans and conservation groups. He has spent months talking to us about the issues. Ben is also one to let his dissatisfaction with his own party be known when they don’t see eye to eye. This is a candidate who will be loyal to you instead of a political party or a PAC donor.

Reading Jeff brag about living in the district his entire life and yet not having the support of the locals while Ben has garnered a small army of supporters in a short time makes me wonder, does it matter how long you’ve lived somewhere? Or — does it matter how hard you’ll work for the district? I have never seen a candidate for State Assembly work this hard. One must remember, Ben is still working a full-time career and being a family man — and he is still putting in the time to work for us. Can you imagine what he could do when he wins the seat and being an elected official becomes a full-time priority? It must be a work ethic instilled in him by proud Midwestern parents. Or maybe he learned it while defending our country in places none of us should ever have to pick out on a map.

Ben is laser focused on the important issues of protecting our water, improving our internet and making sure that when you call for an ambulance that a well-trained and funded rescue squad answers the call. He has a plan to introduce legislation to protect our water from dangerous sulfide mining. He will go to bat for the smallest rural communities.

Maybe Jeff just isn’t motivated to earn our votes because he is a career politician who has never faced a challenger of this caliber. Perhaps he is just taking the vote for granted and hoping for two more years of an easy paycheck and do-nothing legislative record. It is time to reward hard work and retire career politicians who just expect a vote.

Vote for Ben Murray, the only candidate who is working hard for you!