Today, on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon, with hundreds of friends, family, and supporters on hand, I announced my candidacy for the United States Senate.
The two most important people in my life were there with me that day — my husband John and my daughter Abigail. Without their love and support I couldn't be doing this. John is, well, — he's the nicest guy in the world. Abigail, who is 9, said that her biggest concern about this campaign is "those mean commercials." "Do you think they'd put me in them mom?" she asked one night. I thought for a moment and said, "maybe if you don't practice piano, it could happen, but other than that, I doubt it."
We kicked off our statewide campaign from the same place where so many of my life's journeys have begun - the driveway of the home where I grew up in Plymouth and where my mom, Rose Klobuchar, still lives today. After getting over her initial concerns about whether her newly sprouting tulips (the green part, that is) could survive a visit from 400 exuberant guests, and whether her maple tree could survive 10 kids perched on its branches, my mom had a good time.
My mom was a second-grade teacher until she was 70. Her now-grown-up students still stop me on the street to tell me about how, with commitment and love, she shaped their lives just as she shaped mine, by teaching me to value education and curiosity and good humor.
My dad, Jim Klobuchar, was also there with us that day. He's also retired, or sort of retired. I say that because he continues to write books and still organizes adventure trips. As a newspaperman he brought life to the stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. He taught me that with faith in God we can meet our biggest challenges. He taught me to be leery of those with too much power, to take on the tough fights and follow my dreams.
The house and driveway where we gathered that Sunday have marked the beginning of many journeys for me. My first day of kindergarten, and all through elementary school, my sister and I would walk across the street, through the Bezenar's backyard, and up the hill to what was then called Beacon Heights School. It was on the driveway where I started many a bike trip with my dad, including the one that took us all the way to Jackson Hole, Wyoming: 1100 miles in 10 days with all our gear on our bikes and our backs, three flat tires, five angry farm dogs, and one big tornado. He says that trip was my idea.
Now I begin the most important journey of my life.
It is a journey that I cannot take alone.
I talked that sunny afternoon about the reason for the journey, about why I'm running to represent you in Washington, and about how I want to bring Minnesota common sense to the halls of Congress.
As the chief prosecutor for Minnesota's largest county, in which I represent nearly one-quarter of the people of this state, I've fought to make our communities even better, safer places to live. I've fought to make government more accountable and efficient. I have a proven record of making a difference and producing positive results for the people I represent.
I am a public servant who will put the greater good of the many in front of the interests of the few. Just as I have done as a prosecutor, I will stand up for what's right without fear or favor. I will devote myself to solutions that improve people's lives instead of fixating on issues that divide.
Our campaign will be about bringing the debate back to issues of importance to Minnesota's everyday heroes - our teachers, our workers and small business owners, our farmers, and our service men and women. It will be about bringing Minnesota values of opportunity through hard work, fair play, security and responsibility to Washington.
|
About Amy 
