Letter to the Editor: Dotseth's hard work deserves recognition

When I was a young boy and brought home a tall tale from a school mate, my mother said, “Don’t believe everything you hear.”

In my Barnum High School English class, Mrs. Docken cautioned us, “Don’t believe everything you read.”

When serving in the U.S. Army, we were taught to evaluate information and seek to understand what is true or not true based on current evidence and critical thinking.

If we are truly seeking truth, we can test allegations by gathering information, seeking all points of view, and then apply logic and commonsense.

The “smell test” can also be useful. It seems evident this process has not been applied to recently published history regarding State Representative Jeff Dotseth.

The old allegations exhumed by the DFL and first published by the Minnesota Star Tribune generated an avalanche of “copycat” stories, some of them not passing the “smell test,” in my opinion. This reminds me of the old party game of telephone.

Whatever the allegations, which were settled in the courts, Mr. Dotseth has exhibited his resolve to provide for and protect his family and move on.

I encourage the voters to consider the positive news.

As our representative, Dotseth has proven to be very accessible and has a near 100-percent attendance record in legislative sessions since elected.

As a freshman lawmaker in the minority, he has brought about $30 million dollars to the district by working behind the scenes and across the aisle.

He has focused on making life better in District 11A by consistently voting against the significant tax increases that were passed and signed into law by the DFL trifecta.

Because I have studied Mr. Dotseth, observing his accessibility and diligent work ethic, I will, without reservation, be casting my vote for him.

Alan Finifrock, Cloquet