Groth seeks Goodhue County Board post

Steve Groth - a vocal opponent of wind farm development in Goodhue County and one of the founding members of Goodhue Wind Truth -- announced his candidacy Thursday for the 2nd District of the Goodhue County Board.

The rural Zumbrota native will challenge current Commissioner Richard Samuelson, who has held the seat since 1995.

Groth said opposition to wind development near the city of Goodhue and throughout Goodhue County was at the forefront of his decision to run.

"The leadership in the county on this issue has been really weak," he said. "I believe in approaching it directly."

The longtime owner of ATI Services Inc. of Zumbrota said that he has always held an interest in politics, but that his "political awakening" occurred as wind development came to the forefront of Goodhue County politics.

"A year ago, I guess I wouldn't have thought that I would be doing this today," he said.

Groth said that over the past year he has learned much about the board's process, knowledge that he said he intends to bring to the commissioner's seat.

If elected, he said that he would work to promote "conservative values" on the County Board. Areas of focus would include closer oversight of day care re-licensing, opposing funding for Planned Parenthood and other welfare programs, and looking into ways to cut back county programs to meet the current budget shortfall.

"I'd really like to dig into how our tax money gets spent, how it gets deviated," he said. "I think government gets out of proportion to what it should be doing."

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