Looking for a straight shooter with the right experience to be an effective representative for the people of rural Blue Earth, Waseca and Faribault counties?

If you take the candidates’ word for it, voters in District 24B can’t go wrong.

“I’m known for looking somebody in the eye and telling them what they need to hear rather than what they want to hear,” Rep. Tony Cornish said.

A Republican from rural Vernon Center, Cornish is seeking his third term in the House.

He’s being opposed by Waseca County Commissioner Jim Peterson, a Democrat from rural Hartland.

“My reputation is ‘Don’t ask the question if you don’t want the answer,’” Peterson said. “I’m going to give it to you even though it might not be what you want to hear.”

Hard work, results

Now retired, Cornish was a police officer, sheriff’s deputy, conservation officer and state Capitol lobbyist for his fellow conservation officers.

An unabashed conservative, Cornish said he offers voters honesty, hard work and a record of success in getting legislation passed.

“You can’t find anybody more honest,” he said. “... You can’t outwork me.”

In the 2005 legislative session, only one other member of the House — a committee chairman — got more bills passed, Cornish said. And back in the district, he said, people can barely go to a church dinner, school band concert or a coffee shop without running into him.

Cornish has brought state dollars and special legislation to District 24B for everything from the Rapidan Dam to Farmamerica.

After attending several candidate forums where he and Peterson discussed a variety of issues, Cornish said he hasn’t seen enough disagreement to explain why Peterson wants to replace him. He’d like to ask Peterson a question.

“If you agree with me on every point, why the hell are you running against me?”

Nonpartisan experience