Tarryl Clark emails “from the trail”

Too bad Tarryl got manhandled by Michelle Bachmann…….sorry, not the best choice of words:
 

Dear friend,
I wanted to take a moment to give you an update from the campaign trail. Running for Congress isn’t easy, but the best part about it is that I get to hear from so many different people from all across our region about their families, their communities, and their dreams for the future. 
In just the last two weeks, we were in Duluth, Chisholm, Ely, Finland, Eveleth, Hill City, Tower, Grand Rapids, Hinckley, Two Harbors, Virginia, Hibbing, and Milaca and in every one of these places we had great conversations about the priorities that need to be taken back to Washington.  
Just one example is a conversation I had about our education needs in Minnesota (and rural Minnesota in particular) in Eveleth with Dave and Laura Perry- all three of us share a passion for making sure we’re investing in our youngest learners and shrinking the achievement gap. For example, Dave has worked with the Invest Early initiative in Grand Rapids that helps young kids and their families thrive – an exciting initiative that I’ve connected with and promoted since it’s earliest stages when I was the Executive Director of the Minnesota Community Action Partnership. Bringing together strategies like Head Start and other early education, parent education and family services, the Invest Early approach successfully eliminates the achievement gap and strengthening families.  When I’m in Washington, I will work to remove the beaureacratic red tape that makes it challenging to put together this type of approach and advocate for the resources to make it possible to help all kids learn to read by 3 rd grade.  Doing so is vital to making sure children have the skills to realize their aspirations, no matter where they’re from. These are the conversations and ideas I will take to Washington to help get the country back on track. 
Our country needs serious people go to Washington and I have spent my entire life working on vital issues like education.  This is something that is near and dear to my heart that I’ve worked on for more than two decades and I will continue to advocate for in Washington.  Traveling across the region every week and meeting with folks from all walks of life, it is clear to me that we need someone in Washington that will focus on our priorities – not those of the big corporations and well-connected special interests.  
As we continue this campaign I ask all of you to join me in working hard to defeat Chip Cravaack and bring the priorities of middle-class families back to Washington.  Please sign up to volunteer. There are so many ways to get involved, from attending your precinct caucus, calling your neighbors and knocking on doors to writing letters to the editor, or even putting a ‘Clark for Congress’ sign on your ice house.  Every little bit helps! 
Together we can make sure that every child can get a good education, that there are good jobs that pay a living wage, and that Washington is working for our families and communities, not big corporations and special interest lobbyists. 
Thank you,
Tarryl