Jeff Backer

{{Short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jeff Backer | image = | state = Minnesota | state_house = Minnesota | district = 9A | constituency = 9A (2023-present)<br/ >12A (2015-2022) | term_start = January 6, 2015 | term_end = | preceded = Jay McNamar | succeeded = | party = Republican | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1967|01|03}} | birth_place = Browns Valley, Minnesota, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = St. Cloud State University (BS) | occupation = {{hlist|Small business owner|Legislator}} | spouse = Judy | children = 1 | website = {{URL|https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15428|Government website}} {{URL|https://www.jeffbacker.com/|Campaign website}} }} '''Jeff Backer Jr.''' (born January 3, 1967) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Backer represents District 9A in western Minnesota, which includes the city of Fergus Falls, Grant, Traverse, and Wilkin Counties, and parts of Otter Tail County.<ref name="state">{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.aspx?ID=15428|title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Backer, Jeff|publisher=leg.state.mn.us|access-date=February 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rep. Jeff Backer (09A) - Minnesota House of Representatives |url=https://www.house.mn.gov/members/profile/15428 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=www.house.mn.gov}}</ref>

Backer was Woodbury Mayor Mary Giuliani Stephens' pick for lieutenant governor in the Republican primary for the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election; the pair withdrew from the race during the Republican party state convention.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Golden |first=Erin |date=May 5, 2018 |title=Woodbury mayor running for governor taps rural state representative as GOP running mate |website=Star Tribune |url=https://www.startribune.com/woodbury-mayor-running-for-governor-taps-rural-state-representative-as-running-mate/481529531/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180505065603/http://www.startribune.com/giuliani-stephens-names-backer-to-ticket-in-gop-governor-bid/481514221/ |archive-date=2018-05-05 |access-date=2023-02-12 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=May 2, 2018 |title=Giuliani Stephens picks rural lawmaker as running mate |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/05/02/giuliani-stephens-picks-rural-lawmaker-as-running-mate |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref>

==Early life, education, and career== Backer was born and raised in Browns Valley, Minnesota and graduated from Browns Valley High School. He attended St. Cloud State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and public administration.<ref name="state" />

Backer has served as a volunteer EMT for Browns Valley Ambulance since 1995. Backer was a member of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training from 2007 to 2010.<ref name="jeffbackerjr">{{cite web |title=Meet Jeff |url=http://jeffbackerjr.com/index.php/meet-jeff |access-date=February 17, 2015 |publisher=jeffbackerjr.com |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304054210/http://jeffbackerjr.com/index.php/meet-jeff |url-status=dead }}</ref> He served as a member of the Browns Valley school board, and was elected to Browns Valley City Council in 2000. Backer was elected mayor in 2004 and served until 2010.<ref name="state" /> Backer was mayor during a major flood in 2007 in Browns Valley and sought federal and state disaster assistance, eventually receiving $2 million in flood relief fom the state legislature.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gunderson |first=Dan |date=March 14, 2007 |title=Cleanup begins in flooded town |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2007/03/14/flooding |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=August 26, 2007 |title=State flood aid may be a long time coming |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2007/08/24/floodmoney |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref> Following the flood, Backer led efforts on a flood prevention and control project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Minnesota News Network |date=May 6, 2008 |title=Browns Valley purchases land to control flooding |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2008/05/06/highwater |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MPR News |date=March 18, 2010 |title=Flood project holds up in Browns Valley |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2010/03/18/backer2 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref>

==Minnesota House of Representatives== Backer was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2014 and has been reelected every two years since. He defeated one-term DFL incumbent Jay McNamar.<ref name="state" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pugmire |first=Tim |date=November 19, 2014 |title=New Republicans in the MN House vow to set the agenda |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/11/19/republicans-minnesota-house |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref> Backer dubbed his opponent "Metro Jay" and attacked him for his votes on taxes, increasing the minimum wage, and to legalize protections for same-sex marriage.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scheck |first=Tom |date=October 15, 2014 |title=Republicans try to portray DFL as ignoring rural MN |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2014/10/14/rural-minnesota-battleground |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Condon |first=Patrick |date=January 25, 2015 |title=Urban-rural split in Minnesota grows deeper, wider |url=https://www.startribune.com/urban-rural-split-in-minnesota-grows-deeper-and-wider/289688071/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bierschbach |first=Briana |date=2014-11-11 |title=How the House GOP conquered rural Minnesota |url=https://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2014/11/how-house-gop-conquered-rural-minnesota/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US}}</ref>

Backer serves as the minority lead for the Legacy Finance Committee, and also sits on the Health Finance and Policy and Human Services Policy Committees.<ref name="state" />

=== Agriculture and the environment === Backer has opposed environmental protections and agricultural regulations, calling them "reckless" and "irresponsible".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Berkel |first=Jessie |date=April 30, 2022 |title=Minnesota legislators clash over climate change, environmental spending |url=https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-legislators-clash-over-climate-change-environmental-spending/600169470/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> He sponsored bills to limit the authority of Governor Mark Dayton's administration to make rules on farm fertilizers, and criticized Dayton's executive orders to protect pollinators.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcotty |first=Josephine |date=April 25, 2018 |title=Overuse of farm fertilizer drives state's first effort to regulate it |url=https://www.startribune.com/overuse-of-farm-fertilizer-drives-state-s-first-effort-to-regulate-it/480757011/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lopez |first=Ricardo |date=September 13, 2016 |title=House GOP criticize Dayton's executive order on pollinator rules |url=https://www.startribune.com/house-gop-criticize-dayton-s-executive-order-on-pollinator-rules/393285491/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> Backer advocated requiring departments get legislative approval before making new regulations and rules.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marohn |first=Kristi |date=April 16, 2018 |title=Bill would require legislative approval for fertilizer rules |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/04/16/bill-would-require-legislative-approval-for-fertilizer-rules |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marcotty |first=Josephine |date=April 19, 2018 |title=Minnesota Legislature on collision course with Gov. Dayton on water bills |url=https://www.startribune.com/legislature-on-collision-course-with-dayton-on-water-bills/480319163/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>

=== Other political positions === Backer opposed measures to raise the minimum wage in Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bakst |first=Brian |date=April 25, 2019 |title=Local min. wage hikes emerge as Capitol sticking points |url=https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/04/25/local-minimum-wage-hikes-emerge-as-capitol-sticking-points |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=MPR News |language=en}}</ref> He attacked Governor Dayton for his commitment to the Southwest light rail project.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Coolican |first1=J. Patrick |last2=Webster |first2=MaryJo |date=March 20, 2017 |title=Metro contributes roughly half of state transportation dollars, gets fewer in return |url=https://www.startribune.com/metro-contributes-half-of-transportation-dollars-gets-fewer-in-return/416565963/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> Backer was a member of a task force to reform child protection laws, and supported a 2018 bill to extend funding for mental health care for children.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simons |first=Abby |date=January 21, 2015 |title=Task force members unveil child protection legislation, say it's just the beginning |url=https://www.startribune.com/task-force-unveils-sweeping-plan-to-reform-child-protection-laws/289345021/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Star Tribune Editorial Board |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} Federal rule change threatens mental health care for Minnesota kids |url=https://www.startribune.com/federal-rule-change-threatens-mental-health-care-for-minnesota-kids/482334941/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> He signed on to a letter calling on the University of Minnesota to stop participating in research on "aborted human fetal organs," and signed on to a letter calling on Attorney General Lori Swanson to investigate Planned Parenthood for allegedly selling fetal body parts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Multiple Authors |date=July 16, 2015 |title=Readers Write (July 17): Planned Parenthood, MNsure and the Affordable Care Act, Tennessee shooting |url=https://www.startribune.com/readers-write-july-17-planned-parenthood-mnsure-and-the-affordable-care-act-tennessee-shooting/316054391/ |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Whelan |first=Abigail |date=January 15, 2016 |title=OPINION EXCHANGE {{!}} Fetal tissue research should cease at U |url=https://www.startribune.com/fetal-tissue-research-should-cease-at-u/365492261/ |access-date=2023-04-08 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref> Backer praised a bill passed by the House in December 2020 providing aid to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Star Tribune Editorial Board |date=December 15, 2020 |title=EDITORIAL {{!}} Compromise produced COVID aid deal |url=https://www.startribune.com/compromise-produced-covid-aid-deal/573402101/ |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Star Tribune}}</ref>

== Electoral history ==

{{Election box begin no change | title = 2014 Republican Primary for Minnesota State House - District 12A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=19&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2014 Results for State Representative District 12A Primary|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Backer | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 1,777 | percentage = 55.55 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Nancy A. Taffe | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 1,422 | percentage = 44.45 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 3,199 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title = 2014 Minnesota State House - District 12A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=20&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2014 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Backer | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 8,725 | percentage = 51.85 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jay McNamar (incumbent) | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 8,065 | percentage = 47.93 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 38 | percentage = 0.23 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 16,828 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box gain with party link without swing | winner = Republican Party of Minnesota | loser = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title = 2016 Minnesota State House - District 12A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=100&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2016 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent) | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 13,021 | percentage = 60.46 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jay McNamar | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 8,498 | percentage = 39.46 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 17 | percentage = 0.08 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 21,536 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Republican Party of Minnesota }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title = 2018 Minnesota State House - District 12A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=115&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2018 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent) | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 11,382 | percentage = 62.02 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Murray Smart | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 6,959 | percentage = 37.92 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 10 | percentage = 0.05 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 18,351 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Republican Party of Minnesota }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title = 2020 Minnesota State House - District 12A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=136&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=377&show=Go|title=2020 Results for State Representative District 12A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent) | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 14,769 | percentage = 66.87 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Murray Smart | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 7,299 | percentage = 33.05 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 17 | percentage = 0.08 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 22,085 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Republican Party of Minnesota }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change | title = 2022 Minnesota State House - District 9A<ref>{{cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/results/Index?ErsElectionId=149&scenario=StateRepresentative&DistrictId=371&show=Go|title=2022 Results for State Representative District 9A|access-date=February 10, 2023|website=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | candidate = Jeff Backer (incumbent) | party = Republican Party of Minnesota | votes = 12,248 | percentage = 66.30 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | candidate = Nancy Jost | party = Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party | votes = 6,172 | percentage = 33.41 }} {{Election box write-in with party link no change | votes = 54 | percentage = 0.29 }} {{Election box total no change | votes = 18,474 | percentage = 100.0 }} {{Election box hold with party link no change | winner = Republican Party of Minnesota }} {{Election box end}}

==Personal life== Backer lives in Browns Valley, Minnesota with his wife, and has one child.<ref name="state" /> Backer taught fifth and sixth grade release time at Browns Valley's Zion Lutheran Church, where he is an active member. He is a member of the Browns Valley Lions Club.<ref name="jeffbackerjr"/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{MN-legdb|15428}} * [https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/profile/15428 Official House of Representatives website] * [https://www.jeffbacker.com/ Official campaign website]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Backer, Jeff}} Category:1967 births Category:Living people Category:People from Browns Valley, Minnesota Category:St. Cloud State University alumni Category:Minnesota city council members Category:Mayors of places in Minnesota Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Lutherans from Minnesota Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature