To the editor:

In rural Minnesota over the last thirty years, one fact is clear: your community is either growing or dying. There is no middle ground. There is no hoping to stay the same. Over the last twenty plus years, Bob Byrnes has made sure that Marshall has been growing and thriving while most of rural Minnesota has been in population and economic decline.

He has been a part of huge community projects such as the Red Barron Arena, the Parkway Housing Addition, the Carr Addition, the Marshall Area Y as well as new water and sewer projects throughout our community.

Marshall has a strong economic foundation to build these projects and when our community does have debt, it is secured by revenue such as Tall Grass Liquor or Marshall Municipal Utilities. The mayor’s leadership at regional and statewide organizations allows him to advocate for Marshall at the state legislature, the governor’s office as well as in Washington, D.C.

At this time of uncertainly in our country and an almost certain economic crisis because of the after effects of COVID, we need trusted, veteran leadership in our mayor’s seat. We need to reelect Bob Byrnes to continue to meet the challenges small, rural communities face in our state. Join me in supporting Bob Byrnes for Mayor of Marshall on November 3rd.

Jim Smalley

Marshall