Party: DFL.
Age: 68.
Address: 207 Williams Road, Albert Lea.
Family: Married, five children.
Work history: Taught biology and coached several sports in Albert Lea School District 241 for 21 years. Served as principal of Janesville-Waldorf-Pemberton High School in Waldorf, Minn., for 13 years. He then worked for TCF Bank in the Twin Cities for five years before moving back to Albert Lea in the spring of 2003.
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Education history: Earned a degree in biology from St. Cloud State University in 1956, a master's degree in education administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato, in 1980, and a specialist degree from Mankato State in 1986. Also completed graduate work in geology at Kansas State University, Manhattan, and in biology at Howard University, Washington, D.C., and Mankato State.
Community activities: A member of both the Lions and Rotary clubs, serving as president of the Janesville (Minn.) Rotary Club in 1988-89 and 1997-98. Served as regional representative to the Minnesota Coaches Association for 11 years and as president of the Cross Country Coaches Association for one year. A member of the Minnesota Educational Association, the Albert Lea Educational Association, the Southwest Minnesota Association of Secondary School Administrators, the Minnesota Association of Secondary School Administrators and the National Association of Secondary School Administrators. Member of the Albert Lea Elks Club, Albert Lea Eagles Club, Audubon Society, the Senior Center, Toastmasters and the Trade and Labor Senior group.
Government history: None.
Contact information: Phone: (507) 377-0363; e-mail: jrkaphers@smig.net; Web site: www.mowercountydfl.org.
Top three issues:
1. The rapidly rising cost of health care.
2. The need to maintain and improve education.
3. Economic development.
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Candidate's statement:
My focus will be to improve health care access and costs, maintain and improve educational quality and opportunity, and improve business vitality and economic growth.
Five questions of the candidate:
1. Does state and national government bear any responsibility for the shortage of flu vaccine this year? Yes.
2. Is the family farm threatened with extinction in the 21st century? Yes.
3. Are today's public schools preparing our children for a competitive world economy? Yes, some are.
4. Do poor people in Minnesota stand a better chance of working their way above the poverty line than they did 20 years ago? No.
5. Can the state do more to help local authorities deal with the methamphetamine problem in rural Minnesota? Yes.
