In Wednesday's Alexandria EchoPress, there's news of another Republican candidate signing up to run against long-serving DFL Blue Dog U.S. Representative Collin Peterson, now the chair of the House Ag Committee. Al Edenloff reports in Novak runs for Congress in 7th District:
A candidate with an extensive military background, Joel A. Novak of Alexandria, recently announced that he will be running as a Republican for U.S. representative in Minnesota's 7th Congressional District in 2020.
The incumbent is Collin Peterson, DFL-Detroit Lakes, who has held the office since his election in 1990.
Novak has lived in western Minnesota his whole life, 58 years. He said he's running for many reasons, but two stand out:
"One, for the past 29 years, the views of the people of western Minnesota have not been represented in Washington," he said. "Number two, I want to represent those views. My views, our views, are American views."
Novak said he believes in liberty, adding that the U.S. was founded on the idea.
We are eager to learn which of Collin Peterson's views are unAmerican.
There's also this:
He said he believes in equal rights and equal responsibilities for every American. "Unlike our opponents, we do not believe that inferior people need to be lifted. Every human being is a child of God. If they are given equal rights and equal responsibilities, they can succeed."
Bluestem believes it's up to Novak to unpack who these "inferior people" are. Not helping out with that one. More substantial, Novak is a lawyer with a military background:
Novak graduated from Jefferson Senior High in Alexandria, and received a degree in political science, pre-law and military science at Drake University.
He earned a juris doctor degree from Drake University Law School, and received his master's degree in military law, with a specialty in criminal law, from The Judge Advocate General's School. Novak enlisted in 1977; served as an airborne soldier from 1981-1984 in the 82nd Airborne Division, was commissioned in 1987 and retired in 2008. He's earned more than 25 awards and decorations for his military service.
The Echo Press archives tell additional tales of Novak. In 2017, Beth Leipholz reported in A tricky transplant: Iraq veteran found a kidney donor but needs temporary housing:
Over the course of his 30-year military career, Novak was placed on sick leave twice for high blood pressure. The first time, he was put on a medication, but after a week his blood pressure hadn't gone down. So the doctor doubled the dosage.
Later, while in Iraq, a doctor he saw wanted to double the dosage yet again. But another doctor stepped in, asking whether Novak had kidney problems.
"The doctor said that this medication is exactly the wrong type of medication for someone with polycystic kidneys to be on," Novak said. "It causes fluid and salt to built up around kidneys. He said, 'If they double it, even if your kidneys are working 100 percent, you'll be dead in a week.'"
The workup revealed that Novak's kidneys were only functioning at 60 percent. He was advised to return to the United States. However, he felt he was needed in Iraq for another month, so he stayed and did his best to manage his kidney function.
After a month, he was flown back to Colorado. He called Susan, who was unaware of his condition, to pick him up from the airport.
"He was unrecognizable," she said. "He was extremely bloated with gray skin. I knew he was deathly ill from looking at him. He needed a kidney then, and that was 2005."
Novak retired from the military in 2008 and eventually returned to his hometown of Alexandria. His kidney problems continued to escalate. He eventually began to see a decline in his energy levels.
"Now I look back and can see the steady trail of deterioration," he said. "A little over a year ago, the bottom fell out." . . .
The unknown timing complicates things, because it makes planning housing nearly impossible. Also adding to the stress is that fact that the Novaks have no idea how long they need to have housing, as the recovery time differs for everyone. The University of Minnesota Medical Center — which is the location where Novak must have the surgery for insurance reasons — does not provide housing for those recovering from transplants.
"The U of M is probably the best transplant center in the world," Novak said. "Only four places in Minnesota do transplants, and only one has a place for patients to recover. If you look outside Minnesota, the majority have places to recover. While we're ahead in some ways, we're behind in others."
The Novaks can afford to spend about three weeks in a hotel in Minneapolis if necessary. But any longer would wreak havoc on their finances, Susan says. The hospital has told them they may have to stay in the area up to a year, which could cost about $36,000 for a hotel or rental.
The Novaks are in the planning stages of a fundraiser. If they raise more money than they need, they have a plan to give back.
"Say we raise the $36,000 to stay for a year, and we only have to stay for two weeks," Novak said. "Then we use the $36,000 to buy a residence in the area for the next poor guy that comes along (and faces this issue)."
...Novak agrees, stating help for housing and recovery just shouldn't be this hard to come by.
"This shouldn't happen to any military retirees, it shouldn't happen to any veteran who honorably served and it really shouldn't happen to anyone who just needs help," he said.
Indeed, though we're curious whether Novak would work to make that insight policy. In April, Novak submitted a letter critical of Peterson, Peterson isn't taking care of veterans, to the paper, in which reader learn that Novak in First Vice Commander of American Legion Post 87.
Neither Novak nor his wife have contributed reportable amounts to state-level political candidates or committee, according to records (search here) at the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. We were not able to find a federal-level contribution in the FEC database for the last four years. Despite the paucity of giving, Novak is a Republican, having served as a Douglas County Delegate in 2014 to the congressional and state conventions.
Civil court records in Minnesota suggest that Novak was divorced in 2000 (Case 21-F1-00-000712). He has no criminal records or tickets in the database.
We'll post more about the candidate as matters develop.
Photo: Joel and Susan Novak, via Alexandria Echo Press.
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