21 Facts About Jeff Backer

Jeff 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.

Jeff Backer was born and raised in Browns Valley, Minnesota and graduated from Browns Valley High School.

Jeff Backer attended St Cloud State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry and public administration.

Jeff Backer has served as a volunteer EMT for Browns Valley Ambulance since 1995.

Jeff Backer was a member of the Minnesota Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training from 2007 to 2010.

Jeff Backer served as a member of the Browns Valley school board, and was elected to Browns Valley City Council in 2000.

Jeff Backer was elected mayor in 2004 and served until 2010.

Jeff 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.

Jeff Backer was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2014 and has been reelected every two years since.

Jeff 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.

Jeff Backer serves as the minority lead for the Legacy Finance Committee, and sits on the Health Finance and Policy and Human Services Policy Committees.

Jeff Backer has opposed environmental protections and agricultural regulations, calling them "reckless" and "irresponsible".

Jeff Backer 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.

Jeff Backer advocated requiring departments get legislative approval before making new regulations and rules.

Jeff Backer opposed measures to raise the minimum wage in Minnesota.

Jeff Backer attacked Governor Dayton for his commitment to the Southwest light rail project.

Jeff 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.

Jeff Backer 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.

Jeff Backer praised a bill passed by the House in December 2020 providing aid to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jeff Backer taught fifth and sixth grade release time at Browns Valley's Zion Lutheran Church, where he is an active member.

Jeff Backer is a member of the Browns Valley Lions Club.