Introduction from Allen Quist - Republican
Allen Quist was born in 1944 in St. Peter, Minnesota. He is the son of
Orville Quist, a high school principal and teacher, and Gertrude Quist,
also a public school teacher.
Allen is a graduate of St. Peter High School, Gustavus Adolphus college
and Mankato State University. Allen is married to Julie Quist, whom he
affectionately refers to as "one of the most powerful women in Minnesota."
Allen, Julie and family live in rural St. Peter on the same farm
homesteaded by Allen's ancestors in 1858.
The Quist farm is both financially successful and environmentally
friendly. The Quist's protect and maintain three wetlands, one of them
constructed by Allen at his own expense 15 years ago. Allen has been a
pioneer of conservation tillage and has not used a moldboard plow for 12
years.
He and his family also protect and maintain 25 acres of virgin hardwood
forest. One burr oak in that forest is among the largest recorded living
oaks in Minnesota, having a circumference of over 15 feet.
Allen is an avid fishing enthusiast/ He makes the following campaign
promise: "If elected governor, I predict that I will not go 0 for 7 on
Minnesota's fishing openers." His one regret in being a candidate for
governor is having too little time to match wits with the wily walleye.
Julie Quist serves as manager of the Quist for Governor Campaign. Is she
the first woman to manage a statewide campaign for a male candidate? A few
weeks ago (if you can believe this), a reporter asked Allen at a press
conference if having Julie as campaign manager was the best he could do?
Allen's response was, "Why shop for a Volkswagon when there is a Cadillac
in the garage?"
Allen has a strong background in education and in government. He holds
two graduate degrees and was Professor of Psychology at Bethany Lutheran
College from 1968 to 1983. He served in the Minnesota House of
Representatives from 1983 to 1988 and was a member of the House Education
Committee during those three terms.
He had a distinguished career in the House, being chief author of the bill
that created Minnesota's Department of Jobs and Training, chief author of
the bill that created the non-smoking program in the public schools, and
chief author of the bill that created the task force which played a key
role in constructing the law which legalized home schooling.
Allen was also elected to represent Minnesota at the White House
Conference on Families in 1980, was chair of the House Social Services
Subcommittee from 1985 to 1986, and was co-chair of the Minnesota Bob Dole
Steering Committee in 1996.
Allen was the Republican endorsed candidate for governor in 1994. He is
making genuine education reform the centerpiece of his campaign.
