Pete Nelson

A little over 20 years ago I met Pete Nelson while flooding the Lindstrom outdoor ice rinks.  At that time and before Pete had been heavily involved in the local hockey program as a coach as well as helping maintain the local ice rinks.  I recognized him since I had previously seen him while I was shopping at the local Community Meat Market which he owned and operated.  During times working at the ice rinks, conversation would invariable evolve to discussion about how nice it would be if we had an indoor ice arena, since outdoor ice was weather dependent and unpredictable.  When we were unable to skate outdoors we try to rent indoor ice time but would typically have to travel at least 30-40 miles to an indoor arena. 

 Unbeknownst to me, Pete Nelson was one of the people that took the bull by the horns and helped organize a group to build an indoor arena.  Pete has the ability of identifying individual skills that people have and leveraging those skills to advance an agenda.  It was not long after I met Pete that his group launched an effort to raise contributions to build the indoor arena.  I became part of the funding raising committee at that time and subsequently began working closely with Pete and others in the group.  What impressed me most about Pete was his high energy level, his community and business contacts and his organizing skills.  Pete provided the can do attitude and whenever a significant obstacle appeared he was there to make sure it did not derail our objective.  He convinced me and others to become part of the group as a member of the board of directors which would provide direction and man hours to make sure that the arena was successful. 

 The indoor ice arena that was built was structured by Pete's group as a 501(c)3 non profit corporation.  To my knowledge this $3 million dollar plus arena is the only indoor ice arena in Minnesota that was built without any assistance by taxpayer dollars.   It is a testimonial to the hard work and tenacity of people like Pete that enabled others to accomplish what most people saw as an impossible task.  

 In this day and age when many ask what government can do for them, Pete Nelson is one that stands out of the crowd to demonstrate what people can do for themselves and how one individual can make a tremendous difference.   

 I congratulate Pete on his success and endorse him for the position of Deputy Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party.

 Edward Arnold

State Republican Delegate

Chisago County, MN