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The Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Political Action Committee is the state’s only PAC focused exclusively on lake and river protection, restoration and stewardship. We have relationships with many legislators spanning 30 years. We also have deep relationships with many county commissioners, local boards, governments, and civic institutions.

MLR is trusted. A University of Minnesota study found that MLR is the most trusted source of information about AIS, second only to the University of Minnesota itself. They trust us. MLR’s commitment to building local civic infrastructure based on democratic principles. The principles underlie all of the work MLRA, MLR P&E and MLR PAC do:

The Civic Governance Identity is grounded in the following Civic Principles:

Human Capacity (to govern for the common good)

  • Every individual is a policy maker and has the capacity to know what is good, to grow in that knowledge, to govern for the common good, and to be a co-producer of justice in the world.  Civic Leaders are obligated to organize the civic infrastructure to achieve this outcome.

Democracy (A system of governance that requires citizens to govern for the common good)

  • Rule by “the people” is the best system of human governance.  All stakeholders organize a civic infrastructure to govern for the common good and produce justice in the tension between individual and diverse interests.

Active Citizenship (Civic Leadership) (Role that obligates all stakeholders to govern for the common good)

  • An active citizen is a governing member.  In a democracy, citizens are obligated to govern for the good of the whole.  In return for their contributions, citizens share in the rewards of a just society.  Civic Leaders are obligated to organize the infrastructure needed for individuals to be active citizens in institutions of family, faith, community, work, learning and governance.

Political Competence (mindset and skill needed to carry out obligation of active citizenship)

  • Politics is the “work of the citizen”.  All citizens are responsible to develop the political competence to define problems, produce solutions, and establish policies in light of civic principles and standards while achieving their particular goals. This mindset and the civic skills needed to carry out the role of active citizenship is dependent upon civic leaders who organize the capacity for key stakeholders in their jurisdiction to carry out the obligation of active citizenship.  

Institutional Efficacy (Societal structure needed to sustain democracy and develop active citizenship)

  • In a democracy, institutions of family, faith, work, community, learning, and governance sustain the democratic values of our society and ensure the capacity to govern for the common good. Civic leaders and active citizens know they are obligated to produce the civic institutions and infrastructure necessary to sustain democracy as a just system of governance.

    Policymakers trust the MLR PAC because they have seen we are dedicated to building Democratic civic infrastructure.

     By educating and supporting elected water champions in local government offices, energy commissions, county-level policymakers, and state elected officials, the MLR PAC ensures that the values and priorities of lake and river communities across the state are served. After all, there is no other PAC giving a voice to these communities.

    Lakes and rivers aren’t just features of our landscape, they’re deeply intertwined with the social and economic fabric of our state. Minnesota’s outdoor recreation economy is worth over $13.5 billion per year, and most of that comes from our waters (Explore MN). Lakes and rivers cannot speak for themselves. That’s why we need donors like you to help us elect water champions from Faribault to Grand Marais. It’s not just about the environment, it’s about our way of life.