About Tim Utz
My life began over 50 plus years ago in St. Paul, Minnesota, but I did not stay long in MN. At an early age, my family moved to the jungles of southern Mexico for missionary work. After a six month stay in Mexico (apparently my family was not suited for such a lifestyle), we settled in Southern California where I grew up and attended both public and private Christian schools. My father spent 35 years as an elementary school teacher, and my mother held various employment and volunteer positions. I have three younger sisters. One sister lives in Minnesota and the other two live in California. 
After graduation in 1977 I considered moving to Australia, but family events changed my plans and I returned to my birth state of Minnesota and attended a Christian Bible college for one year. After one year of college I embarked on my career in construction, investing four years in a joint state/business/union apprenticeship program, then graduating in 1981. I worked as a union master carpenter for about 13 years in commercial and institutional construction. Then in 1994 with the support of my employer, I completed a series of courses in regard to construction superintendent. Events within construction provided opportunities to provide full charge supervising of several projects during the following years ranging from $500,000.00 to $12,000,000.00.
I did marry in 1977 but as with far too many Minnesotans, my marriage ended in 1988. I experienced the trials, heartaches and financial burdens associated with divorce. The unfortunate experience of divorce had both positive and negative long-term influence in my life.
In the late 1980s, I lived on site as a caretaker for a section 8 housing project. The three years I spent working and living with folks who are in need provided a perspective not available to most people. Many times my personal opinions of people and expectations were challenged. Some 40 households and 80 plus kids in this downtown location provided many opportunities for my personal growth. Over time, folks learned they could trust my word and came to believe I genuinely cared for their betterment of life. I became a father figure to many of the children who lived in the complex.
After my divorce I continued working in construction and I also picked up other work, such as working in a mortuary. I worked within this industry for over three years. As part of my employment I assisted morticians in securing deceased individuals and processing their bodies. I also assisted in other aspects of mortuary service. This 
experience provided an appreciation for life, the value of the human sprit, and finality of death.
In 1996 I met Nadine. We dated for two years and in April 1998 we tied the knot. Between us, we have seven adult children, six girls and one boy. Nay has four daughters and five grandchildren. I have a son, who married a lovely woman with two children. I also have two daughters and two grandchildren. All of our kids live in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul area.
Shortly after Nadine and I married we had an opportunity to build our dream home. We purchased a lot in the Camden neighborhood of North Minneapolis and set out building our custom dream home. Just two short weeks into the 
construction Nadine made an announcement. She redefined her construction title to “support services” and declared “when you get hungry call and I will feed you - - until we start painting you are on your own.” Motivated by our November start and Nadine’s new title, I worked every night until 10:00 pm and every weekend for nine months. With the occasional help from friends and our new neighbors I completed our home in July of 2000, and we moved in. Over the next few years we completed the basement, front and back yard, and made several renovations to the new home.
Nadine continues to support my many life adventures. Though she is always behind me and sometimes with an “are you kidding” response, Nadine is still there. One such example is when we ventured into the business world of owning a commercial general contracting company for four years. Through several years of challenges and personal growth, we learned many aspects of the small business world. Unfortunately, we had to shut the door on our business in March of 2008.
In 2005 we moved across the river to Columbia Heights, purchasing a 1921 two story building. The structure housed an office on the main floor and the upper floor had a small outdated apartment. Soon we started renovations to discover several challenges. We ended up shelling the structure to the exterior walls and completely renovating the building, bringing the structure up to building code standards.
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Being a Baptist, over the decades I have participated in regular church activities. Summer softball leagues, youth leader, church cleaner, construction coordinator, are some of my church activities. I even participated in the church choir, though many fellow church members would probably contest that I could actually carry a tune.
I have also been blessed with opportunities of traveling through 35 states in this great country of ours. And my travels have led me to one conclusion: we are blessed to live in the greatest country in the history of humanity. We have no business taking this blessing for granted. Humbly obeying God and seeking His blessing, along with holding our Constitution in honor as the supreme rule of law, are our fundamental duties as Americans.
Our founding fathers gave America a constitutional representative republic, established to utilize citizen representation expressed in upholding the Constitution. Public servants are to understand government’s role of providing security, protecting personal liberty, punishing evil, and advocating personal responsibility. I trust you recognize a fellow citizen willing to participate in public service as our founding fathers proposed in our constitutional form of government. I am prepared to serve. Are you prepared to send me?
Our state needs strong leadership and as the “We the People’s” representative I will bring that strong leadership to the Minnesota House of Representatives. I will serve my fellow district citizens by following our State Constitution while in St. Paul at the Capitol. I seek your continued support and your vote on November 2, 2010.