Dave Racer

Personal

Dave has been married to Rosanne for 39 years. They have five children and two grandchildren. The Racers live in Minnesota.

Primary Occupation:

Author

Publisher

Editorialist

His books include:

•      In The Shadow of Joseph: Letters from Prison: (Scheduled for release in late May, 2004) A collection of 27 pair of inspirational letters written between Tom Bird (see Caged Bird below) and Pastor Ken Kothe.  Dave' s introductory chapter tells the Bird story, and his 27 meditations tie together the thoughts and spirit of the letters.  Gov. Al Quie wrote the book's forward.

• Death by Design: Just completed and not yet published.  The true story of the chase for Andrew Cunanan, the man who killed five others, including Gianni Versace, before taking his own life.  This is the story of Lee Urness, the cop who managed the 79-day manhunt.  Watch for this.

•     To Change the Heart of Man:  The biography of Harold D. Kletschka, M.D., the Father of the Artificial Heart.  Rising from the backwoods of Minnesota to become a board certified thoracic, general and cardiovascular surgeon, with a law degree from Blackstone School of Law, a graduate of the USAF Air War College (Colonel), and the co-founder of Bio-Medicus, Inc.  Co-inventor of the Bio-Pump®.  Watch for this.

•     America's Creed:  A booklet describing the power resident in the American Declaration of Independence.

•     Parental Choice in Education: A booklet describing an alternative way of organizing public schools around sectarian beliefs.

•    Caged Bird- 2000, Alethos Press LLC, 736-pages, paperback. True crime story about the Rev. Thomas P. Bird, convicted of murdering his wife in 1983. This book proves that Bird was wrongfully convicted.

•    Americans Christians and Government, 1997, Tiny Press, 96-pages, paperback.

•    Two weeks that will last Forever, 1996, Skogerboe Publications, 260-page, paperback.

•    Camp Keyes, 1997, Tiny Press, 48-page booklet. (Out of print)

•    NOT FOR SALE The Rev. Sun Myung Moon & One American’s Freedom, 1988, Tiny Press, 96-pages.

•    Poor Rudolph’s Almanack #1: Welcome to Hibbing, 32-page booklet, 1988, Tiny Press. (Special order only ~ inquire here.)

•   Smokie’s Last Job, 1986, Tiny Press, 260-pages, paperback.  (Special order only ~ inquire here.)

He owns a small  publishing company: Alethos Press LLC, formed in 1999.

Dave was the Publisher and Senior Editor of a Minnesota-based monthly political newspaper, Dave Racer's Minnesota Report, published from 1987-1990.  A large number of Dave's editorial can be accessed on this website at Dave's Editorials.  He has also written essays on government available on this website .

Businessman

From 1974 to 1983, Dave owned and operated two ServiceMaster franchises, employing an average of 15 fulltime employees while becoming the second largest franchise in Minnesota. He sold those franchises to a Twin Cities man whom he had helped train, and now who owns nine Minnesota franchises.

From 1984 to the present, Dave has operated as an independent businessman managing several projects. These included the national management of a national Presidential campaign with a staff of 35 and a budget in excess of $5 million. In 1996 he started-up a non-profit corporation, The Declaration Foundation, as the President and CEO, along with Dr. Alan Keyes, who acted as the Chairman and COO.

Dave turned over The Declaration Foundation to Keyes’ Washington, D.C.-based group in 1998.  In 2002, he and two associates founded The Declaration Project LLC, of which Dave sits as Chairman and CEO.

Other business ventures have included the publication of a newspaper, the operation of a Twin Cities talk radio show,  a consultant to numerous political campaigns and the owner/operator of a very successful ServiceMaster business (sold in 1983).

In the interim periods, Dave has worked as an independent communications consultant.

Political Veteran

Dave served as the National Campaign Manager for Alan Keyes for President '96, Inc. He is a four-time GOP endorsed candidate for the Minnesota Legislature. He has consulted to four gubernatorial campaigns (managed one) and numerous state house and senate campaigns.

The Reform Party of Minnesota elected Dave as its new chairman in April, 2000.

He has been a delegate to GOP conventions at every level, including serving as a national delegate to the 1996 Republican National Convention in San Diego, California and 2000 Reform Party USA Convention.

He has served as a GOP party officer at the precinct and house district level.

Racer's talk radio show, appropriately named The Dave Racer Show was heard on AM 980 KKMS in the Twin Cities from 1997-2001, and previously, from 2-5 p.m. weekdays on AM 1070 KMOM.

Dave's Editorials have appeared in several newspapers and online commentary servers.

He wrote and produced more than 230 :60-second “Declaration Minutes” for Alan Keyes nationally syndicated talk radio show, America’s Wake Up Call.

Dave speaks to groups of all kinds who are interested in issues of freedom and liberty.

As a veteran of fiscal conservative political battles, Dave addresses the impact of politics and culture on businesses and job creation. As a "Declarationist," he addresses contemporary issues from an historical perspective.

He has spoken at Rotary, Kiwanis, Sertoma, Lions, Optimists, Chambers of Commerce, trade groups, churches, graduations and numerous political events. For information write to Dave.

Church Service

Dave is a lay preacher and a very active member of the music program at First Evangelical Free Church, in Maplewood, Minnesota. He sings in a Gospel quartet, Four Free Men. Dave and Rosanne have performed Gospel music for churches, nursing homes, high rises and other benevolent organizations.

Dave has also served his church as Chairman and taught adult and college age Sunday School for more than 10 years. He served on the board of the 1999 and 2000 St. Paul Prayer Breakfasts.

Civic Affiliations

Dave is the founding President of The Declaration Foundation (Chaired by Alan Keyes). He is the President (former Chairman of the Board and President) of The Constitution Educational Foundation.  He is the current Chairman, CEO and co-founder of The Declaration Project LLC.

Dave has served as a consultant to the Ikemba Foundation, a non-profit group seeking to raise funds to build a medical facility in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.  He is a member of the Executive Committee of EdWatch, an education research and watchdog group in Minnesota.

Dave was the Executive Director of Minnesota Proposition 180 Degrees, a small business advocacy group, during the mid-1980s. He also served the same position with the Minnesota Employers' RoundTable.

Dave is a four-year Viet Nam era veteran of the United States Air Force, where he served as a program writer and classroom instructor.

He graduated from John A. Johnson High School in 1965.

He majored in Educational Psychology (originally in Music Education) at the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Minnesota and Macalaster College in St. Paul, Minnesota.