Political Party

Anderson makes campaign official, courts "Tea Party" vote

Republican Pat Anderson stopped in Rochester today as part of a 14-city tour to kick off her gubernatorial campaign. The former State Auditor described herself as a "pro-liberty conservative," who embraces fiscal responsibility, the free-market system and individual responsibility.

Anderson has been busy courting members of the Tea Party movement. Anderson unveiled some of her policy ideas. They include eliminating the corporate income tax, lowering marginal tax rates across the board and expanding the sales tax base. She said that change would make Minnesota's business climate more competitive. She said she also supports school vouchers and getting rid of special tax benefits and subsidies that unfairly benefit some businesses and not others.

"It is a time to choose between a pro-liberty conservative approach to governing and the collectivist world view that would elevate the collective good over individual sovereignty, the needs of the state over the sanctity of private property, and the arbitrary desires of legislators over the rule of law," Anderson said.

She does share the socially conservative values of some of her fellow candidates including opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion.

Local Republican leaders line up behind Seifert

Today, Rep. Marty Seifert of Marshall unveiled a list of his backers from southeast Minnesota in his quest for the governor's mansion. The individuals are part of Seifert's "Southeast Minnesota Leadership Team."

Among the Rochester big hitters on the list are: Republican Party of Olmsted County Co-Chair Bruce Kaskubar, former Rep. Fran Bradley, former Rep. Carla Nelson, former state Senate candidate Dr. Scott Wright and 1st Congressional District Republicans Vice-Chair Duane Quam.

Seifert made the announcement during a live chat on his Web site. Here is the complete list of 23 supporters.

*Chuck Bradford – Mantorville, Chairman Dodge County Republicans, Deputy Chair 1st Congressional District Republicans
*Fran Bradley – Rochester, former State Representative
*Mike Falk- Albert Lea, Activist, Youth for McCain State Co-Chair 2008
*Katie Gottwalt – Mankato, Vice Chair Minnesota State-Mankato College Republicans
*Jerry Groebner – Madison Lake, Chairman Blue Earth County Republicans
*Bruce Kaskubar, Rochester, Chairman Olmsted County Republicans
*Bob Kierlin, Winona, Former State Senator, Founder of Fastenal
*Tom Kuntz – Owatonna, Mayor
*Mary Myers – Mankato, Republican National Alternate ’80, ’84, Local Reagan Chair
*Carla Nelson – Rochester, former State Representative
*Jerry Pappenfuss- Winona, business owner, past MN Broadcasters assoc. President
*Sean Paskach – Mankato, executive director Minnesota State-Mankato College Republicans
*Andru Peters- Lake City, Goodhue County BPOU state delegate
*Mark Piepho – Mankato, former State Representative and State Senator
*Robert F. Pierret – Mankato, longtime activist
*Aaron Pilcher- Waseca, Waseca County Activist
*Duane Quam – Byron, former Chair 1st Congressional District Republicans
*Dustin Quimby – Albert Lea, former Treasurer 1st Congressional District Republicans
*Lewis Reiman – Utica, former candidate State House
*Michelle Rifenberg- La Crescent, former State Representative, Former Deputy Chair Minnesota Republican Party
*Connie Ruth – Owatonna, former State Representative
*Howard Swenson – Nicollet, former State Representative
*Dr. Scott Wright – Rochester, former State Senate candidate
 

Rybak, Dayton draw Rochester voters' interest

Last night's speed-dating style candidate event drew more than 100 DFLers interested in checking out ten gubernatorial hopefuls. One of the most interesting parts of the night is when voters were given "ladies and gentlemen's choice" as to which candidate they visited.

During the first choice round, two candidates drew the biggest crowds — former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. Dayton had 15 voters, with Rybak grabbing 14. Now, it should be noted that voters were asked when they arrived who they wanted to see first. If a candidate's slot was full, they started with a different candidate. So the choice is not necessarily an indicator of people's first choice. Nonetheless, it did highlight which candidates were drawing voters' attention.

Coming in next was House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher with 11 and state Rep. Paul Thissen with 10. Here's how the remaining candidates were divvied out — state Rep. Tom Rukavina, 8; former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, 7; state Sen.John Marty, 7; Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, 6; former state Sen. Steve Kelley, 6; and state Sen. Tom Bakk, 4.

One voter said she was particular interested in Rybak because of the work he had done in Minneapolis. She was also interested in Entenza. Another chose to listen to Kelliher first, but said he fears that any candidate currently in the legislature will have a tough time winning. He had been slated to listen to Bakk but said he had no idea who he was and opted to skip him to listen to Gaertner.

The candidates also did their best to win over Rochester voters. Kelliher talked about the importance of having a big bonding bill this session to create jobs and mentioned the proposed Rochester Civic Center expansion as one of the projects that makes sense. Rybak said he is an ardent supporter of having the high-speed rail line go through Rochester.

Meanwhile, Entenza visited high schoolers at Grand Meadow on his way to Rochester. Thissen stopped by a bakery in Blooming Prairie.

It's DFL date night in Rochester

Ten DFL gubernatorial candidates will be in Rochester tonight as part of a speed-dating style format with voters. Participants will be put in small groups and rotate among the candidates.

The candidates scheduled to be at the event tonight include House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kellliher, state Sen. Tom Bakk, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, former state Rep. Matt Entenza, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, former state Sen. Steve Kelley, Sen. John Marty, state Rep. Tom Rukavina, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and state Rep. Paul Thissen.

The event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Rochester Community and Technical College's Heintz Center Commons, 1926 Collegeview Dr. S.E. in Rochester. The event is free and open to the public.

Senjem for governor? Local newspaper publisher makes the case

Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem got an unexpected endorsement for governor — even though he is not running.

Community News Corp Publisher Larry Dobson wrote an editorial with the headline "Senjem is good governor material." Community News Corp publishes the Byron Review, Dodge Center Star Record and the Hayfield Herald.

In his editorial, Dobson said he "decided to do something I've never done before and suggest a candidate for your consideration." That candidate is Senjem, a Rochester Republican.

In the editorial, he said that he has been impressed by Senjem's "integrity, reliability, tenacity and energy." He said Senjem has another prime quality— his lack of ambition when it comes to being governor.

"I know Dave isn't all that driven to be governor, but that is one reason I would like to see him in the office. He won't be using the office as a stepping stone to greater things, so he will be more inclined to consider what is best for Minnesota, rather than what is best for him."

So what does Senjem think about this?

He said he surprised by the editorial and "humbled" by it. He said that at this point he is not interested in running for governor although "you never say never."

He added, "We've got certainly enough in terms of legislative activities that haunt me and keep me active. The idea that I would step away from that and take on a governor campaign is not something I've ever considered."

Nurses rally against health care cuts, endorse Thissen

The Minnesota Nurses Association is rallying at the state Capitol today to protest health care cuts made by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.A flier about the rally states in bold print at the top "Don't let him get by with it!"

To help balance the state budget, Pawlenty opted to use his uanallotment authority to cut the program beginning in March 2010. GAMC provides subsidized health care for 30,000 low-income Minnesotans.

The association says that many of the people on the plan are veterans, senior cities, people with mental illness and people who are homeless. They estimate that 70 percent of those served have mental health or chemical dependency problems. Members are being encouraged to wear red and make signs for the rally. Click here to Download Nurse rally flier .

The Minnesota Nurses Association also announced they are endorsing state DFL Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis. Thissen is chair of the House Health and Human Services Policy Committee.

In a news release, MNA President-Elect Linda Hamilton is quoted as saying "“Paul Thissen is a champion for Registered Nurses. From his work to make sure all children have health insurance, to his advocacy of adequate RN staffing for patient safety, he exemplifies the characteristics we expect of a Governor."

The association represents more than 20,000 nurses.

Chris Coleman opts not to run for Governor

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman announced this afternoon that he does not plan to run for governor in 2010. The news is especially surprising given the fact he has been acting like a candidate for several months.

In July, he joined in "Politics at the Pumpkin Patch" in Lansing — an event where residents were invited to meet DFL gubernatorial candidates. He also participated in a straw poll, tying for third place with Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. (Here's a link to that story)

The Republican Party of Minnesota filed a campaign complaint against Coleman and Rybak last month with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board. The party argued that both Coleman and Rybak should have set up gubernatorial campaign committee. They also claim that campaign donations meant for Coleman's mayor campaign may in fact have been funding outstate trips to campaign for governor.

Those trips included a visit to Rochester in July where he expensed meals and a hotel stay.

Mayors push for candidates to take stand on LGA

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities today announced a campaign aimed at urging voters to ask gubernatorial candidates whether they support Local Government Aid. As part of that announcement, they unveiled a two-minute video that states cities have lost $782 million in LGA since 2003 and that Minnesota property taxes have gone up 64 percent.

The coalition also takes aim at Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty. It features a video of him when he was running for governor in 2002. In the video, Pawlenty says, "You can't run around the state and say I'm not going to increase taxes and then cut LGA in a way that drives up local property taxes."

While Pawlenty makes these comments, a chart shows the cuts in LGA and the rising property taxes.

Austin Mayor Tom Stiehm is also featured in the video. He talks about the impact of state aid cuts on Austin's public safety.

"We're down one police officer already," he said. "We are anticipating another police officer going in August."

Pawlenty's spokesman Alex Carey offered this reaction to the coalition's campaign.

“During these difficult economic times, cities need to streamline and become more efficient, and not turn reflexively to local property tax increases. For 2009, Governor Pawlenty capped the cut in LGA payments to cities at 3.3 percent. Cities should be able to find ways to manage a small reduction to their revenues, just like families and businesses are doing, without massively hiking local property taxes.”

To watch the video, go here.

Kelliher touts her rural roots

House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher today headed back to the family farm in Mankato to announce her candidacy for governor in 2010. The Minneapolis DFLer is clearly trying to position herself as a candidate that understands rural issues.

An eight-minute video posted on her campaign Web site devotes plenty of time to Kelliher's childhood on the family farm. It features family video of her riding horses and cleaning cows. Her mom also vouches for Kelliher's work ethic, noting her daughter had to feed the cows and clean the pens. The video also shows images of Kelliher's children suited up for hockey and her husband says, "We think we need to take the label hockey mom back" — a clear reference to former Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

In the video, Kelliher emphasizes the importance of education when it comes to Minnesota's future. She says the state cannot afford to have "an opportunity gap" between rural and metro Minnesota. She also takes some digs at current Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

"The way that (the session) ended is exactly why I am running for governor because no Minnesota governor should walk away from negotiations with the legislature or turn their back on Minnesota," she said.

It will be interesting to see if this focus on her rural roots ends up winning her support in outstate Minnesota. The Republican Party of Minnesota has jumped on Kelliher's attempt to appeal to outstate Minnesota. The party sent out a press release entitled "Kelliher not fooling anyone with Mankato makeover."

The party chairman Tony Sutton is quoted in the release as saying, "As an out of touch Minneapolis liberal, Kelliher has voted to raise the gas tax, the metro wide sales tax and income taxes. People in Greater Minnesota and the suburbs need to be aware of this tax and spend wolf in sheep's clothing." 

MAK makes it official, bat bites GOP gubernatorial candidate

Plenty of campaign news today. First off, House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher plans to officially announce she is running for governor on Wednesday at a picnic on her family farm in Mankato.

The Minneapolis DFLer will face plenty of competition for the nomination. Other candidates who have announced or are expected to announce include Sen. Tom Bakk, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton, former House Minority Leader Matt Entenza, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, former Sen. Steve Kelley, Sen. John Marty, Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Rep. Tom Rukavina and Rep. Paul Thissen.

Meanwhile, there is a bizarre story being reported by the Star Tribune. Apparently Sen. Michael Jungbauer, a Republican candidate for governor, was bit in the face by a bat. The bat attacked Jungbauer while he was putting a car in his shed on Sunday night.The senator from East Bethel has already had to undergo eight rabies shots and five more still need to be done. Yikes! Here's a link to the story.