Political Notebook

Rochester election may lead to election-law change

Rochester DFL Rep. Kim Norton is considering drafting legislation aimed at addressing a problem uncovered by this year's Rochester City Council election.

Longtime Rochester City Council President Dennis Hanson's name remained on the November ballot even though he passed away on June 27. The issue is that state law does not allow a candidate's name to be removed from the ballot in a nonpartisan race — even if the candidate has died since filling to run. State law also did not allow for a re-opening of the filing period. That left one other living candidate — Jan Throndson — on the ballot. Another candidate, Jeff Thompson, launched a write-in campaign.

Hanson's family and friends ended up mounting a campaign urging people to vote for Hanson to force a special election. They were successful, with Hanson winning 51.4 percent of the vote. A special election is expected to be held in early April to fill the seat, which is expected to cost between $50,000 to $60,000. But the price tag could climb to $120,000 if a primary election is needed.

Norton said she wants to see if a change could be made to help avoid this type of situation in the future.

"We shouldn't have to spend this kind of money to do this. There should be a process in place," she said.

Rochester Democrats to host town hall on election law

Two Rochester Democrats are hosting a town hall meeting Monday night to talk about ideas for changing state election law to deal with the problem created by the sudden death of Rochester City Council President Dennis Hanson.

Hanson died unexpectedly June 27 of a ruptured brain aneurysm. A 2011 change in state election law prevents Hanson's name from being removed from the ballot. One other candidate, Jan Throndson, is running for the four-year term. That leaves three options: Thronsdon wins the seat, Hanson wins and the city council calls a special election or a write-in candidate wins.

Rep. Kim Norton and Rep. Tina Liebling say it's clear there is not enough time to change the law before this fall's election. But they said they want to brainstorm ideas for ways to change the law so that other communities aren't faced with this situation.

"Sometimes out of tragedy you can kind of heal by taking a bad situation and making some positive progress come out of it,” Liebling said.

The lawmakers have invited the Rochester City Council, Olmsted County Board, Rochester School Board, other local legislators and local leaders to attend. It will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Olmsted County Government Center.

The Democrats say this should be a nonpartisan issue and they want to work with their Republican colleagues on a solution. Norton added they wanted to hold the meeting now before the campaign season really ramps up and legislators' schedules become too crowded.

But at least one local Republican was skeptical about the timing of the event. Rep. Mike Benson, who serves on the state's Election Integrity Task Force, said he thinks it's too soon to be holding a town hall on the issue.

“I think it’s more election year politics to have a hurry up (approach) when there’s really no immediate need,” he said.

It's election day!

It's election day and while there is nothing on the ballot in Rochester, there is plenty at stake for a number of area school districts. A total of 15 school districts have school levies on the ballot. There are also school board elections in Austin, Blooming Prairie, Goodhue and Pine Island. In Rushford, voters will decide once and for all whether to keep close the city's municipal liquor store by the end of the year. They will also vote for mayor and two city council seats.

Here are the districts conducting referendums in southeastern Minnesota, the amount each seeks, and the effect on a $150,000 home. Renewals of existing levies do not cause tax increases.

• Austin seeks permission to sell $28.9 million in bonds to build an intermediate school and add on to Woodson Kindergarten Center. The tax increase for a $150,000 house would be $188. However, because of the retirement of another debt costing $114 a year, the actual increase would be $74 a year.

• Byron seeks a $290 per-student levy override, raising $540,000 per year. Its current levy of $126.10 expires this year. The total tax effect for a $150,000 house would be $95 per year, reflecting an increase of $53 per year. Vote at Byron Middle School, 601 Fourth St. N.W., from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information online at tinyurl.com/63aqydk.

• Caledonia seeks a renewal of a $725.96 per-pupil levy override, which raises $620,000 per year. More information online at tinyurl.com/3vc9pdz.

• Cannon Falls seeks a $950 per-pupil levy override, revoking and replacing a current $500 per-pupil override. That would raise a total of $625,000 per year. The tax effect for a $150,000 house would be $278 per year total, reflecting an increase of $131 per year.

• Chatfield seeks a $350.77 per-pupil levy override renewal that raises $343,000 per year, and a $250 levy increase that would raise $243,000. For a $150,000 house, the renewal reflects a tax effect of $109 per year, and the increase would cost an additional $77 per year. Vote at the elementary school media center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information online at tinyurl.com/3dfo78d.

• Dover-Eyota seeks a $127 per-pupil renewal, raising $132,000 a year. The tax effect on a $150,000 home is $40 per year, reflecting no change. Vote at the high school auditorium from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. More information online at tinyurl.com/3jkafqz.

• Goodhue seeks a $500 per-pupil levy override, to replace the $126 override that expires after this year, raising a total of $310,000. The effect on a $150,000 house would be $160 total, reflecting a $119 increase. More information online at tinyurl.com/3j6ywc6.

• Hayfield seeks a $900 per-pupil levy override, revoking and replacing the present $600 one, which would raise an additional $285,000. The tax increase on a $150,000 house would be $138. Vote from noon to 8 p.m. at the Brownsdale Elementary School, the Sargeant Community Center, and the Hayfield Elementary School. More information online at www.hayfield.k12.mn.us/.

• Kenyon-Wanamingo seeks a $126 per-pupil renewal, and a $173 per-pupil increase. More information online at tinyurl.com/3t55l88.

• Lewiston-Altura seeks a $501.65 per-pupil renewal, which raises $425,000. The tax effect on a $150,000 house is $177 per year, but reflects no change. More information online at tinyurl.com/3oet7gz.

• Lyle seeks a $840 per-pupil renewal, which raises $104,000. The tax effect on a $150,000 house is $298 per year, but reflects no change. More information online at tinyurl.com/3ks6d63.

• Mabel-Canton seeks a $1,207.96 per-pupil renewal, which raises $375,000. More information online at tinyurl.com/687ft95.

• Pine Island seeks a $500 per-pupil renewal, which raises $600,000, and a $200 increase, which would raise an additional $250,000. The tax effect on a $150,000 house would be $157 for the renewal and a $63 increase for the new levy. More information online at tinyurl.com/6yyq8do.

• Plainview-Elgin-Millville seeks a $293 per-pupil renewal, which raises $500,000. Vote from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. in the high school gym. More information online at tinyurl.com/3eebg7e.

• St. Charles seeks a $300 per-pupil increase, which raises $300,000. The property tax increase on a $150,000 house would be $96. Vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the St. Charles Elementary School gymnasium. More information online at tinyurl.com/3bgdcg8.

Walz among 15 House Democrats on endangered list

 

1st District Rep. Tim Walz is among 15 Democrats making the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Frontline" list of its most vulnerable members. Making the list means that these Democrats will get access to more party dollars and support to help them in their re-election bids.

Last year, Walz managed to hang on to his congressional seat in what was a very tough election cycle for Democrats. He beat Republican Randy Demmer receiving  49 percent of the vote over Demmer's 44 percent. But the fact that Walz fell below 50 percent in support has to be of concern to his DFL supporters. In 2008, Walz soundly beat Republican Brian Davids getting nearly 63 percent of the vote. Meanwhile, conservative groups have been keeping up their attacks on Walz. Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies recently spent $15,000 on radio ads in southern Minnesota that rip Walz for not support the House Republicans proposal to cut $61 billion from the federal budget.

Walz is only Minnesota Democrat on the list. Also considered vulnerable is Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who is still recovering after being shot in the head two months ago at a "Congress on Your Corner" event in Tucson. To see the complete list, go here.

Rochester forum on Voter ID next week

As Rochester GOP Rep. Mike Benson pushes forward with his bill requiring voters present photo ID at the polls, the League of Women Voters Rochester is hosting a forum on the topic.

The forum entitled "Voter IDs? What's it all about?" will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday in the Heintz Center on the Rochester Community and Technical College campus. Speakers will include League of Women Voters Minnesota Executive Director Laura Wang and the state's league's Field Service Coordinator Marcia Eland. Also speaking with be Carol Johnson with the Citizens for Election Integrity who co-authored the report "Facts on Illegal Voting in Minnesota."

Both the League of Women Voters Minnesota and the Citizens for Election Integrity testified against Benson's voter ID bill citing concerns it could prevent legitimate voters from casting their ballots. Supporters argue the change is need to prevent voter fraud.

A look at how much campaigns raised in Rochester

The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board today released the latest campaign finance reports covering the 2010 elections. Here is a quick look at how much Rochester area legislative candidates raised and spent on the race.

A couple of interesting things to note. Former DFL Rep. Andy Welti of Plainview outspent his GOP opponent Rep. Mike Benson by nearly $15,700. But it is important to keep in mind that plenty of money outside the campaigns flowed into that race in the final days. The challenge is getting a real sense of where all that money came from and how much was spent.

Also GOP Sen. Carla Nelson raised more than $69,000 beating out former DFL Sen. Ann Lynch, who raised nearly $56,500. But they both spent roughly $65,000 on the race. Similar to the Benson/Welti race, this race also attracted plenty of dollars from around the state.

Here are the fundraising totals for Rochester area legislative candidates.

Senate District 29
Greg French, DFL-Byron
Total receipts: $14,937
Total expenditures: $14,932

*David Senjem, R-Rochester
Total receipts: $44,468
Total expenditures: $41,193

House District 29A
*Duane Quam, R-Byron
Total receipts: $22,108
Total expenditures: $19,853

Doug Wunderlich, DFL-Mantorville
Total receipts: $12,374
Total expenditures: $13,610 (includes $1,000 loan)

House District 29B
*Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester
Total receipts: $30,464
Total expenditures: $33,856

Mike Rolih, R-Rochester
Total receipts: $24,883
Total expenditures: $24,339

Senate District 30
Ann Lynch, DFL-Rochester
Total receipts: $56,464
Total expenditures: $65,008

*Carla Nelson, R-Rochester
Total receipts: $69,113
Total expenditures: $65,996

House District 30A
*Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester
Total receipts: $27, 483
Total expenditures: $32,262

Charlie O’Connell

UPDATE: O'Connell turned in his report by the deadline but it was not posted online until today.

Total receipts: $100

Total expenditures: $3,038 with funding coming from O'Connell.

House District 30B
*Mike Benson, R-Rochester
Total receipts: $22,491
Total expenditures: $22,939

Andy Welti, DFL-Plainview
Total receipts: $25,129
Total expenditures: $38,627

* Winner of the 2010 election

A local election wrap-up

Here's a quick recap of the big races. The Associated Press is reporting that Minnesota House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher has officially conceded to former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton in the DFL gubernatorial race. Statewide, Dayton beat Kelliher by 6,777 votes with 99 percent of precincts reporting. In total, Dayton got 41 percent of the vote and Kelliher got 40 percent. Former state Rep. Matt Entenza came in a distant third with 18 percent.

In Olmsted County, Kelliher narrowly beat Dayton winning by 164 votes.

Republican-endorsed candidate Tom Emmer easily won last night's primary with 82 percent of the vote. That is the same percentage of the vote he got in Olmsted County receiving 3,380 votes.

Independent Party-endorsed candidate Tom Horner got 64 percent of the statewide vote with the second place challenger — Winona-native Rob Hahn — getting 14 percent. Horner did even better in Olmsted County getting 76 percent of the vote.

GOP-endorsed candidate Duane Quam easily defeated challenger Kerry Stoick in the House District 29A Republican primary. He got 66 percent of the vote while Stoick got 34 percent. Quam will now take on DFL-endorsed candidate Doug Wunderlich for retiring GOP Rep. Randy Demmer's seat. Demmer stepped down to run for Congress.

In Senate District 28, DFL-endorsed candidate Joe Fricke had a decisive victory over Bruce Montplaisir getting 75 percent of the vote. Fricke will take on Republican John Howe, current mayor of Red Wing. They are battling to replace retiring DFL Sen. Steve Murphy of Red Wing.

One of the big surprises of the night came in the 2nd Congressional District DFL primary where former state Rep. Shelley Madore beat out the DFL-endorsed candidate Dan Powers. Madore got 55 percent of the vote with Powers getting 45 percent. Madore will challege Republican incumbent Congressman John Kline.

Tea Party attracts more voters than GOP, new poll finds

Here is an interesting new survey that finds candidates identified with the Tea Party movement draw more voters then the Republican Party.

A new Rasmussen Reports Poll found that in a three-way generic ballot test, a national survey found Democrats attracting 36 percent of voters. The Tea Party candidate drew 23 percent and Republicans finished third with 18 percent. Another 22 percent were undecided.

But perhaps even more significant is the Tea Party's popularity with the all important independent voters. Among voters not affiliated with either major party, the Tea Party garners the most votes. Thirty-three percent of voters questions preferred the Tea Party candidate and 30 percent were undecided. Twenty-five percent said they would vote for a Democrat and 12 percent preferred the Republican.

Here is a link to the new poll.

"Mr. Conservative" to run for Walz's seat?

Just got a media advisory about another Republican candidate scheduled to announce plans to run for the 1st District Congressional seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Tim Walz. The advisory does not include the name of the candidate. Instead it offers this description: "A fresh face with a familiar name."

Based on that description, my guess is that Jim Hagedorn will be the one announcing tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Ramada Inn in Rochester. I previously wrote that he was considering running for the seat previously held by his father, Tom Hagedorn.

Hagedorn spent 25 years working on Capitol Hill, including seven years as the senior legislative assistant to former Minnesota Republican Rep. Arlan Stangeland. He also had his own blog "Mr. Conservative." But he posted that after the 2008 election he was suspending all posts "in order to explore the opportunity to return to his southern Minnesota roots, accept a position in the private sector and run for Congress." Here is a link to his blog.

Hagedorn's announcement comes one day after Hayfield Republican state Rep. Randy Demmer announced he was running for a second time for the seat. Former state Rep. Allen Quist has also announced he is seeking the GOP endorsement.

Quist to announce congressional bid against Walz soon?

In an interview this afternoon, Republican Allen Quist said he hopes to be making an announcement next week as to whether or not he will run for DFL Congressman Tim Walz's seat.

"I have formed an exploratory committee and the way you explore in my judgment is you campaign aggressively and see what happens. I have been pursuing it aggressively — does that mean I've made a final decision? It does not mean that. But I am certainly inclined to (run)."

Quist said he temporarily put his campaigning on hold 10 days ago in order to focus his attention on speaking out against the House health care reform bill. Quist has organized three "Freedom in Health Care Forums" including one in Rochester at 7 p.m. on Monday at the Ramada Inn. He will also have one in Mankato and Worthington. Quist said he will outline his own health care reform proposals, which include malpractice reform and reducing mandates on insurance companies. He said the goal is to get voters to urge members of Congress to vote against the Democrats' health care reform proposals.

Asked whether these forums are really about building support for his campaign, Quist said it goes against his interest to try to get Walz to vote no on the health care reform bill. 

"If I put my own political interests first, I would just sit back and let (Walz) vote for it and go after him. I'm not going to do that. I want to try and influence him to vote no even though that is not in my political interest," he said.

Quist already has a campaign Web site and a Facebook page up and running.

Quist is a former state representative who won the Republican gubernatorial endorsement in 1994 but lost in a landslide to Gov. Arne Carlson.