Political Notebook

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

Tea Party forum? Local DFLers say thanks but no thanks

All of Rochester's DFL incumbents signed a letter declining to participating in a candidate forum sponsored by the Rochester Tea Party Patriots. In the letter, the lawmakers thank the group for hosting the forum but add that they hope their members will take advantage of one of the "neutral forums" being held. The lawmakers declining to participate are: Sen. Ann Lynch, Rep. Tina Liebling, Rep. Kim Norton and Rep. Andy Welti. Also choosing not to go is the District 29A DFL candidate Doug Wunderlich. Click here to  Download Letter from DFL candidates

One DFL candidate is going to participate. Senate District 29 candidate Greg French, of Byron, has said he plans to attend. The Republicans who have said they will attend are Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, former state Rep. Carla Nelson, House District 29A candidate Duane Quam, House District 29B candidate Mike Rolih, House District 30A candidate Charlie O'Connell and House District 30B candidate Mike Benson.

Rochester Tea Party Patriots Chair Cindy Maves said the group does not endorse and candidate or party "but endeavors to educate the voters and provide opportunities for them to make the own informed decisions." The group does urge its members in its e-mail news updates to help elect conservative candidates.

The event starts at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23 with a buffet dinner at Godfather's Pizaa, 1611 16th St. N.W. in Rochester. The forum runs from 7 p.m.t o 8:30 p.m. All candidates will have five minutes to introduce themselves and they will then answer questions from the audience.

Candidate looking to create a "buzz" in beekeeper suit

Just dropped by the Olmsted County Fair political booths and couldn't help but notice the campaign literature for FLO candidate Greg French. Most the time, candidates sport a suite and tie or maybe a crisp dress shirt for their campaign material. But French is taking an entirely different approach.

The pamphlet features the Byron business owner clad in a beekeeping suit working with a hive of bees on its cover. This has to be the first beekeeper legislative candidate locally that I am aware of. He

The picture is about promoting French's commitment to protecting the environment. In the brochure, he says "I am first and foremost an environmentalist." He said that if elected he would work to "make Minnesota among the best for hunting, fishing, family recreation and to provide opportunity for all to enjoy our abundant gifts of nature."

French is running against Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester. For more on French, check out this previous post.

Rochester's endorsementpalooza!

This weekend proved to be big for area endorsements. We now have a better idea of who will be on the ballot this November when it comes to local legislative races. Here's a brief recap.

House District 29A: This is the lone open seat without an incumbent running for re-election. Rep. Randy Demmer, R-Hayfield, has said he is not running and is instead focusing on winning the GOP endorsement for Congress. Democrats endorsed Douglas Wunderlich for the seat. He has long been active in the party. He is a retired teacher and volunteer firefighter who lives in Mantorville. Republicans endorsed Duane Quam, former chair of the First District Republicans. He beat out two other GOP candidates — Chuck Bradford and Kerry Stoick. Quam lives in Byron and is a senior engineer at IBM.

House District 29B: DFL incumbent Rep. Kim Norton was endorsed for the seat. Republicans endorsed former professional baseball player Mike Rolih for the seat.

Senate District 29: Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem of Rochester secured the GOP endorsement. Democrats endorsed Byron driving school owner Greg French.

House District 30A: DFL incumbent Rep. Tina Liebling was endorsed. So far there is not a Republican candidate but party leaders say a few people are considering running.

House District 30B: Democrats endorsed incumbent Rep. Andy Welti of Plainview. Republicans endorsed Rochester business professor Mike Benson.

Senate District 30: incumbent Sen. Ann Lynch received the DFL party endorsement as she seeks a second term. There is no Republican candidate yet that has been endorsed. Former GOP state Rep. Carla Nelson has said she is considering running for the seat.

French to officially announce run for Senjem's seat

Byron business owner Greg French plans to officially announce he is running for the Senate District 29 seat currently held by Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem.

French will make the announcement at 10:30 a.m.in the Rocket Center at John Marshall High School in Rochester. He will then lead a discussion with several government classes about the political process.

The Democrat is a graduate of John Marshall High School and said he wanted to kick-off his campaign at the high school to highlight his commitment to improving education, according to a news release.

"Every politician pays lip service to education. I want to effect real change in our educational system, beginning with requiring physical education every year through 12th grade," he said.

French's other proposals include requiring students to take nutrition and life-skill classes. He would also like to make sports elective classes that could count for physical education credits and would reduce the need to pay coaches for after-school coaching.  French, who owns Advantage Driving School, said he supports the idea of having a "new driver" identification for cars to make roadways safer.

French is a U.S. Army veteran and worked for many years for the U.S. Postal Service.

Senjem, a Republican from Rochester, first won election to the Senate in 2002.

Byron driving school owner to take on Senjem

Democrat Gregory French, owner of Advantage Driving School, has established a campaign committee to run for the Senate District 29 seat. French would be taking on GOP Senate Minority Leader Dave Senjem, of Rochester. Here is a link to French's information.

Senjem was first elected to the senate in 2002. In 2006, he won by a vote of 55 percent. The DFL candidate Ron Broberg got 35 percent of the vote and Independence Party candidate Jim Daley received 11 percent.