Political Notebook

Obama re-election campaign kicks-off in Rochester

The local push to re-elect Democratic President Barack Obama officially kicks-off in Rochester on Saturday.

Local Democrats will gather at the Obama for America Office at 1107 7th St. N.W. as part of a "Day of Action." The event starts at 10 a.m. with Jeff Blodgett, state director for Obama for America — Minnesota, addressing campaign volunteers. Also expected to attend are Blair Jasper, regional field director for the 1st Congressional District and staffer Nick Coe. The official grand opening for the campaign office will be June 22 and 1st District DFL Rep. Tim Walz is expected to speak.

After the opening comments, volunteers will hit the streets to start knocking on doors with the goal of getting Democrats elected in November. At 1 p.m., volunteers will celebrate the start of the 2012 campaign season at Rochester's Democratic Party Office for a barbecue featuring burgers and hot dogs. Volunteers will have the chance to talk to local DFL legislative candidates July Ohly, John Vossen, Kim Norton, Ken Moen, Tina Liebling and Pat Stallman.

Olmsted Republicans pick Valeriano over Sullivan

Olmsted County Republicans last night picked nurse Melissa Valeriano over Realtor Max Sullivan to run against DFL Rep. Kim Norton at their endorsing convention on Thursday night.
Republican Party of Olmsted County Chairman Bruce Kaskubar said Valeriano won endorsement for the House District 25B seat on the first ballot. Sullivan said Friday morning he plans to abide by the endorsement. Also winning endorsement was Rochester School Board member Breanna Bly for the House District 26A seat. She will take on DFL Rep. Tina Liebling in the fall.
All four local incumbents were endorsed and none of them faced a challenge from within the party. Winning endorsement were Rep. Mike Benson of Rochester, Rep. Duane Quam of Byron, Sen. Carla Nelson of Rochester and Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem of Rochester.
The Olmsted County DFL endorsed its candidates back in March. Below is a list of the candidate match-ups.
House District 25A: John Vossen, DFL-Kasson, vs. incumbent Duane Quam, R-Byron
House District 25B: Incumbent Kim Norton, DFL-Rochester, vs. Melissa Valeriano, R-Rochester
Senate District 25: Judy Ohly, DFL-Rochester vs. incumbent Dave Senjem, R-Rochester
House District 26A: Breanna Bly, R-Rochester, vs. incumbent Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester
House District 26B: Incumbent Mike Benson, R-Rochester, vs. Pat Stallman, DFL-Rochester

Senate District 26: Ken Moen, DFL-Rochester vs. incumbent Carla Nelson, R-Rochester

Local banker to run for Minnesota House seat

After years of being active in DFL politics behind the scenes, Pat Stallman announced he will run for the Minnesota House.

According to current legislative district boundaries, that would pit Stallman against first-term Republican Rep. Mike Benson. But the courts will not release the new redistricting maps until Feb. 21.

Stallman, 60, of Rochester, works as a business banker at Olmsted National Bank. With plans to retire March 31, Stallman said he decided it was the right time to run for office.

"I have spent most of my time making a living and raising a family, and now that I have an opportunity to retire and devote full time to a political position and an office, it's time to do it," he said.

Stallman said he wants to run because he believes lawmakers have unfairly increased the tax burden on property owners by getting rid of the Market Value Homestead Credit program. He also opposes borrowing money from K-12 schools to help balance the budget.

"That's no way to run a government, that's no way to run a school district and it's no way to run a business," he said.

Stallman said he supports DFL Gov. Mark Dayton's proposal to raise income taxes on wealthier Minnesotans to help address the state's long-term budget problems.

Stallman is Olmsted County DFL treasurer. He has a degree in agricultural economics and has spent 40 years working in the financial services sector.