The Red Wing Republican Eagle notes Local race gains statewide attention in an article about the House 28B special election. In an article about Tuesday's primary, the paper reports that rumors of Republican mischief are afoot.
Although many Minnesotans talk about being "registered" members of a political party, Minnesota doesn't register voters by political party. During a primary in which candidates are chosen as a party's nominee, any voter may cast a ballot, although he or she can only vote for candidates from a single party.
In regular elections, this system usually doesn't pose a problem with crossover voters from one party casting ballots for the weaker candidate vying to be his or her party's nominee, since each party's ballot usually has one or more contested primary races. A recent example would be last fall's primary for the governor's race; each endorsed candidate was being challenged, Pawlenty by Sue Jeffers and Hatch by Becky Lourey.
In special elections where only party has a challenger, there's room for organized mischief. Republican leadership denies there's mischief planned for Tuesday's primary in the House District 28B special election:
We read in the Red Wing Republican Eagle:
So what does this mean for Tuesday’s primary? It could mean an upset for Pfeilsticker, depending on who shows up to the polls. Reports circulating Friday morning suggested Republicans may be mounting a surge to back Moreland.
House Minority Leader Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said he is focusing on his own party, but said he “wouldn’t be shocked” if some GOP voters went to the polls for Moreland. However, such an effort would be difficult to arrange, he added.
“I’m sending Republican resources to elect a Republican,” he said.
Any efforts to elect Moreland will face tough competition. Pfeilsticker is touted by party leaders, who appear behind her 100 percent.
“We’d be honored to send Linda to the Capitol,” Kelliher said.
If there’s an effort afoot by Republicans to stage a Moreland-Drazkowski election, Goodhue County Republican Party Chairman Howard Stenerson said he had no knowledge of it. Like Seifert, he said the level of organization needed to accomplish such a feat would need to be extensive.
“To throw a primary like that would not be easy,” Stenerson said.
The Republican Eagle reports that Moreland has advertised in the Zumbrota News Record, which doesn't post copy online, only deadlines and ad rates. The Red Wing paper says that the ad discussed Moreland's views on state and national. We, in our turn, are as giddy as a schoolgirl in a new dress at the thought of Republican activists going out to cast ballots in favor of a Democrat who wants to impeach President Bush.
Meanwhile, supporters of Steve Drazkowski have gone all negative in their letters (this letter also appeared in the Winona Daily News), attacking Pfeilsticker. Pfeilsticker's supporters, on the other hand, stay positive, as in this letter, Pfeilsticker will bring thoughtful, bipartisan leadership, by Anne Morse:
I sat in the American Legion in Kellogg, Minn., on a warm June evening a few weeks ago, surrounded by citizens who were about to endorse a candidate for the Aug. 7 special election. This would mark the beginning of the whirlwind race for the open Minnesota House seat vacated by Steve Sviggum. I was eager to see what the four people on stage had to say.
One by one, the candidates spoke, and it wasn’t long before there was an obvious standout — a woman named Linda Pfeilsticker, who was given an enthusiastic introduction by state Sen. Sharon Ropes.
Pfeilsticker spoke convincingly about issues she clearly cared deeply about and had well thought out positions on the challenges facing Minnesotans.
Additionally, there were times when she admitted she didn’t know the details and particularities of a subject someone asked about. This showed her honesty and humility; after all, this position had opened up only a few days before, so there had been little time for preparation.
Pfeilsticker sketched out her life story: How she had been brought up on a farm near Wabasha, left for a time to earn undergraduate and graduate degrees and then returned to live in Wabasha and teach in Winona. A strong love of this part of the state — its small farms, lovely towns and resourceful people — was evident in Pfeilsticker’s speech. She was truly impressive.
Apparently many others that night also thought so. After an orderly election process, the delegates overwhelmingly chose Pfeilsticker — on the very first ballot — to be their standard-bearer in the upcoming campaign. She received 66 percent of the votes, with the next highest vote-getter receiving a mere 14 percent of the delegates’ votes.
Pfeilsticker, in accepting the convention’s decisive endorsement, was obviously touched by the moment and asked someone in the back of the room to give her overwhelmed mom a hug for her, to the assembly’s laughter and applause. Pfeilsticker then went on to address the core issues that face those of us who live in southeast Minnesota.
First was education. As a public high school teacher, Pfeilsticker knows better than anyone what is working and what needs improvement in our schools. This first-hand, practical experience will allow her to speak with authority in St. Paul while crafting legislation for our schools.
Next was economic development in our district. Family farmers and small businesses are critical to our way of life, she said, and absolutely must be strongly supported. She said she’d fight for our fair share of tax dollars from the state, and would work for better roads and bridges and for lower property taxes.
Her third major issue was health care, which she said is in crisis. Pfeilsticker said our state’s children and elderly are often victims of this broken health care system, and we in Minnesota must work toward universal, affordable healthcare as a policy that is right and also makes good economic sense.
Both of my children have had Pfeilsticker as a teacher, so I knew prior to the endorsing convention. She is easy to talk to and has an excellent reputation you will hear uniformly glowing descriptions of her from her students, her coworkers and all who meet her. In fact, her students, past and present, have placed hundreds of notices on the Internet attesting to their respect and admiration for Pfeilsticker.
The DFL party in District 28B is solidly united in its support of Pfeilsticker. We are grateful that a person of her qualifications has stepped forward to provide us the leadership we need to move our state forward.
Minnesota voters made it clear last November that we want moderate legislators who will work with colleagues across the aisle to get things done. That means thoughtful, bipartisan leadership, and that’s the kind of leader that I guarantee Pfeilsticker will be.
Anne Morse is chairwoman of the Winona County DFL. This special election is for voters in the northern part of Winona County — including Goodview, Rollingstone, Lewiston and St. Charles — as well as portions of counties to the north and west. It does not include residents of the city of Winona.
Those with access to Facebook should go check out the Pfeilsticker for Representative group. It continues to grow and radiate youthful enthusiasm for a favorite teacher.
And now for something completely different
This story was in today's Winona Day News: Woman slams into tractor in bean field. Just go read it.
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