Chuck Bradford, a Mantorville Republican and Teabagger/ Rochester Tea Party activist, will announce his bid for Minnesota House District 29A in a press conference next week, according to a media advisory released by the campaign. The retirement of state representative Randy Demmer (R-Hayfield) to seek the Republican endorsement for Congress in MN-01 has created an open seat.
The media advisory:
Chuck Bradford will be announcing his candidacy for Minnesota House of Representatives Seat 29A next Tuesday, Dec. 15th at 1:00pm at the Rochester Public Library in Meeting Room B on the second floor.
Chuck brings to the campaign his experience on the Mantorville City Council where he also serves on the Planning and Zoning and Economic Development Committees. As an active member of the Republican party for over 20 years, Chuck is excited about the chance to represent the people of Southern Minnesota during this critical time in our state's history.
Please plan to attend this important announcement where there will be an opportunity for questions and answers.
Thanks, Bradford for House, HD-29A
According to Minnesota Campaign Finance Board records, Bradford registered his committee in May 2007, but did not file for office in 2008. Presumably, Bradford deferred to Demmer following the CD1 RPM's endorsement of Brian Davis in April 2008. Davis was crushed at the polls by incumbent Tim Walz, while Demmer coasted to a victory in 29A.
Bradford has a campaign web site up, though it needs a bit of tweaking. The site notes that CD-01 Republicans will endorse a congressional candidate at their district convention in April 2009 (see screen shot above). On the other hand, perhaps they have simply been keeping their candidate a secret from voters and the FEC since the spring.
Chairman of the Dodge County Republicans and Deputy Chair 1st Congressional District Republicans Bradford is part of the Seifert for Governor SE Minnesota Leadership Team. A freshman Mantorville city council member, computer programmer, and Lions Club member, Bradford handled publicity for the first Rochester Tea Party rally in April, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Bradford was one of 12 Rochester Tea Party members who rallied for an "October Surprise" on an overpass in Rochester, according to the Rochester Post Bulletin:
Mantorville City Council member Chuck Bradford was among the protestors waving to traffic Monday afternoon. He sported a red shirt with the words "Hands off my health care." As cars drove by, some honked and one jeep driver offered a thumbs up.
Bradford said he believes that it is best to work with private insurance companies to reform health care instead of looking to a government-run solution. For instance, he said he likes Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's idea of allowing Minnesotans to buy private health insurance based in other states.
"The current health care system does need some reform," he said. "But a lot of it could be done by reforming regulations and restrictions."
Whatever the surprise was (poor attendance?), Bluestem is not surprised that the Star Tribune or Post Bulletin failed to identify Bradford as a county and congressional district Republican leader. As Republican leaders in Rochester have insisted, their leadership roles in the local Tea Party movement is entirely coincidental.
In another development in Southeast Minnesota politics, WXOW-19 in LaCrosse reports that Winona City Council member Debbie White will challenge six-term House District 31A incumbent representative Gene Pelowski for the DFL endorsement.
Update: The Post Bulletin now notices that yet another leader in SE MN's Teabagging movement is a Republican. Bluestem applauds the due diligence.
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