I didn't get into the Cities to attend the DFL Women's Hall of Fame awards luncheon, so I missed seeing my friend Laura Askelin, president of the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor Council, receive 2010 DFL Rising Star honors.
Congratulations, Laura.
A mutual friend in the labor movement sent me the award citation:
Laura Askelin
A force to be reckoned with now and in the future, Laura Askelin entered politics by volunteering with the Howard Dean campaign. After the Dean campaign ended, Laura began volunteering for Tina Liebling's state House campaign and was eventually promoted to campaign manager, which some might say was a major factor in Liebling's electoral victory.
She has served as an Olmsted County director, state convention delegate and state central committee member. A master of recruiting volunteers, door knocking, phone banking and distributing literature, Laura was hired as a political organizer at AFSCME Council 5 and has been in Get-Out-The-Vote mode ever since.
Laura currently serves as president of the Southeast Minnesota Area Labor and tirelessly campaigned for health care reform over the last year.
Laura lives in Rochester, Minnesota.
"Laura has the 'it' factor in politics equivalent to what Simon Cowell looks for on 'American Idol. She views the world with astute political perception and then embarks on making it a reality. She personifies what Senator Paul Wellstone was talking about." --Lynn Wilson, Olmsted County Chair
It's like Lynn Wilson to offer her praise to a rising star in the DFL. Wilson herself received a "Women of Distinction" award on Saturday. While I don't have the citation for Lynn, I personally know how her tireless and deliberate organizing efforts were instrumental in turning Southern Minnesota blue. A number of young activists and political staffers from the Rochester area have talked to me about her tremendous abilities as a mentor. Lynn is a nurse at Mayo Clinic.
Another tremendous talent (and friend) honored: Alana Petersen, whom I first got to know when she worked in former Congressman David Minge's office (McLeod County was in the old Second that Minge once represented). Alana now works for Senator Al Franken.
Congrats all!
Note: One example of Laura's tireless work for HCR? This 2009 column in BSP: Greater Minnesota health care activists and labor members take on Washington.
Photos: Laura Askelin (above); Lynn Wilson holds a DFL sign at a recent DFL action in Rochester (below).
Ditto to what Sally Jo posted re these enormously capable, hard-working women; and of their value to the Party, its candidates & officials, and to Our issues. THNX!
--Frank Hawthorne, Olmsted Democrat.
Posted by: Frank W. Hawthorne | May 25, 2010 at 07:39 PM