Via the Bemidji Pioneer, Bluestem learned this morning that another candidate has filed in the Seventh Congressional District: Adam Steele, CPA, publisher of the irregular newspaper, the Northern Herald, and frequent political candidate. Steele filed under the Independence Party label.
No wonder Dean Barkley wants to get away from it all as a judge.
Steele describes himself as an accountant who is a fiscal conservative and a strong supporter of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Steele last ran for office in 2010, receiving 52 votes in the Bemidji City Council Primary.
in 2008, Steele was handily defeated by John Carlson in the Republican primary for the old 4A seat, receiving 200 votes; Carlson later lost to John Persell. In 2006, Steele ran as the Independence Party candidate for the 4A seat, receiving 3.3 percent of the vote in the general election.
Steele was one of the Independence Party candidates that then-Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer attempted to throw off the ballot in 2004 (it's not just voting that she tried to suppress). The State Supreme Court demurred, causing the Bemidji Pioneer to opine:
The ruling locally affects Adam Steele, the tabloid publisher and perennial candidate who garnered only 15 votes in the Sept. 15 primary. He faces GOP incumbent Rep. Doug Fuller and DFL challenger Frank Moe in the House 4A race. "We will roll along with our campaign," Steele said Tuesday, who was prepared to go with a write-in campaign if necessary. "The ruling was expected, it is was obvious that the statute is inequitable and unconstitutional. But you can't second-guess a court even though I believed it to be the ultimate outcome."
Steele has sought the seat as a Republican, a Democrat, a Reform Party candidate and now as an Independence Party candidate. Now that his name will remain on the ballot, Steele says that "I will continue on behalf of my 15 supporters."
And that's the way democracy is supposed to work. ("Minnesota Editorial Roundup," Associated Press, September 29, 2004, Nexis All News, accessed June 5, 2012)
Steele isn't shy. In 2010, the Pioneer reported that he was picketing thelocal Republican endorsing convention:
Outside the Northern Lights Casino, perennial House 4A candidate and tabloid publisher Adam Steele was picketing with a sign that read, "Richard Lehmann: Cat Killer."
The Bemidji City Council is currently considering an ordinance to regulate cats, including limiting how many a resident can own.
The only convention reference to Steele's protest came from [Rep. Larry] Howes during his nomination speech of Lehmann. "By the way, the cats taste just like chicken," he said. ("
District 4 Republicans: Lehmann endorsed on first ballot for House 4A", Bemidji Pioneer, May 9, 2010, Nexis All-News, accessed June 5, 2012)
Stay classy, Howes.
Bluestem looks forward to watching democracy work in Minnesota's Seventh, where Steele will contend with incumbent Blue Dog and Second Amendments country rock band member Collin Peterson and Republican business executive and lousy songwriter Lee Byberg.
At least Steele makes no mention of musicianship in his campaign literature; given the infelicitous nature of his constitutionally-protected prose, that's probably a blessing.
Image: From the Northern Herald site.
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