After the inspired turn by Mike Parry as the Emo Senator from Waseca, Steele and Rice Counties, the Huckle chain newspapers seem a bit depressed by the fact that the citizens of District 24 elected Vicki Jensen (DFL-Owatonna) in 2012.
The paper's despair seems to have deepened of late, or so Derek Sullivan's discussion with local Republicans in Owatonna senator set to be honored as local GOP leaders express disappointment indicates.
Jensen will be recognized by Politics in Minnesota (PIM) as "One to Watch" along with Sen. Michelle Benson, GOP-Ham Lake; Rep. Dan Schoen, DFL-St. Paul Park; Rep. Kelby Woodard, GOP-Belle Plaine, PIM staffer Paul Demko reported in Leaders in Public Policy winners will be honored on July 11.
Sure, Jensen's smart for a girl, local Republican leaders told Sullivan but she's so not a Republican and besides, she's nice to everybody, even the cute boys who want to get married:
Jeff Stewart, chair of Steele County GOP, calls Jensen “a very intelligent business woman,” but believes local residents would be better off if someone else represented them in St. Paul.“I don’t feel she is a good fit for our district and does not necessarily deserve the title of ‘promising young senator,’” Stewart said. “We’re in a conservative district, and the November votes clearly spoke that we were not in favor of gay marriage, yet Vicki voted for it anyway.”
Before the 2012 election, Jensen had expressed support for marriage equality. Voters knew where she stood and elected her anyway.
The chair of the Rice County Republicans is also depressed that she doesn't seem to pick fights with Governor Dayton:
. . .["]The general impression was that her record mirrors Gov. Dayton’s too closely. We will have to see how the people of her district feel in in 2016.”
Senator Parry, who quit the Senate for an unsuccessful bid for Congress, was known for needling Dayton. Shortly before his loss to Allen Quist in the CD1 Republican primary, Parry earned statewide attention for accusing Governor Dayton of being a "scary" guy who was "popping pills" during meetings.
Apparently, Jensen doesn't cause heartburn during meetings, and she hasn't tweeted anything mean about the governor, causing local Republican leaders to slip into a slough of despond.
Despite the sad little Republican faces around her, Jensen has remained cheerful, telling Sullivan:
Jensen said she has worked hard to speak with Democrats and Republicans and always had an open door. She knows people don’t always agree with her on issues, but Jensen said she’s always willing to talk with her proponents and opponents.
“I’m always willing to have the conversation,” Jensen said. “All I ask them for are specifics. Let’s get into the thick of the issue. Don’t just say, ‘It’s horrible.’ Let’s find a solution and not just talk about the problem. Conversations are a lot better that way.”
It's just not the angry Emo Senator some folks are looking for, babe.
Photo: The blogger's mental image of sad Senate District 24 Republicans.
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