Representative Ernie Leidiger (R-Carver County) is the lawmaker who recommended toxic metal preacher Bradlee Dean for a guest chaplain gig at the Minnesota House.
We all know how well that worked out.
Now he's in the headlines for matters closer at home. Chanhassen Villager editor Mark Olson reports in Alleged code violations at legislator's address:
In response to alleged code violations, county inspectors posted “Do not occupy” orders on two buildings on the rural property occupied by state Rep. Ernie Leidiger.
Leidiger, who lives at 7775 Tacoma Avenue in rural Camden Township, represents western Carver County and the city of Carver in the Minnesota Legislature.
The 10-acre property contains a house and three other buildings, of which two were posted with “Do not occupy” signs.
County Administrator David Hemze described the situation, via e-mail, as “very unusual.” When asked how many people were allegedly living in the buildings, he replied “Unsure, appeared to be one or more persons living in each dwelling.”
According to Hemze, there were two unauthorized dwellings, building code violations, sewage treatment code violations and zoning code violations. (In rural areas, Carver County only allows one residential building per 40 acres.)
The property is owned by Leidiger’s ex-wife Janelle Leidiger and his sister-in-law Linda Leidiger. Leidiger described himself as an “ex-husband living on ex-wife’s property.”
The house on the property has four bedrooms and four bathrooms. Leidiger said some occupants are friends, “some rent a room from me.” There is no lease, residency is on a month-to-month basis, Leidiger said.
“Everyone is tied to the house, and there’s plenty of room in the house,” he said, regarding occupancy. “We’re all attached to the house. We live in the house,” he said. . . .
What's even worse, the Republican-controlled local government is taking away Ernie's mancave:
One of the buildings posted by inspectors is described in county documents as a former barn/tack room, which was renovated for use as a day care, with a bathroom and kitchen, before the Leidigers purchased the property in 2006.
“That’s one of the reasons we bought the property was it’s all trimmed out,” Leidiger said. “It was fully inspected, the whole works, no safety, no health [code] issues,” Leidiger said.
Another building posted was a barn renovated for use as office space. “I’ve got a big nice flat screen TV in my office and on Sundays I watch the ballgame,” Leidiger said. “Is it OK to have a man cave?”
“How do you determine [violations]? It doesn’t make any sense,” Leidiger said.
The buildings were inspected after neighbors grew concerned about a request for. a conditional-use permit for an equestrian facility and a future riding arena. Some neighbors complained about people living in the various structures on the land and the contracted inspectors found evidence of people dwelling in buildings in addition to the house, Olson reports.
The paper also notes that the property has been used for Republican fundraisers. One was Bratfest June 22 2012 for the Bruce Schwichtenberg for Senate campaign in SD47. Schwichtenberg unsuccessfully challenged state senator Julianne Ortman from the right. Winner of the MNGOP SCC straw pole for U.S. Senate, Ortman is now bidding for endorsement to run against US Senator Al Franken.
Olson mentions that MNCD6 candidate Tom Emmer served as a master of ceremony for a fundraiser at the compound. Brick City blogger Sean Olsen noted in Meet Your “New” Republican Party!:
State Rep. Ernie Leidiger will be holding his annual hog roast fundraiser [dead link] next month. This year’s event is themed “Meet The New Republican Party”, and features a pulled pork dinner, silent auction, activities for kids, karaoke, and a bonfire. On-site camping is also available if needed. Lots of special guests are also invited, like these fresh faces:
Hog Roast Emcee and failed gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer
U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann
U.S. Representative John Kline
U.S. Representative Erik Paulsen
Radio talk show hosts Jason Lewis and Sue Jeffers
State Senator Julianne Ortman
State Representative Joe Hoppe
Of course, these aren’t “new” faces at all. These are just the same faces we’ve been seeing and hearing from for years now. Keep looking down the list and — aha! — here are the new faces we’ve been looking for!
State GOP Party Chair Keith Downey
State GOP Deputy Party Chair Kelly Fenton
State GOP Secretary Chris Fields
Of course, of these folks, only Fields really qualifies a “new” face. Heck, Fields hasn’t even lived in Minnesota for two years and he already has lost a race for Congress by 49 points. Downey is a two-term former state representative who was heralded as an ideological leader behind the Republican House majorities that got routed in 2012. Fenton, meanwhile, is a longtime party activist.
Heckova a party.
Before being a party to the latest voter suppression lawsuit, Leidiger was last in the news when the Pioneer Press (and others) reported that Minnesota lawmaker's treasurer fined for paying speeding ticket from campaign fund.
Photo: Ernie Leidiger outside at his compound during Bratfest June 22 2012 for the Bruce Schwichtenberg for Senate campaign in SD47 (above); Tom Emmer (center left) and Ernie Leidiger (center right) at a 2010 BBQ at the compound (below). Photos via Facebook.
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