The Crookston Times is one of those papers like the Winona Daily News that publishes signed editorials. Editor Mike Christopherson writes in one such editorial, Dayton has delivered for Greater Minnesota:
Just about everywhere, but maybe even more around these parts, in the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest, we like a little bit of that invaluable “face time” now and then. We like to put a face with an email. We like to extend a hand and offer up a firm handshake. Even in this digital age of communication in the blink of an eye that requires no face-to-face contact, once in a while there’s maybe nothing better than a good, old-fashioned conversation between two actual human beings sharing the same actual space.
But, given all that, you know what they say about actions speaking louder than words. When it comes to making visits to Crookston and other communities throughout Greater Minnesota, incumbent DFL Governor Mark Dayton maybe has come up a bit short in his first four years. But the actions – the results that have benefited Crookston and other rural towns peppering the vast majority of the state’s geography not located in and around the Twin Cities under Dayton’s watch during his first term? They’re hard to argue with. With Dayton in the governor’s mansion and a Minnesota Senate and House both led by Democrats, Greater Minnesota is better off now than it was at the end of Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s two terms.
So when you’re thinking about who to vote for to be Minnesota’s next governor next month, are you willing to vote for Republican gubernatorial challenger Jeff Johnson because you buy into his contention that Dayton has “abandoned” Greater Minnesota? That’s a serious accusation to level at the governor, and if it’s based largely on a lack of actual visits to rural Minnesota cities made by Dayton over the past four years or so, it’s an especially risky one for Johnson to make. Because if you look at school funding, property tax relief, state aid to cities like Crookston and transportation funding, just to name a few, Dayton and the DFL-led legislature have delivered for Greater Minnesota, even if the governor for the most part hasn’t delivered it in person.
Johnson may claim that Dayton abandoned Greater Minnesota, but when measured against the results from his administration--especially in the last two years when he was able to work with a DFL controlled legislation--Johnson's claim simply looks like campaign nincompoopery.
It's an interesting claim from the perspective of another race in the Crookston area. Minnesota Public Radio's Catharine Richert reported in DC group plays offense in 3 MN House districts:
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has named three Minnesota House races to its watch list.
Those races are among 69 the group, which works to elect Democrats to state legislatures, believes have the best chance of flipping from red to blue.
Targeted Minnesota races include:
-
Minnesota House District 01B – Democrat Eric Bergeson is challenging incumbent Republican Rep. Debra Kiel of Crookston. . . .
Will readers also make an inference that adding another DFLer to the Minnesota House might also be a good thing?
Photo: Dayton says hi. Via Politico.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Comments