It's a cliche that the victors get to write history, but in Monday's West Central Tribune, veteran news reporter Tom Cherveny writes a first draft of history from the point of view of the defeated.
In Andrew Falk in the aftermath of defeat, Cherveny dissects Falk's loss of the seat in West Central Minnesota along the Upper Valley of the Minnesota River. In addition to Falk's reflections, he draws on spending reports for rural districts while considering the impact of low turn out on the content.
It's definitely worth a read.
Falk shares some interesting observations including:
. . . Falk said his campaign focused on the accomplishments of the past legislative session, and themes including the need for investments in transportation, early childhood education and day care for rural working families, and holding down higher education costs.
A campaign aimed at DFL House incumbents across the state struck up topics such as same-sex marriage, the Senate office building and federal health care, Falk said. To his surprise, he said the campaign also attempted to raise questions about his rural residency and cast him as a “metro” legislator. “And I am one of only a few farmers (in the legislature) living on a farm,’’ he said.
He has no regrets about supporting same-sex marriage, although he is sure it motivated some to vote against him. “If I am in that category of people who lost elections because I stood on the side of expanded rights and freedom and decency and treating others like you’d like to be treated, I am OK with that,’’ he said. . . .
Check it out at the West Central Tribune.
Photo: Andrew Falk combining grain, with the red farmhouse where he and his family live in the background of the photo.
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I don't think we've seen the last f this young man. Especially if his Republican replacement insists in gutting local and rural control in order to placate a few rich outside business interests who want to take over the area.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Dec 09, 2014 at 07:02 AM