Michelle MacDonald, who lost her bid for Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court in the November elections, has announced that she will run for the office again. The announcement came in an email sent Friday to supporters.
While many saw her endorsement by the Republican Party of Minnesota of Michelle MacDonald as the best sideshow in town, the fact is that of the Grand Old Party's statewide candidates, the attorney outperformed the other, better funded candidates on the ticket in terms of the percentage of vote each received in his or her race.
Since the election, MacDonald made news for being in a lower court. Pioneer Press crime beat reporter Emily Gurnon wrote in Candidate sentenced for refusing DWI test:
Michelle MacDonald, a Dakota County attorney who lost her bid for the Minnesota Supreme Court last week, was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days of electronic home monitoring for refusing to submit to an alcohol test.
Dakota County District Judge Leslie Metzen also sentenced MacDonald to up to two years' probation and ordered her to complete a safe-driving program. If she satisfies terms of her probation, the gross misdemeanor charge will drop to a misdemeanor.
In addition to the test refusal, a Dakota County jury convicted MacDonald, 53, of Rosemount, of obstructing justice and speeding. It acquitted her of driving while intoxicated.
The charges stemmed from an April 5, 2013, traffic stop in which MacDonald claimed to be "a reserve cop" and refused to get out of her vehicle.
"I just want to say I am a woman who has not harmed anyone," she told the court.
In today's email, MacDonald also shared a cordial post-election exchange of notes between herself and Justice Lillehaug. In her note, she writes," It occurs to me it was the first time either of us have run for office."
According to the Wikipedia entry for David Lillehaug, the former United States Attorney sought office twice before: a primary bid for attorney general in 1998, which he losted to Mike Hatch, and a 2000 bid for DFL endorsement for the United States Senate. Lillehaug lost the endorsement to Jerry Janezich, who lost the DFL primary to Mark Dayton.
It's a far different rodeo for Lillehaug, who ran for Justice without party endorsement.
Here's the email:
Hello It’s Michelle MacDonald
On a personal note since election day Tuesday, November 4, I have been with a family member who is dying. I am with him now. I will definitely thank you in more detail because I truly thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your support and participation in the nearly 700,000 votes and nearly 47% showing in my first run for election to the Minnesota Supreme Court, and our campaign for justice for all.
I will be running for Justice again.
My first order of business was on Friday when I delivered to Justice Lillehaug the following letter with a token of my appreciation, my letter is below and I received his response, also below I the mail today:
Ms. Michelle MacDonald
MacDonald for Justice – Minnesota Supreme Court
1069 South Robert St. Suite U
West St. Paul, MNNovember 7, 2014
The Honorable David L. Lillehaug
Associate Justice of the MN Supreme Court
305 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd
St. Paul, MN 55155Your Honor:
Blessings to you and your family, and congratulations on your election to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
I so appreciate the integrity of you and your campaign team throughout this hard fought campaign. It occurs to me it was the first time either of us have run for office. I look forward to your continued success in championing the cause of higher justice in our State. The best investment we can make for the future is justice for all our citizens, including those that are downtrodden, who may have harmed someone, and seeking forgiveness. It will always pay rich dividends to connect people heart to heart my moving towards the conflict, rather than away from it: this is the Restorative Circle. At some point, I would like to introduce you to this practicum that Judge Bruce Peterson introduced me to a couple of years ago.
Please accept this token of my gratitude and heart-felt congratulations. Feel free to contact me in the future, and best wishes as you begin your term in our State’s highest judicial office.
Michelle MacDonald
Today I received a thank you from Justice Lillehaug which is also reprinted below.
November 7, 2014
Dear Ms. MacDonald,
Thank you for the great gift and cordial letter that you delivered today. Your best wishes are most appreciated – and I wish you the best also as you relax after a taxing several months.
I respect that we both found it beneficial to meet so many wonderful Minnesotans. Please extend my regards to your republican spouse.
Yours truly,
David Lillehaug.
Keep the Faith
Michelle MacDonald
Photo: Michelle MacDonald leaving the court in November. Photo via KSTP.
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