Readers living in Minnesota House District 23B, an open seat created by the resignation of Tony Cornish after a settlement for sexually harassing a lobbyist, sent Bluestem more interesting mail.
Today, a postcard arrived for insurgent candidate Scott Sanders, featuring a classic grip and grin featuring Cornish (left) and Sanders (right), a Watonwan County commissioner serving the St. James area.
No sign at Senator Julie Rosen's official residence
Yesterday in Meadow muffins: MN23B GOP primary blossoms we noted:
Cornish isn't the only area Republican to support Sanders. A source reports that Blue Earth County commissioner Will Purvis has a Sanders sign on his property near Vernon Center, and Sanders signs have blossomed on the usual Republican lawns that spouted Cornish signs in the past.
Mewes reports House Transportation Finance committee chair Paul Torkelson, R-Hanska, who owns property in the contested district, has endorsed Sanders, as has House District 23A state representative Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, chair of the Legacy Funding Finance Committee. Mewes also notes:
Munson has picked up endorsements from the state GOP, Republican 1st Congressional District candidate Jim Hagedorn, and several Republican gubernatorial candidates — Rep. Matt Dean, Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson and former state party chair Keith Downey.
We grew curious whether Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center, who represents Senate District 23, had made an endorsement in the race. We couldn't find mention of an endorsement online; a friend sent a photo of the official Rosen domicile (red house), where no lawn sign is present along the road.
Perhaps Senator Rosen is focusing her efforts helping her own caucus's efforts in the Senate District 54 special election, staying in her modest pied-à-terre in Mendota while she gives Denny McNamara a hand.
More media reaction to the primary kerfuffle
At the Waseca County News, Dana Melius writes in Election 2018: An early start to the political season:
These are, indeed, the times that try men’s souls.
I often typed those words during my collegiate days, hitting those typewriter keys just to make sure everything was in working order. Thomas Paine’s famous quote was the phrase I used to get rolling.
Back then, during my days at the University of Minnesota, I was somewhat of a perfectionist. There were few personal computers, few computers of any kind. No spell check. Just carbon paper and correcting ink. So if I made a mistake late on a page, I’d rip out the sheet, crumple it into a messy ball, and throw it into a corner.
Sometimes, by night’s end, it would be a heck of a pile.
Politics is kind of that way. And we’re getting an early dose of election news early in 2018.
The resignation of seven-term District 23B Rep. Tony Cornish has prompted a special election on Monday, Feb. 12. The late filing of a second Republican candidate, Watonwan County Commissioner Scott Sanders, means a Jan. 29 primary election is also in order. He’ll face off against the party’s endorsed candidate, Jeremy Munson. And the two camps’ followers are already at each other. Cornish recently weighted in on the matter, endorsing Sanders; former state Sen. Al DeKruif, now chairman of the Le Sueur County Republicans, has rifled off a blistering criticism of Cornish’s past actions and current involvement.
Two other candidates have announced: DFLer Melissa Wagner and independent Nicholas Schmitz. Wagner will be on the special election ballot; Schmitz won’t, as he’ll have to rely on write-in votes. It’s really too difficult to even explain, so trust me.
Yes, these are the times that try men's souls, especially when Cornish is involved--and we remember the ladies.
Photos: The Sanders postcard (above); no yard sign at the official Rosen residence.
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