Back on July 5th, Bluestem reported about tensions between Senator Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center, and state representative Jeremy Munson, New Republican-Lake Crystal, in Surely the Vernon Center cannot hold; or, #MeToo re-aligned in tiny town parade?, wherein former state representative Tony Cornish drove the powerful senate finance chair's truck in the local Independence Day parade, far from the line-up location of the current state representative.
Now Trey Mewes reports in the Mankato Free Press story, Cornish considering run for former House seat:
Former Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Vernon Center, is mulling a return to St. Paul.
Cornish confirmed Wednesday he is considering running for his old House District 23B seat in the Minnesota Legislature, saying he believes more needs to be done to address area residents’ needs at the Capitol.
“I’m not happy with how things are being handled in my district,” he said.
Cornish, once a powerful lawmaker who chaired the House public safety committee, resigned in November 2017 after he was accused of sexual harassment by several women.
If he runs next year, he won’t be the first state lawmaker accused of sexual harassment in the U.S. to run for their old job — at least 25 state lawmakers across the country ran in 2018. Yet Cornish’s run also threatens to expose a schism between House Republicans and far-right conservatives. . . .
Before his resignation, Cornish was a popular Republican leader beloved in his district who built a reputation for blunt talk, supporting gun rights and at-times controversial political showmanship. He was first elected in 2002 after former Democratic Rep. Henry Kalis retired, but no DFLer gave Cornish a serious challenge at the ballot box since 2008. . . .
Cornish and Munson discussed Cornish potentially running for office over dinner last December, though the two have different accounts of what they said.
Munson said Cornish asked him to run against Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Vernon Center, for the District 23 seat, which covers most of south-central Minnesota. Cornish said Munson approached him with concerns over his reportedly rocky professional relationship with Rosen and the two discussed potential campaigns in the future while Munson sought advice. . . .
Given that Cornish and Rosen maintain ties (Rosen rented a charming little house from Cornish's brother-in-law and sister Michelle Negaard after moving from the house in Fairmont she once shared with her former husband), including parade volunteering, we tend to believe Cornish's version of the meeting.
And there were local bills that Munson didn't carry or sign on in the last session. We reported on one instance in Julie Rosen and Bob Gunther go to bat for Rapidan Township--where's Jeremy Munson?. Mewes suggests others:
Cornish acknowledged his seniority is part of why he’s thinking of running for a House seat, but he said he took back his promise not to run against Munson after he heard Munson refused to author several local infrastructure bills for sewer and wastewater projects. Cornish also said he’s concerned Munson doesn’t show up to community events or visit with residents enough.
“The lack of his presence in his district and complaints from citizens and city officials caused me to take back my statement,” Cornish said.
Munson confirmed Rosen was likely “not a fan” of his as he has repeatedly voted against omnibus bills, including a $1 billion infrastructure bill in 2018. He said he opposed the bill as it had too many non-essential projects the government shouldn’t borrow money to fund. . . .
Munson said Rosen has taken up infrastructure proposals within the district and sought out Rep. Bob Gunther, R-Fairmont, to author the House bill for several projects, including a St. James sewer project and additional money to build a new water treatment plant in Waldorf.
Munson said he supports wastewater funding and was involved in the early stages of securing funding to help clean up Lake Elysian, as well as a bill to help Rapidan Township with ditch cleanup funding.
Rosen disputed Munson’s account Wednesday afternoon. She said she hasn’t worked with Munson on any legislation thus far, including local infrastructure.
“He could have put a bill in and then you match them up,” Rosen said. “But he is not asking for advice, and he hasn’t been around long enough to understand the game and how it’s played.”
Rosen also said Munson should have voted for the infrastructure bill as it contained projects for small towns in his district.
“If you’re listening to your constituents, you’re going to support a bonding bill if there’s projects that are in there such as wastewater and sewer,” she said. “Those are crucial to a community and its vitality.”
That's the sort of thing our sources in the district mention about Munson--and they're not big Rosen or Cornish fans. Meanwhile, fellow New Republican, Tim Miller, Prinsburg, noodles around the potential Cornish bid on Facebook. Miller, who frets about feminism, worries about Mr. Cornish's morality:
That's certainly somewhat different tune from when the New Republican considered the implications of Beyonce's wardrobe for the 2013 Super Bowl halftime show. But then, we're never surprised what Miller is willing to say to Willmar Radio--regardless of the details of the outrageous butthurt he feels he's suffered, as we reported in Montevideo American Legion withdraws use of hall for controversial Tim Miller fundraiser.
Photo: The home Senator Rosen has rented outside of Vernon Center (and presumably still does) from Tony Cornish's sister. The sign in the foreground reads, "Warning! I'm a bitter gun owner clinging to my religion." Somehow, Bluestem doubts any of the three politicians wrapped up in this melodrama are going to much disagree with that cheery sentiment.
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