We were looking forward to working in rhymes in our coverage of Minnesota State Senate District 12, but we've learned a third party candidate has joined incumbent Republican Torrey Westrom, La Grande Township, and DFL endorsed candidate Kari Dorri, Ortonville.
And Ashley Klingbeil's no fake cannabis supporter thrown on the ballot to siphon voters away from marking a Republican box. At the Alexandria Echo Press, Al Edenloff reported on June 1:
A few other local and state elections will add some spice to the general elections: . . .
- Senate District 12. Because of redistricting , the Republican incumbent, Torrey Westrom, moved from his previous address in Elbow Lake and established residency on West Lake Mary Drive in Alexandria. He is being challenged by the DFL-endorsed candidate, Kari Dorry of Ortonville, and an independent candidate, Ashley Klingbeil of Alexandria, who listed her party as "We the People."
An aside: We posted about efforts to help Westrom stay in place in Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house?. According the Completed eCRV ID for the West Lake Mary Drive property Torrey and Anna Westrom, with David Stamness, acquired the lake home via Warranty Deed on May 6, 2022. The property wasn't leased by the buyers before the sale and the planned use is for "Residential / Single family home" while before the sale the house was used as a "Residential / Cabin/Vacation Home." The senator had until May 8 to establish a residency in the district; we'll close the curtain on the deal without asking what Mr. Stamness's interest is in this single family home.
Where is Klingbeil coming from? According to her website's explanation, Who is Ashley Klingbeil?:
I am a mother, real estate agent and patriot. I'm an everyday citizen who, like you, cares about the country we are creating for our future generations.
I grew up in MN Senate District 12, originally from Swift County, I now reside in Alexandria and work all across central Minnesota as a licensed real estate agent. My career and involvement in the community have given me many opportunities to talk with so many great folks and hear their concerns.
A Letter: Video removal of School Board Candidate Forum is counter-productive, reveals that Klingbeil was involved as a Parent leader of Parents United For Responsive Education. The 2021 Alexandria school board race pitched Maureen Eigen and Jeff Patience in hotly contested race. Bluestem covered it briefly in When did school board candidate say negative things about masks & where did she say them?.
Klingbeil posted an update Thursday (today) WE THE PEOPLE ARE ON THE BALLOT!:
On May 31st we filed our declaration of independence from the stranglehold of the two-party system and the tyranny of the elite with a nominating petition that included over 660 of the People's signatures!
Did you know that to be a candidate on the ballot, you can either pay $100 to join a major or minor party recognized by the State of Minnesota or to run as an independent, as I am, you must collect at least 500 signatures from individuals in the constituency area? That's just what I did! I had 2 weeks to collect signatures and what an experience it was! I am not beholden to any party or organization because I care about and am running to represent We the People. I had so many great conversations during those 2 weeks collecting signatures and what I can tell you is the People are ready for a change!
The common topics of discussion were concern about the direction our country is heading, the security of our freedoms, the integrity of our elections, the power the elitists are attempting to wield over us and the feeling that something has got to give. I am that something, or rather, someone!
I decided to run for MN Senate District 12, comprised of Big Stone, Pope, Swift, Stevens, and a portion of Douglas and Stearns counties because I know in my heart that the only way to preserve our beautiful nation is for everyday people to get involved. I cannot sit back and watch what is happening to our country. We the People need to do something.
Over the next 5 months I will be out on the campaign trail, working hard to earn your vote. Please subscribe to my page to receive campaign updates, event notifications and to hear about opportunities to get involved!
That's pretty vanilla, but a more spicy picture emerges from scrolling through her candidate Facebook page, Ashley Klingbeil for Senate.
Some sample posts, from new to old:
A review of her own pro-Trump. pro-Mary-Franson, etc bonafides in a post that can't be embedded due to Facebook's policy on ownership of video clips in a larger revue. Watch it here.
A riff on Pride and guns:
Klingbeil declares herself to be a Trump girl, not a party girl. She was on the federal payroll of the Republican Party of Minnesota, according to several monthly reports filed with the Federal Election Commission.
More lock and load campaigning.
According to his entry in Minnesota Legislators Past and Present, kept by the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, Westrom is indeed longstanding:
House 1997-2002 (District 13A); House 2003-2012 (District 11A); Senate 2013-Present (District 12)
Party when first elected: Republican
Will Klingbeil be able to rouse kindred spirits on the right to vote for independence over experience? Are folks in the district pleased with the job he's doing? We certainly admire her drive as much as we disagree with her ideas and positions.
Photo: Ashley Klingbeil, via Facebook.
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