Via personal Facebook page: independent candidate vows to challenge Westrom residency

Update 8/31: On Tuesday, August 30 the referee ruled in Westrom's favor, we reported in Referee's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law: Torrey Westrom stays on MN12 ballot.[end update]

Is it a copycat play or a legitimate challenge?

Just as soon as the residency challenge to Minnesota Senate District 23 endorsed Republican candidate Gene Dornink is under the consideration of the Minnesota State Supreme Court, another Senate conservative candidate has raised the issue of her Republican opponent's residency.

In the Minnesota Legislature since 1997, Torrey Westrom needed to move after redistricting.

In Senate District 12, "We the People" candidate Ashley Klingbeil posted the embedded video on her personal Facebook page late Tuesday afternoon:

The full text that accompanied the video on the Facebook post:

~Fraud, Corruption and Lies Right Here In Our District from Republican Torrey Westrom~

I believe my Republican opponent Torrey Westrom is breaking the law and I don’t believe he’s eligible to run for Senate District 12. He says he lives in Alexandria and I believe that to be a lie and that he actually lives in Elbow Lake. We need to file our petition with the MN Supreme Court this week and we need your help as it’s $550 to file. A brief narrative of our petition is below.

 

A copy of his Affadavit of Candidacy shows an address located on Lake Mary which he swore under oath that he will have resided at this residency for at least six months prior to the general election. Westrom closed on said property with two other owners listed two days before the six month deadline. Furthermore, the address he claimed to live at is located within an RV park, tax classified as seasonal/recreational and the house is completely vacant to present.

 

Upon monitoring his Elbow Lake residence over a period of weeks, which isn’t in our district, I’ve concluded he still resides in Elbow Lake and simply lied about his residency. I have all the documentation and evidence ready to file I just need your help to pay the filing fee and service fees. I’m also curious what the Republican Party of Minnesota has to say about this.

Please donate NOW so we can file this week before it’s too late! ——->[fund raising link redacted]

While the We The People candidate has been an enthusiastic presence at parades, fundraising isn't her forte. Her Pre-primary Report to the Campaign Finance Board reveals she raised $1,316.17.

Now, we must admit that we had questions about a reported Senate gerrymandering scheme to help Westrom claim residence in a Lake Ida property, explored in our May post  Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house?. But that harebrained idea died before it reached the Minnesota Senate floor.

Indeed, in 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."

On the Minnesota Secretary of State's website, Westrom's candidate filing information includes this information:

Residence Address
4951 W LAKE MARY DR SW
ALEXANDRIA, MN 56308

According to Douglas County Records, that's parcel 27-2010-810, which was sold on a warranty deed (audit May 6, 2022) to David Stamness et al. The appraiser's report indeed says it's a "SEASONAL REC RESIDENTIAL" property.

According to a Coldwell Banker Realty listing online the home was sold for $334,500 (photo at top of post). We learn these details:

Best of all worlds!! 1 Acre with 191 feet of frontage on Lake Mary and privacy. This 3 bedroom home has separate living quarters with kitchens on both levels. Remodeled lower level with walkout, newer furnace, A/C and windows. ...

However, at the Minnesota Department of Revenue, page 2 Completed eCRV ID 1408924 includes this information:

Planned use:

Residential / Single family home

Primary use:

Yes

Prior use:

Residential / Cabin/Vacation Home

We've embedded the document below.

Public Search-eCRVId_1408924-2022.08.02.20.20.00  uploaded by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd

We're not sure why the Westroms needed another person to purchase the property, but in this day and age, we're not sure if that is necessarily our business.

Nonetheless, a three-bedroom home seems a bit cramped for three adults and three children. 

Here's our mid-June post about Klingbeil's campaign:

#MN12: We The People Party Ashley Klingbeil running way to the right of GOP, DFL candidates #mnsenate #forreal https://t.co/WZQaP6oWk0

— Sally Jo Sorensen (@sallyjos) June 16, 2022

We'll just have to see whether Klingbeil can raise the filing fees--and what the court rules. Since there's not a primary in Senate District 12, we're uncertain whether the Alexandria area realtor can be accused of resting on her laches, as has been suggested of the Hanson supporter in District 23.

Photo: Torrey Westrom's new real estate purchase. We The People candidate Ashley Klingbeil believes she has evidence to prove Westrom does not, indeed, live there.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6