Jim Schultz's Minnesota Private Business Council has provided $47,600 to a new political fund to send mailers about a school referendum in Mankato.
Back in September, Bluestem posted about a Marshall Independent article, We’ve got to turn it around,' in which 2022 Minnesota-Republican Attorney General candidate--and founder of the Minnesota Private Business Council--Jim Schultz was working to gain power:
. . . While Schultz lost the state attorney general race to Keith Ellison in 2022, he has still been working for political action. He said he is now building an organization called the Minnesota Private Business Council. The group, Schultz said, “Will bring businesses and other leaders throughout the state together to fight for common-sense policies that will grow jobs, lower taxes, and have less regulatory burden on our state.”
. . . [state representative Chris] Swedzinski urged area Republicans to work for the next election, “Because in the last election, Democrats outspent us six to one.” He also acknowledged area residents who stepped forward to run for local offices. “Truly, that is where this state is going to be won and lost, not just at the state level, not at the federal level, but the day in, day out work on school boards, on city councils, county commissions, soil and water boards – those things all matter.”
“At the end of the day, there is no certainty that we will be successful in our efforts, but we need to do all we can do to try and change our state,” Schultz said. “Let’s not lose hope. Let’s keep fighting, and let’s keep working together.”
Now Schultz and the Minnesota Private Business Council appear to be taking that philosophy to a school funding referendum in Mankato, though local media isn't clear about the connections of the political fund that's sending district voters mailers. Or the $47,600 contribution by the Minnesota Private Business Council that's helping to make those mailers possible.
In the Sunday Mankato Free Press, Holly Marie Moore reported in Mankato district works to combat election 'misinformation' as outside groups get involved statewide:
Mankato Area Public Schools’ leaders are working to inform voters about what they say are misleading claims against the upcoming referendum as outside groups get involved in elections across the state.
This comes as Mankato voters such as Lisa Wojcik have noticed an increase in mailers about the referendum being sent from Minneapolis-based group Common Sense Minnesota.
“There’s certainly been some social media things, some mailings and text messages going out,” she said. . . .
Peterson said one false claim about the referendum is that the school district is prioritizing remodeling over reading.
“And that’s just misinformation that we’re really wanting to make sure that our community understands that the School Board, the school district, has set forth a comprehensive plan that’s based on community voice,” he said.
The district has been using its social media platforms to inform voters about the referendum, which asks voters two questions on the ballot.
The first question asks voters to approve $105 million for safety and security, early learning access and learning and wellness space upgrades.
The second question, which can only pass if the first does, asks voters to approve $15 million for upgrades to Mankato East and West stadiums.
According to its website, Common Sense Minnesota described itself as “committed to bringing Minnesotans together behind common sense solutions to make Minnesota the best place to live, work and raise a family.”
The website further said the group operates independently of candidates and their campaigns.
The Free Press reached out to the group for comment but did get a response.
Peterson said school district referendums do sometimes attract outside groups.
Bluestem visited the Common Sense Minnesota website and was struck by the paucity of information on it. There are these three "About" paragraphs:
Common Sense Minnesota is committed to bringing Minnesotans together behind common sense solutions to make Minnesota the best place to live, work and raise a family.
Join us in empowering Minnesotans to secure a brighter future for our state.
Common Sense Minnesota is an affiliated 527 independent expenditure committee that operates independently of candidates and their campaigns as required by state and federal law.
With whom is Common Sense Minnesota affilliated? Common Sense Minnesota is registered with the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board as a political committee or fund. Number 41343 to be precise, registered on September 25, 2023. Jacob Dornbusch is the chair and Diane Johnson is the Treasurer. The address is on the 2700 block of Louisiana Ave S. in Minneapolis.
Given the board's campaign finance rules, there's no other data available on the state campaign finance website.
However, school districts and cities require campaign finance disclosure, so Moore missed a source of local information about the group.
Here's the filing from the Mankato Area Public Schools Campaign Finance Report for the 2023 Special Election.
Finance Page Common Sense Minnesota uploaded by Sally Jo Sorensen on Scribd
The webpages of the Minnesota Private Business Council and Common Sense Minnesota list differnt post office boxes in Minneapolis, so there's that.
Bluestem suspects that the school referendum has been targeted because the Mankato area includes two House seats held by DFLers, as i noted in my September post MN Private Business Council's Schultz lays out 2024 state house targets to Lyon Co GOP faithful.
We'll see if Mankato school district residents appreciate being the training ground for folks like this, if the'yre able to discern who's paying for those mailings.
Photo: Jim Schultz, keynote speaker at the Lyon County Republican Fall Dinner. Schultz, the 2022 Republican nominee for Minnesota Attorney General, said he is now building an organization called the Minnesota Private Business Council. Photo via Marshall Independent.
Related posts
- MN Private Business Council's Schultz lays out 2024 state house targets to Lyon Co GOP faithful.
- Schultz campaign, MN for Freedom PAC, Republican Attorneys General Association turn to experienced hands at sketchy coordination
- Airball; or Mistake of the Day: Schultz biffs self in own test about Minneapolis FBI office special agent
- Fearmongering the news: MNGOP Attorney General candidate confused about crime
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
Comments