Polinaut: January 18, 2006 Archive

Borene in Senate district 41 race

Posted at 7:08 AM on January 18, 2006 by Bob Collins

What's this? A DFLer running for state Senate with a Web site showing him standing in camoflauge in Iraq, with a weapon in his hands? This maybe the new breed of DFLer surfacing in Republican territory -- the state Senate's 41st District -- Edina.

Andrew Borene is described "with experience as a U.S. Marine Intelligence Officer during major combat operations in Iraq and as an investment banker serving local governments during the 1990s, Andrew is a straight talker who believes that we need creative, optimistic leadership in our community."

OK, we's got the stump speech down, how about the issues. He says he's for "fiscal discipline without compromising our way of life." He opposes property tax increases for education and state-run casino ideas. He says he'll work to allow access to affordable health care (no mention of MinnesotaCare's future).

As for the coming battle over same-sex marriage, there is this on the subject of faith and religion. "I am a person of faith and I support the Constitutional separation of Church and State. I do not believe any one denomination should comprise a political platform and I will work to ensure that all Minnesotans continue to have the freedom to practice and administer their own faith as they see fit, without government interference."

I think that means he'll be against the bill. We'll see.

Sen. Geoff Michel currently has the seat.

Hutchinson to announce

Posted at 11:49 AM on January 18, 2006 by Bob Collins

Peter Hutchinson will announce his candidacy for governor next Wednesday morning at the Minneapolis Hilton.