Capitol View: July 29, 2009 Archive

Clark finally makes her 6th district bid official

Posted at 10:11 AM on July 29, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

State Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, announced today what had already been widely reported -- that she's running for Congress in the 6th district.

Clark says she will abide by the DFL endorsement. Maureen Reed and Elwyn Tinklenberg are also running as Democrats for the seat held by second-term Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.

Clark posted a vdeo message on her campaign website. She also sent out the following message to supporters:

Dear _____ ,

I want you to hear it from me.

With the encouragement and support of Minnesotans from Stillwater to Saint Cloud, today I am announcing I have filed the forms necessary to pursue Minnesota's 6th District seat in Congress, currently held by Representative Michele Bachmann.

Minnesotans understand the challenges facing our State and our nation. As a State Senator, I talk every day with families and businesses facing economic challenges head-on. As a Mom and Dad, my husband Doug and I must often make the same difficult decisions about balancing the rising costs of college, health care, and energy.

I see these challenges, and believe they present great opportunities. On issues ranging from health care to caring for our veterans; from energy independence to relieving the burdens on small businesses; from helping parents ensure their children are ready to start school to developing a 21st Century work force; we have an opportunity to address our nation's challenges while also creating new opportunities for jobs and growth.

For the past few years, the 6th District's representation in Congress has been about missed opportunities. We've watched opportunities slip away - opportunities to build our local infrastructure, to modernize our transportation system, and to create good jobs and a strong business climate.

It's time to deliver more than a sound bite. Representative Bachmann's biggest accomplishments are creating controversy instead of creating good jobs, and working the talk show circuit instead of helping working families. I am ready to go to Congress to put our community's interests first -- to fight for Minnesota's working families, seniors, children, small business owners, and veterans.

With your support and help, I've won tough campaigns before and, with your support and help, I know we will do it again. I'm proud to have earned the DFL endorsement in each of my campaigns, and this campaign will be no different: I will seek and abide by the DFL endorsement, and I will not challenge the endorsement in a primary. The future of those in the 6th District is too important to let party politics get in the way.

I hope you'll join me. A winning campaign needs passion, energy, and good ideas. If you talk to people across Minnesota, they will tell you I bring those qualities to every campaign.

I can't do this without you. A winning campaign also needs resources to connect with voters. I hope you will join our campaign today by making a contribution of $250, $100, $50 - whatever you can afford -- right away. You can also sign up to be a part of the campaign and to receive email updates at our website, www.tarrylclark.com.

With your help, we can transform our challenges into opportunities for progress. I ask for your support as we build a winning campaign.

Sincerely,

Tarryl Clark

State GOP responds to Clark's candidacy

Posted at 2:34 PM on July 29, 2009 by Tim Pugmire

Following today's announcement by state Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, that she's running for Congress, Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton issued the following statement:

"Tarryl Clark is a tax and spend liberal who has consistently voted to raise taxes on Minnesotans," Sutton said. "As a state senator, Clark has voted to increase gasoline taxes, the metro wide sales tax, license tab fees and income taxes. Regardless of who the DFL puts up, the Sixth District will have a clear choice between Rep. Michele Bachmann, who opposes any new tax increases and the Democrats who have long supported adding to the tax burden of hard-working Minnesotans."