Capitol View: December 15, 2009 Archive

DFL Veterans Caucus backs Rybak

Posted at 9:45 AM on December 15, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Democrat R.T. Rybak's campaign for governor announced that the DFL Veterans Caucus is supporting his campaign. In a news release, DFL Veterans Caucus Chair Trista Matascastillo said, "As Mayor of Minneapolis, Rybak oversees the city's Police Force and the Fire Department. Immediately after being elected Mayor in 2001, Rybak received intensive training for emergency response, expertise that he used when responding to the collapse of the I-35 Bridge in August 2007. Rybak has the experience and executive leadership to deploy the National Guard effectively."

You can read the full news release here.

Candidate forum on health care inequities

Posted at 11:03 AM on December 15, 2009 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Eight of the Democrats running for governor, and one Republican, are scheduled to appear at a health care forum tonight in Minneapolis.

Take Action Minnesota is sponsoring the event, which according to a media advisory, will "focus on racial inequities in health in Minnesota, and the impact of the pending elimination of General Assistance Medical Care in Minnesota."

The participating candidates are Mark Dayton, Leslie Davis, Matt Entenza, Steve Kelley, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, John Marty, Tom Rukavina, R.T. Rybak and Paul Thissen.

The forum begins at 6:30 p.m., at Plymouth Congregational Church.

Emmer adds to campaign leadership team

Posted at 11:49 AM on December 15, 2009 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

State Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, has added the support of several GOP leaders to his campaign for governor.

Emmer announced today his Congressional District leadership team, which features four of the eight current Republican Party Congressional District chairs and three Deputy Congressional District chairs.

The list includes: Blue Earth County Republican Party Deputy Chair Jon Kovaciny (1st District), Senate District 35 Republican Party Chair Brad Johnson (2nd District), Third District GOP co-chairs Rick Weible and Margaret Cavanaugh, Fourth District Republican Party Chair Bev Aplikowski, Fifth District Republican Party Deputy Chair Adam Weigold, Sixth District Republican Party Chair David FitzSimmons and Sixth District Republican Party Deputy Chair Joe Westrup, Seventh District Republican Party Chair Craig Bishop and Isanti County Republican Party Chair Steve Baker (8th District).

Emmer also announced that a Minnesota House colleague, Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, will serve as Campaign Chairman.

"We are attracting the top grassroots leadership in the state to our team because we share a common vision for governing this state and they know we can win in November," Emmer said in a news release. "Under Mark Buesgens' leadership, this experienced group of Congressional District chairs is building the organization necessary to deliver the endorsement."

Teachers union backs Clark in 6th district

Posted at 12:31 PM on December 15, 2009 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

Education Minnesota announced today that it's endorsing state Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, in her campaign for Congress in Minnesota's 6th district.

Clark is seeking the DFL endorsement to challenge incumbent Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Here's the Education Minnesota news release:

Education Minnesota, the state's largest labor union with a membership of 70,000 educators, has recommended Tarryl Clark for Congress in Minnesota's 6th Congressional District. Clark is challenging Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann in November.

Clark's work ethic, her willingness to listen to educators and work with them, and her strong campaign make her the best candidate for the job, Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher said. Clark was among three contenders who were screened by a team of Education Minnesota members from around the 6th District. Bachmann did not fill out the required questionnaire to screen with the committee.

"Our members were impressed with Tarryl Clark's passion, her grasp of the issues and her commitment to working with us to benefit Minnesota's students," Dooher said. "We look forward to helping elect a representative from the 6th District who will fight for students, educators and public schools."

The recommendation from Education Minnesota also means endorsement of Clark by the PAC of one of the union's national affiliates - the National Education Association's Fund for Children and Public Education. Recommendation from the American Federation of Teachers' Committee on Political Education is pending.

Clark is a community activist and attorney who serves as the assistant majority leader of the Minnesota Senate. She holds a master's degree in educational counseling from Arizona State University, and received her law degree from William Mitchell College of Law. She worked as executive director for the Minnesota Community Action Association before winning a special election to the Senate in December 2005. She was re-elected to a full four-year term in the 2006 general election. She is married and has two children and lives in St. Cloud.

Peterson: "I'm running for re-election..."

Posted at 3:47 PM on December 15, 2009 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: U.S. House

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson stomps on the speculation that he intends to retire at the end of this term. His office released a statement today saying he's running for reelection:

"I don't know why anyone would give credibility to these Republican rumors. I'm running for re-election and anyone who knows me knows that what I'm doing now is what I've always done. My paperwork is on file and in February I'll make an official announcement. I think political campaigns are already too long (and my constituents agree) and so I wait and do what I can to make mine as short as I can. This retirement rumor is being ginned up by the National Republican Party people in Washington, DC, who don't know anything about Minnesota's 7th District. As for why they are working so hard to circulate this baloney, I think they're just trying to stir things up because they don't have a candidate to run against me."