Capitol View: June 21, 2010 Archive

Voting begins this week

Posted at 12:44 PM on June 21, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010

Minnesota's top election official is reminding voters that the absentee ballot period for the Aug. 10 primary begins this Friday.

Legislation passed earlier this year moved the state's primary from its traditional September date to assist military personnel and overseas voters. It also shifted the rest of the election calendar a month earlier than normal. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie is trying to get the word out.

"When I tell people in Minnesota that voting starts this week on who will be our next governor, our next leaders, their jaws drop," Ritchie said.

The opportunity to vote by absentee ballot in person or by mail is June 25-Aug. 9. Ritchie, a DFLer running for a second term, said heavy advertising expected for the DFL gubernatorial contest should provide voters with more reminders about the earlier primary.

"So in the beginning I think we'll see a lot of applications for absentee ballots coming in. But we won't really see the effects of it, and we won't really know the totals of those absentee ballots coming in until the actual day of the election itself."

Robinson voices new Entenza ad

Posted at 1:57 PM on June 21, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

DFL candidate for Governor Matt Entenza is featuring his running mate's broadcast skills in a new campaign ad.

Robyne Robinson, a longtime television news anchor, provided the voiceover for the ad titled "Clean Up." It highlights the need for new, clean energy sources, and uses a series of still shots from the BP oil disaster.

Candidates to tackle education

Posted at 3:41 PM on June 21, 2010 by Tim Pugmire
Filed under: Campaign 2010, Campaign 2010: Minnesota Governor

Four candidates for governor are scheduled to participate in a forum Tuesday focusing on education issues.

The progressive think tank Growth & Justice, Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Minnesota Rural Education Association, Parents United for Public Schools, and Ready 4 K, are co-sponsoring the 90 minute event. It begins at 9:00 a.m. at Open Book in Minneapolis. Each candidate gets three minutes for an opening statement. They'll then take turns answering questions from a moderator.

Organizers say DFLers Mark Dayton and Matt Entenza are confirmed, as well as Rob Hahn and Tom Horner from the Independence Party. They invited DFLer Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Republican Tom Emmer, but both declined.