| "The controversy that I think is fairly focused on me is the 8 charges of conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism. That's the decision that I think the discussion really boils down to (fair discussion) I take responsibility for decision to charge those 8 cases, that my job to make those decisions ... We cannot, do not file charges unless we believe that it can be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that a felony crime occurred. Are we criminalizing dissent? Not in our view.
"I've had meetings with numerous folks who have questions, concerns, disagree with me, are outraged about RNC charges, and I have been more than willing to sit down and talk it through. To our legislators, I say 'don't pass laws you don't want enforced.' It was not my decision to pass a law which, in our view, clearly covers the charged conduct and makes it an act of terrorism."
It's a controversy I'm quite certain will continue throughout the race for the Capitol's corner office. But we did discuss other issues, and Gaertner focused on education as the issue as the center of...well, everything.
Education is the infrastructure of everything else that goes on in state government. There's a huge range of bad outcomes that happen because of school failures. Preservation of our environment - one of ways to get there is through education. Health care is another example - public health is enhanced the more people are educated academically and practically about their health care choices.
"One of the problems is that we're so far in the hole right now, that there's no easy way out of the hole Tim Pawlenty's dug for us. He's made the whole education system cut so close to the bone that cuts now would be into the bone itself. We need stable education funding."
On taxes, Gaertner struck a pragmatic tone, but one that should find willing listeners in the DFL endorsement race.
"Our tax system needs to be less regressive. We needs to start by equalizing the playing field where the top tier of Minnesotans pay less percentage-wise than the middle class or lower income categories.
"Not many people think that people at the highest income bracket should take less responsibility for the tax system. We have to get away from relying on revenue streams like property taxes and look at things like current structure of sales tax, corporate taxes, income taxes, find out what is going to get us through these ups and downs."
So back to the original question -- can Susan Gaertner distinguish herself in a large and well-qualified field of DFL candidates? She's abiding by the DFL endorsement, which means that she'll be done by June of next year if she doesn't win the party's backing. She's as qualified -- more so, in terms of tenure as a County Attorney -- than Amy Klobuchar was when she was elected to the U.S. Senate. She faces obstacles from her local DFL, where she faced a stiff endorsement challenge in 2006. On the other hand, she has room for growth in Greater Minnesota, where she isn't yet well-known, and a background in public safety, generally a strong background from which to run.
As with all the candidates I've interviewed, time will tell.
Find Gaertner's campaign online at http://www.susangaertner.com/ |
