Halfway through convention season, the Ramsey County Attorney race is starting to take shape - and John Choi's message is resonating
with DFL delegates. With a little over 180 possible delegates identified, DFLers are over halfway to selecting the 304 delegates that will endorse for County Attorney. While the endorsement battle for the governor's office has
not resulted in a clear-cut leader, John has established himself as the frontrunner in the race.
At this point in the race, two key indicators are strongly in Choi's favor -- the
numbers of "named" delegates and "superdelegates." While they each
make up a fraction of all delegates, both categories demonstrate the general support a candidate has at a convention. Currently, John
has earned 30 named delegates, compared to 6 for all of his opponents combined, and he holds a 12 to 2 advantage in the superdelegate count.
John's leadership has attracted a team of long-time DFL activists and lawyers who have earned a reputation for highly-organized, well-run efforts. Heading into this weekend, John and his team show no signs of slowing down.
For more on John's experience and innovative leadership, visit www.votejohnchoi.com.
Cory Tennison
Political Director
Volunteers for Choi
Representative Kline, if you really want to listen, I'm answering # 4 of your latest constituent survey. Across the board income tax cuts won't work, but giving money directly to the workers will. And by the way, tax cutsare not "free" and DO increase the national debt.
We don't want the rich to get richer. We want paychecks, and we won't get jobs from the rich, or even the middle class, unless the business owner can see value in hiring. The best way to alleviate our current economic woe is to hand money directly to the worker. Workers with steady paychecks have the courage to buy things and the economic wheel starts to turn in the right direction.
I encourage you to author a companion bill to Democrat Al Franken's Cash For Jobs, which gives the money directly to the worker and would "reallocate TARP funds and provide $5 billion for wage subsidies to incentivize hiring in the private sector and an additional $5 billion that would be dispursed as direct grants to states, local governments, and tribes to create green jobs."
Minnesota Senator Franken's bill is now in committee and is based a program which resulted in immediate hiring, called the Minnesota Emergency Employment Development program.
The Star Tribune reports that Patrick Uzalac, the gentleman suing Sheriff Fetcher for lack of medical treatment on frozen feet, has now died. It will take an autopsy to determine cause. If there is cause from the jail treatment, then we will have yet another wrongful death case.
Even more telling, is that more and more cases of lack of medical treatment are coming forward. This is also confirmed by the anonymous notes that I have been receiving:
"What has emerged is a pattern of, I don't think neglect, but almost to the point of affirmative abuse," Hajek said. "One guy fell off a cot and broke his heal. He went without medical care for two to three months ... now he's disabled. Another guy, he had broken stitches from an appendectomy and they didn't treat him."
Hajek said he expects to file additional lawsuits.
What the Star Tribune is failing to say, let me say very clearly. This is a widespread pattern of mis-management that displays that Sheriff Fletcher ought to retire to Florida immediately. This is a peace and justice issue of the highest urgency! Only the voters of Ramsey county can manage to force Sheriff Fletcher's retirement. Fortunately, a number of us have been able to persuade a current St Paul Assistant Chief Matt Bostrom to take on the challenge. Matt Bostrom is the opposite of Sheriff Fletcher is in every way: professional, capable, calm and reliable!
Via Outstate Politics, we have on our hands a Republican candidate who blatantly disrespects an honorably discharged Army veteran who has the temerity -- the GALL! -- to run for office as a DFLer.
That DFLer is Hal Kimball, someone I'm proud to know and support, and who I'm fairly certain is not "dangerous."
Benoit said he supports the endorsing process. He said there is so much at stake "and my opponent, Hal Kimball, is a dangerous guy."
You want to disagree with Hal on the issues, fine. You want to connect him to those evil libruls from Minneapolis, that's your prerogative. But calling an Army veteran "dangerous" without qualifying it in any way, shape, or form...gosh, it's almost like the speaker was playing in the political sandbox instead of having an honest conversation about the problems our state faces.
You can support Hal's campaign here -- I strongly encourage you to do so. More choice quotes from Hal's GOP opponents can be found here -- plenty of "drown government in a bathtub" Kool-Aid to go around.
Quick report from The Big E, who's in the midst of walking subcaucus fun as we speak: Marion Greene defeated Katie Hatt for the DFL endorsement in House District 60A. This seat is being vacated by Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, who's running for Governor (in case you haven't been reading along).
The endorsement fight didn't last long; Hatt conceded before the first ballot was revealed. As it turned out, Greene won 64%. All things being equal, Greene will be the next State Rep. from 60A.
Dave Pinto, a domestic violence prosecutor seeking DFL endorsement for Ramsey County Attorney in 2010, recently posted a campaign video in which he discusses his background and his plans to continue fighting for the vulnerable in leading the office. The video is embedded below:
A Ramsey County native, Pinto is the only candidate with experience in the County Attorney's Office and the only candidate in the courtroom every day fighting for our community's most vulnerable. Visit his campaign website to learn more about his qualifications and the many community leaders and organizations supporting his candidacy, including St. Paul Democrats for Civil Rights, the St. Paul chapter of the DFL Progressive Caucus, and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.
First blogged at Outstate Politics. Eric is in MN CD6 (Bachmann's district) and allows people to post. To become an author, e-mail him. Details here.
When's the last time a popular politician "went rogue," flew to China and promptly criticized our President? The answer is in September of 2009, and the politician is Sarah Palin. It worried me since it seemed she was garnering political allies, rather than trying to sell a book.
"...The Alaskan Independence Party's goal is the vote we were entitled to in 1958, one choice from among the following four choices:
1. Remain a Territory.
2. Become a separate and Independent country.
3. Accept Commonwealth status.
4. Become a State.
The call for this vote is in furtherance of the dream of the Alaskan Independence Party's founding father, Joe Vogler, which was for Alaskans to achieve independence under a minimal government (emphasis mine).
I've heard Sarah say she loves America, but I'd like to hear exactly why. I value my government and what it does for me. I understand that we are the government, even when the Republicans have the majority. I value my freedom of speech. I'm for responsible gun ownership (and keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists). I'm not happy about having to wear my seat belt, but I love America.
Recently, Sarah spoke about revolution at a Tea Party gathering and I'm wondering who was listening. Are the majority of Tea Party members patriots, or separatists? The original Boston Tea Party members did, indeed, turn out to be separatists. Are the 21st century Tea Party members only concerned about "no new taxes" (Taxed Enough Already) rather than separation from our Union? (And BTW, Tea Party people, here in Minnesota "no new taxes" resulted in IOU's to our schools, which is a disgrace.)
What's the saying... birds of a feather flock together? Soon Palin is coming to Minnesota's Congressional District 6 to campaign for Republican Michele Bachmann. The very same Michele Bachmann who has been saying we should be armed and dangerous, not pay our taxes, and not complete the census.
It's for certain. If the Palins and Michele Bachmann lived on my street, I'd be wondering, "Just what the heck is going on over there?"
Michele Bachmann's opponents are Tarryl Clark and Maureen Reed, if you'd like to make a donation.
Tonight, the community spoke out on what the selection criteria should be for the next St Police Chief. In the audience taking notes were at least four of the candidates: Todd Axtell, Colleen Luna, Bill Martinez and Thomas Smith, The press were taking notes. Truly, it is a process of a social contract being worked out between the community and the next police chief.
Tonight, I spoke out even when my voice shook. I prepared so much for my testimony at the community meeting, that I became nervous. Yep, me!
The highlights of what I was asking for is here:
Internal Candidate
Command Leadership
Courageous, Calm and Compassionate in times of Adversity
Willingness to give credit to others, to admit mistakes and to look from the viewpoint of an opposing perspective
Ability and Willingness to be the St Paul Police Public Advocate
Long Standing Community Relationships
Innovation and Leadership in Working with the Community to Solve Problems
My complete speech is below the fold.
Retired Chief Finney also spoke, with both cheers and applause. Chief Finney spoke of the need for integrity most of all. The new chief also has to form a partnership with the police union, keep informed of policing best practices and trends, form state and national connections, and continue grant work and collaborations.
(Thanks to Holly for capturing some great audio and detail in this report! - promoted by Grace Kelly)
At his last town hall meeting John Kline might have thrown out his back bending over backwards to appease traditional conservatives, Conservative Constitutionalist Party members, and Tea Party members. The new right is calling for an end to social security, an isolationistic foreign policy, and an end to big government which somehow may be too connected with big corporations. No audience member left the February 19th, 2010, town hall feeling at ease.
A Ramsey County native, Pinto is the only candidate with experience in the County Attorney's Office and the only candidate in the courtroom every day fighting for our community's most vulnerable. Visit his campaign website to learn more about his qualifications and the many community leaders and organizations supporting his candidacy, including St. Paul Democrats for Civil Rights, the St. Paul chapter of the DFL Progressive Caucus, and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.
The full text of the post is embedded in extended text below...
I, for one, would like to see John Kline better advocate for our Minnesota CD2. At the very least he should be suggesting new funding methods.
Potholes: A bumpy ride
Federal transportation dollars are often obtained by "earmarking". John Kline doesn't believe in the "earmarking" process, so time and time again we've lost out on precious dollars. The result: I'm finding it hard to drive to town.
The transportation projects these federal dollars fund are often the result of a conjoined county, township, and city effort. Each time these earmarked dollars are gained, they are put into a pot: Get money this year, add to the pot, get less next year, add to the pot. Our local governments fix roads and interchanges when they finally have enough set aside to accomplish a project. In our Congressional District 2, our congressman doesn't like earmarks, and so the dollars have been dwindling.
The Kline Effect: Long term
Projects take years to develop, and so "no earmarks" means we'll be seeing the No John Kline Earmark Effect for years to come. Projects have been put aside, and left undone.
No Advocate: Detrimental?
Yes. It's challenged our local leaders. They've had to use other congressmen and even senators to get help for our roads. It has cost our community, but the exact dollar amount is unknown.
Crumbly roads will affect:
1. Safety
2. Transportation of goods. Poor roads hurt our chances to attract businesses, and make it hard for our businesses to transport goods.
3. Where people live. New growth is better than run down, attractive draws population, and we want a vibrant Congressional District 2.
Democrat Dan Powers, who is challenging John Kline, said he will do everything he can to help transit projects in CD2.
I am pleased to share that several prominent Saint Paul leaders and legislative headliners are co-hosting an event for John Choi, candidate for Ramsey County Attorney.
Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Saint Paul Police Chief John Harrington, Moe Sharif, House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, Senate President Jim Metzen, Former Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe, Senator Mee Moua, Rep. Michael Paymar, Rep. Debra Hillstrom, Senator Ellen Anderson, Senator Sandy Pappas, Senator David Tomassoni, Senator Chuck Wiger, Former Senator Jerry Janezich, Former Senator Becky Lourey, Rep. Sheldon Johnson, Rep. John Lesch, Rep. Leon Lillie, Rep. Carlos Mariani, Rep. Sandy Masin, Rep. Nora Slawik all welcome you to a special reception in support of John on Wednesday, February 24th, at 5 p.m. at the Downtowner Woodfire Grill, 253 West 7th Street, in Saint Paul.
We hope to see you there!
Cory Tennison
Political Director
Volunteers for Choi
A pretty solid report indicates that State Rep. Cy Thao (D-St. Paul) won't run for reelection.
Thao's seat is a pretty safe one, so the report indicates that there's talk of delaying the endorsing convention to give candidates more time to campaign. In a city district like this one, the DFL endorsement likely means a win in the general election, though recent events out east indicate that that's no reason for an endorsed candidate not to work hard.
More on the district and the race to succeed Thao as we get more info.
I am pleased to share that John Choi, current Saint Paul City Attorney and candidate for Ramsey County Attorney has raised $76,193 for his campaign. The contributions came from 750 different individuals and organizations. 680 of the contributions were from individuals giving $100 or less. John has $53,887 cash on hand.
The wide breadth of John's contributors is staggering. John raised contributions ranging from $5 to $500 from people from all walks of life. John received contributions from citizens, elected officials, and several current employees of the Ramsey County Attorney's office. Of particular note is that John was able to raise this kind of money in spite of the 2009 contribution limit of $100 per individual.
John has been endorsed by over 50 current and former elected officials in Ramsey County, elected county attorneys, past bar association presidents, AFSCME Minnesota Council 5, Saint Paul Police Federation, Firefighters Local 21, Teamsters Local 120, Laborers Local 132, Minnesota Pipe Trades Association, Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), Teamsters Joint Council 32 DRIVE, and Minnesota Nurses Association.
John was recently recognized as the top city attorney in America by his colleagues of the International Municipal Lawyers Association.
As Ramsey County Attorney, John's priorities include providing innovative leadership, holding offenders accountable, and preventing juvenile crime.
Please join us at caucuses this Tuesday and support John!
Cory Tennison
Campaign Manager
Volunteers for Choi
Okay, here's a shorter version (less verbiage, and the "painful" might cause problems) of my Gay Marriage Resolution. If you agree, or wish to see equality now, please consider introducing this to your caucus.
Gay Marriage Resolution, Draft #2
Whereas people all across the nation have been voting "yes" to painful discrimination when they vote against gay marriage,
Whereas painful discrimination is wrong and unjust, and ultimately unconstitutional
Whereas there should be a separation of church and state,
Whereas the church should be allowed to decide who they will marry,
Whereas marriage is an important concept and valued by many in the state of Minnesota
Whereas civil unions, if defined properly and used in the right manner, may help us to avoid a conflict between church and state while also simultaneously ending painful discrimination
Let it be resolved that the state of Minnesota recognize "civil unions", use that term when it refers to its residents in legal description instead of the term "marriage", and commence to consider marriage as equal to that of a civil union. No one entity shall be discriminated against as a result of being a part of a civil union.
"Civil union" shall be defined as a union between two individuals and shall commence upon consumation by ceremony as allowed by within the church or as consumated before a judge; or shall commence upon being a civil union that is of "habit and repute" and which has been in existence for seven years.
