I have been an Assistant County Attorney for over 8 years, prosecuting crimes affecting the most vulnerable in our society. I can say from firsthand experience that it takes a special kind of person to successfully run a large office of prosecutors. Former Saint Paul City Attorney and candidate for Ramsey County Attorney John Choi is a leader who has those types of management skills.
You do not have to take my word for it. I am happy to share that some of the most prominent chief prosecutors in Minnesota have now endorsed John. This distinguished group includes Vice President (and former MN Attorney General) Walter Mondale, Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson, Former US District Court Chief Judge (and former MN Attorney General) Miles Lord, Former MN Attorney General Mike Hatch and Former MN Attorney General Warren Spannaus.
Here is what Vice President Walter Mondale recently said, "John Choi has the experience and integrity to be an outstanding Ramsey County Attorney. He will aggressively fight crime, especially domestic abuse and gang violence, while taking innovative steps to prevent crime. I strongly support him for Ramsey County Attorney.
In addition, John has also been endorsed by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, Former U.S. Attorney Tom Berg, Former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger, Former U.S. Attorney David Lillehaug, Former Hennepin County Attorney Tom Johnson, Anoka County Attorney Robert M.A. Johnson, Rice County Attorney Paul Beaumaster, and Former Hennepin County Attorney Gary Flakne.
Former U.S. Attorney David Lillehag recently said, "The Ramsey County Attorney's Office is a critical agency in ensuring the public's safety. A County Attorney must have good judgment and the ability to lead and manage career prosecutors. As the Saint Paul City Attorney, John has been tested and he has proven that he has the skills necessary to be a superior County Attorney."
In addition to these endorsements, John has the support of more than 80 current and former elected officials, past bar association presidents, the Saint Paul Police Federation, Firefighters Local 21, IAFF Local 3939, AFSCME Local 5, the Ramsey County DFL, the DFL Seniors, Veterans, and Stonewall Caucuses, Teamsters Local 120, Laborers Local 132, Minnesota Pipe Trades Association, Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), Teamsters Joint Council 32 DRIVE, United Transportation (Minnesota), and Minnesota Nurses Association.
Please cast your ballot August 10th for the candidate with the right leadership experience for this important office. Cast your ballot for John Choi for Ramsey County Attorney.
Cory Tennison
Political Director
Volunteers for Choi
Former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno Endorses Dave Pinto for Ramsey County Attorney
Dave Pinto has received the endorsement of former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno. Pinto is a domestic violence prosecutor seeking DFL endorsement for Ramsey County Attorney in 2010. Former Attorney General Reno's full statement is below:
Dear DFL Activist:
I write to urge you to support Dave Pinto in his campaign for Ramsey County Attorney. I have known Dave for nearly ten years. I have been consistently impressed with his intellect, dedication to the profession of law, and commitment to public service.
Before serving as U.S. Attorney General, I served for twenty years as State Attorney for Miami-Dade County in Florida. In Florida, the State Attorney is the equivalent of the County Attorney in Minnesota. I know that it's a job where you have to make difficult decisions that balance public safety and individual rights. Hands-on experience, both in and out of the courtroom, is critical in building the judgment and credibility needed to make those hard decisions.
I believe Dave is uniquely qualified to serve your community as County Attorney. He has experience in government service, private practice, and the federal courts, as well as his hands-on experience as a prosecutor. He has consistently used his legal skills to serve the public. During his time in private practice he achieved an historic court ruling protecting the rights of GLBT high school students. He has fought to protect the voting rights of those in traditionally disenfranchised communities. As a domestic violence prosecutor in the County Attorney's office, he is in court every day working to protect families and break the cycle of violence.
Dave has a rare mix of management skills and experience in multiple areas of the law. He has the expertise, talent and temperament to be an extraordinary County Attorney. I am proud to support his candidacy.
Sincerely,
Janet Reno
Former U.S. Attorney General (1993-2001)
A Ramsey County native, Pinto is the only candidate with experience in any county attorney's office and the only candidate in court every day fighting crime. Visit his campaign website to learn more about his qualifications and the many community leaders and organizations supporting his candidacy.
We, bloggers, like to joke about various politicians being MIA (missing in action) like Tim Pawlenty, where even his fellow Republicans say "Welcome back to Minnesota". Yet it is really surprising to have a politician who truly resigns to have time to run for another office. Today, John Choi resigned from being St Paul city attorney to have more time to run for Ramsey county attorney and take the burden of being accused of possible political motives away from the city attorney's office. In John Choi's resignation letter, John Choi said:
Good public leaders consistently do what is best for others and the public. This is my leadership moment and I am choosing to step aside and focus my attention on getting elected County Attorney and allow for new leadership in the City Attorney's Office.
FYI, I have endorsed John Choi for Ramsey County Attorney's race. And my regular readers do know that being supporter has not stopped me from a critic! Being actively involved in politics always gives me an inside track. Rarely do I see any lawyer or politician as well liked and respected in so many places, as John Choi, so I wonder how the corporate press will spin this story.
More analysis about John Choi's job as city attorney after the fold.
Dave Pinto, a domestic violence prosecutor in the Ramsey County Attorney's Office seeking DFL endorsement for Ramsey County Attorney in 2010, recently published "Bring openness and transparency to the office." This is the eighth in a series of blog posts on his eight-point plan for leading the office. Previous posts on each element of his plan have included:
A Ramsey County native, Pinto is the only candidate with any experience in any county attorney's office and the only candidate in court every day fighting crime. 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 is embedded in extended text below...
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
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.
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 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
Every night, 2-15 women in Saint Paul call the police to report that they have been a victim of abuse in their home. When the police arrive, the offenders involved are frequently gone. These cases used to be handled in chronological order. Sometimes it took weeks to press charges. And now when funds are being constantly cut, that time situation is getting worse.
John Choi was a leader in a multi-department change of processing of domestic calls to an order based on an assessed threat level. It is a simple change that makes a big difference. Really it is a case of preventing murder. The local project is called part of a bigger project of best practices for handling domestic violence called Blueprint for Safety. For those victims at greatest risk, law enforcement officers are sent out to apprehend the assailant the same day and file charges immediately.
Mary Louise Klas, a retired judge, and Shelley Johnson, domestic abuse advocate spoke at a John Choi fundraiser about the importance of John's work in domestic violence.
I am please to share that John Choi, current Saint Paul City Attorney and candidate for Ramsey County Attorney has been endorsed by the Saint Paul Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), Teamsters Joint Council 32 DRIVE, Minnesota Nurses Association, Former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger, Former Attorney General Mike Hatch, and Roseville City Councilmember Amy Ihlan.
John has also been endorsed by over 50 current and former elected officials in Ramsey County, elected county attorneys, past bar association presidents, Saint Paul Police Federation, Firefighters Local 21, Teamsters Local 120, Laborers Local 132 and the Minnesota Pipe Trades 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 me in supporting John on February 2nd at DFL caucuses!
Thanks,
Cory Tennison
Campaign Manager
Volunteers for Choi
Dave Pinto, a domestic violence prosecutor seeking DFL endorsement for Ramsey County Attorney in 2010, recently published "Foster community collaboration to reduce and prevent crime," the sixth in a series of blog posts on his eight-point plan for leading the office. The series will continue throughout the month of January, leading up to precinct caucuses on Tuesday, February 2.
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.
Dave Pinto, a domestic violence prosecutor seeking DFL endorsement for Ramsey County Attorney in 2010, recently published "Strive for a criminal justice system that provides equal justice for all," the fifth in a series of blog posts on his eight-point plan for leading the office. The series will continue throughout the month of January, leading up to precinct caucuses on Tuesday, February 2.
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.
Dave Pinto, a domestic violence prosecutor seeking DFL endorsement for Ramsey County Attorney in 2010, recently published "Protect civil liberties while maintaining public safety," the fourth in a series of blog posts on his eight-point plan for leading the office. The series will continue throughout the month of January, leading up to precinct caucuses on Tuesday, February 2.
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.
I am please to share that John Choi, current Saint Paul City Attorney and candidate for Ramsey County Attorney has been endorsed by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Minnesota Council 5 and Former Governor Wendell Anderson.
AFSCME Minnesota Council 5 is one of the state's largest and most politically active unions. Assistant Ramsey County Attorneys are members of AFSCME Minnesota Council 5.
Former Governor Wendell Anderson said "I enthusiastically endorse John Choi's candidacy for Ramsey County Attorney because he has a distinguished record of innovative accomplishments as a leader in the criminal justice system. As a former Governor, I am impressed with John's record of leadership as the Saint Paul City Attorney. He will keep the public safe and and seek justice in everything he does as our next Ramsey County Attorney."
John was recently recognized as the top city attorney in America by his colleagues and the International Municipal Lawyers Association.
As Ramsey County Attorney, John's priorities include providing innovative leadership, holding offenders accountable, and preventing juvenile crime.
John has also been endorsed by over 50 current and former elected officials in Ramsey County, elected county attorneys, past bar association presidents, Saint Paul Police Federation, Firefighters Local 21, Teamsters Local 120, Laborers Local 132 and the Minnesota Pipe Trades Association.
Please join John!
Cory Tennison
Campaign Manager
Volunteers for Choi
cory@votejohnchoi.com
Dave Pinto, candidate for Ramsey County Attorney, today unveiled a comprehensive plan for leading the Ramsey County Attorney's Office. His strategic priorities focus on leveraging innovation and collaboration to reduce and prevent crime, protecting civil liberties, ensuring equal justice, and promoting openness and transparency to make Ramsey County more livable and safer for all.
"This plan lays out the values and priorities that will guide my work as Ramsey County Attorney," said Pinto. "The plan has been shaped by the many conversations I've had with Ramsey County citizens about the community's needs, as well as by my wide-ranging experience in criminal, civil and public interest law and public policy."
Starting on November 19, Pinto will post weekly to his campaign's blog on each of the eight principles outlined in his leadership plan.
We, bloggers, like to joke about various politicians being MIA (missing in action) like Tim Pawlenty, where even his fellow Republicans say "Welcome back to Minnesota". Yet it is really surprising to have a politician who truly resigns to have time to run for another office. Today, John Choi resigned from being St Paul city attorney to have more time to run for Ramsey county attorney and take the burden of being accused of possible political motives away from the city attorney's office. In John Choi's resignation letter, John Choi said:
