Wednesday, May 16, 2012
State Rep. Keith Downey believes a spillover effect from the problems in France seems likely to hit the U.S.
Editor's Note: The following comes from State Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina). The views expressed are solely his and do not reflect those of Patch. As the Monday morning quarterbacking begins on our 2012 legislative session, we should look at the big picture. The press of course goes for political headlines, looking at the "stories" in isolation. But the real measure of the 2012 legislature is whether its short term spending and debt will help strategically position Minnesota for success. Situation Economic uncertainty and unsustainable government fiscal imbalances are challenges being faced by states and nations across the world, and unfortunately we are all connected to it. The recent election in France that saw current President Nicolas …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Local Republicans readying for Paul's appearance Friday.
See updates below. Ron Paul is set to speak at the Minnesota Republican convention Friday, and party activists in the Fifth District are preparing for a possible Paul win—with one local activist saying "I get the feeling I'm witnessing history." Paul is poised to make a strong showing in Minnesota after congressional-district conventions gave him 20 of 24 available national delegates. The Texas congressman was denied a speaking slot at the 2008 state convention, but has proven a popular candidate and speaker here since—turning fans away, for example, from an over-capacity speech in Arden Hills shortly before Minnesota's 2012 caucus night. On Monday, Paul announced his campaign would stop spending money in states that haven't yet held …
Keith Downey will run for State Senate, while Bill Glahn and Terry Jacobson will compete for House seats.
Nearly two months after its annual convention, the Republican delegates of Senate District 49 have officially endorsed candidates for this fall's elections. Republicans from Edina, Bloomington, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie met Thursday, May 10, at Jefferson High School to formally endorse candidates for three local legislative races. Perhaps the least surprising of the endorsements was Keith Downey—who is wrapping up his second term in the Minnesota House of Representatives—being endorsed as the Republican candidate for State Senate District 49. He was unopposed for the nomination to fill the seat vacated by Geoff Michel's retirement. Downey will face off against DFL candidate and Target attorney Melisa Lopez Franzen for the senate seat. …
Challenger Chris Fields talks to area nonprofits and says Ellison 'isn't as well liked as people may think.'
Rep. Keith Ellison and a U.S. senator last week introduced a bill to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies. On Thursday, he and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) said the legislation would "do away with tax breaks, financial assistance, royalty relief, direct federal research and development and many loopholes that benefit the fossil fuel industry," according to Ellison's U.S. House website. “Big oil companies alone make more than $300 million every day but the oil, gas, and coal industries still have their hands in the taxpayer’s pocket,” Ellison said. “We need to get off the fossil fuel bandwagon that keeps us dependent on oil and contributes to climate change. The $113 billion in taxpayer handouts that oil, gas, and coal companies receive …
Thursday, April 26, 2012
The 6th district, which includes Edina, is currently represented by Jan Callison.
Jan Callison, who represents Edina as a Hennepin County Commissioner in the 6th District, is up for re-election this fall. Callison represents all or part of the following cities: Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Edina, Excelsior, Greenwood, Hopkins, Long Lake, Minnetonka, Minnetonka Beach, Orono, Shorewood, Tonka Bay, Wayzata and Woodland. She was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in 2008. This week, the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the final redistricting plan for county commissioner districts. As a result of redistricting, five of the seven commissioners will be on the ballot in fall. Three districts have variations of at least 5 percent–the 1st, 2nd and 7th–and will require elections next fall…
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
After news Keith Downey would not be seeking reelection, four locals have announced their interest in the open seat.
The Senate District 49 GOP Convention came and went in late March without any clear picture of who would actually be on ballots for local legislative offices this fall. While DFL candidates have already been endorsed for each of the local races—Melisa Lopez Franzen for State Senate, Ron Erhardt for House District 49A and Paul Rosenthal for House District 49B—the GOP side has been in flux with news Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina) and Rep. Pat Mazorol (R-Bloomington) would not be seeking reelection. Once Rep. Keith Downey (R-Edina) announced he would be entering the race to fill Michel's Senate seat, the local political scope was completely altered. Those races will finally come into focus when the local Republican party hosts an endorsing …
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Her new Christians United group 'may make some peoples' heads explode'
A day after slamming Republican delegates in Minnesota's Fifth District as "Ron Paul Libertarians," GOP candidate Lynne Torgerson said she is leaving the race for the seat in Congress occupied by three-term DFL incumbent Keith Ellison. "No, I am not going to continue running in this election cycle," Torgerson wrote in an email to Fridley Patch Tuesday. "The Party is free to fully support Chris Fields." Fields is the rival Republican candidate who won the backing of Fifth District party delegates on the first ballot at their convention Saturday. Not Done Yet "By the way, I am not done yet . . . just going to have some fun for awhile," Torgerson said Tuesday. She is forming a new organization: I recently founded Christian[s] United in …
Monday, April 16, 2012
Ellison rival posts statement after Republicans endorse Fields.
Lynne Torgerson, Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, posted the statement below at her campaign website Monday. (On Saturday, party delegates endorsed Chris Fields to challenge incumbent DFLer Keith Ellison.) On Saturday, April 14, 2012, I attended the Republican 5th Congressional District Endorsing Convention. There was a stage at the front of the room. Approximately 6 people were seated on the stage. Every person seated was a Ron Paul Libertarian. The Convention was overrun by Ron Paul Libertarians. More than 2/3 of the delegates were Ron Paul Libertarians. When I mentioned that we were at a Republican Convention, they laughed out loud. They began the Convention. There was no opening prayer. Not even a mention of it. There was also …
Party picks Fields over Lynne Torgerson to take on DFL incumbent in Congress.
The winner of the November election will represent a newly redrawn Congressional district similar to the current 5th Congressional District, which now includes a portion of Edina.
This week's selection includes Sen. Claire Robling's re-election decision, a date for the Golden Valley DMV's opening and a new iPhone app.
Editor’s Note: Every week we will bring you a sampling of stories from Patch sites in the west metro: Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Maple Grove, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Richfield, Shakopee, St. Louis Park and St. Michael. (Click on the headline to read the full story.) Proposed Name Change Stirs Up Hornettes Nest A move to unify Edina High School's spirit programs has thousands of local residents upset. GOP State Sen. Claire Robling Will Not Run for Re-election She says it is very difficult to pass common sense measures into law these days. Albertville Mayor Asks for Administrator's Resignation In what city staff and a council member are calling a "shocking" development this week, the mayor of Albertville has asked for that city's top staff…
Seth Johnson
1:13 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
We don't want social justice I.e. communism. There is no hate. Empower the people not the govt.! Let the people decide. more ›