Category Archives: Minnesota politics

Coleman out of 2014 campaigns

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By Don Davis

Former U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman will not run for office in 2014, meaning there will be no rematch with Al Franken that many Republicans wanted.

In a series of Tweets late Thursday, Coleman said he wants “to mentor a new generation of optimistic, limited government focused leaders who aren’t afraid to find common ground to solve problems.”

Many Republicans had hoped that Coleman would get into the race as Democrat Franken seeks election to a new six-year term next year or challenge Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton.

Coleman promised to “focus time and energy helping Minnesota elect senator and governor who support free enterprise, efficient government and seek to bring folks together.”

He said that public service is important in his life and will remain so even though his name will not be on the ballot.

The Republican former St. Paul mayor and Democrat Franken fought through a lengthy recount in 2008. Coleman went on to lead a think tank and later became a Washington lobbyist.

He ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1998.

Republicans took to Twitter Thursday night to praise Coleman.

“Norm Coleman would have been a formidable candidate for governor; now the GOP field is wide open,” former GOP Chairman Tony Sutton tweeted.

Former state Rep. Jeff Johnson, a Detroit Lakes native and current Hennepin County commissioner, says he is thinking about running for governor. He said he will make up his mind before summer.

Coleman’s announcement leaves Republicans looking for a Senate candidate. U.S. Reps. John Kline and Erik Paulsen have been considered possibilities. They said they will make up their minds later this year.

Coleman, 64, is a Brooklyn, N.Y. native. He came to Minnesota to work in the state attorney general’s office after receiving his law degree from the University of Iowa.

When he got involved in politics, Coleman was a Democrat. He began serving as St. Paul mayor as a Democrat, then switched in 1996, after two years in city hall.

He was the Republican candidate a three-way governor’s race with Democrat Skip Humphrey and Jesse Ventura of the Reform Party in 1998. Ventura won, but Coleman came back four years later to win the U.S. Senate position.

Political notebook: Forecast to take budget temperature

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By Don Davis

One of the big days of the Minnesota legislative session arrives Thursday, when state fiscal leaders announce how state revenues and spending are doing.

The budget forecast, released twice a year, tells legislators and Gov. Mark Dayton how much the state has to spend or, most often in recent years, how big a deficit they face.

The November forecast showed a $1.1 billion deficit. Dayton released his budget on Jan. 22, but after Thursday’s forecast he will need to tweak it to match the new numbers.

State Economist Tom Stinson said the Thursday report will consider some what-if discussion about federal budget decisions.

The day after the forecast, the federal government likely will begin to undergo automatic budget cuts known as sequestration. Since federal funds flow into many state coffers, those cuts would affect Minnesota government.

Minnesota receives less federal money than many states, but the cuts still could cut millions of dollars.

Washington observers say they doubt Congress and the president will reach a deal before Friday to avoid sequestration. Until there is an agreement on sequestration and other budget issues, states will not know just how much federal money they will lose.

Oberstar for secretary

Minnesota’s Democratic members of Congress want President Barack Obama to consider appointing former longtime U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar as transportation secretary.

Oberstar was chairman of the House transportation committee in 2010 when he lost his re-election bid to Chip Cravaack, who in turn lost last November to Rick Nolan.

“Here in Congress and throughout our nation, Jim Oberstar is recognized as a preeminent leader whose understanding of the complex and challenging transportation, infrastructure and aviation issues we face is simply unmatched,” wrote Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken and Reps. Tim Walz, Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, Collin Peterson and Nolan.

The Democrats’ letter told Obama that Oberstar has “bipartisan respect and affection.”

Current Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood is leaving the administration.

While Oberstar’s name has come up since Secretary Ray LaHood announced his resignation last month, The Hill newspaper reports “he has not been thought of a likely pick for the DOT post.”

Mercury down

Minnesota power companies have done a good job of reducing mercury emissions, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency reports.

Ninety percent of the atmospheric mercury that falls into Minnesota water comes from outside of the state, the MPCA says. The 10 percent coming from Minnesota is best figure in the country,

Power companies, whose generators produce much of the mercury in the air, began state-ordered efforts to reduce mercury in the mid-1990s.

“Mercury emissions from this sector are now at less than half of where we started a little over a decade ago,” MPCA Commissioner John Linc Stine said. “And our power utilities are well ahead of their scheduled reductions laid out in the Minnesota Mercury Reductions Act of 2006.”

Mercury, dangerous in the food supply, is released into the air and falls on water and land. In water, it often accumulates in fish. Power plants are the biggest source of mercury.

Kline thinks

U.S. Rep. John Kline is not ready to jump into the race against U.S. Sen. Al Franken.

“I will make a decision on whatever I’m doing sometime this summer,” the Minnesota Republican said. “It’s just too early to say.”

Kline, who represents the southern Twin Cities and areas to the south, and U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen have been discussed as potential Franken opponents in 2014. Paulsen represents the west Twin Cities area.

For Kline, the decision must take into account whether his current position is more important than being senator. He is chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, which deals with major issues Congress is debating.

Baldwin keynoter

A newly elected U.S. senator, one of the most liberal in the body, will speak at the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party’s major annual event.

Sen. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin is scheduled to speak at the Hubert H. Humphrey-Walter Mondale Dinner in Minneapolis April 20.

Baldwin, elected in a state that also picked conservative hero Scott Walker as governor, is the first openly gay U.S. senator.

Wisconsin vs. Minnesota

Wisconsin Rep. Erik Severson continues to compare his state with Minnesota, and says the state to the east is better for business.

The Osceola Republican praised GOP Gov. Scott Walker’s budget plan, which starts with a $420 million surplus compared to Minnesota’s $1.1 billion deficit.

“Two weeks ago, I sent a letter to Minnesota businesses detailing the fact that Wisconsin and Minnesota are headed in opposite directions,” Severson said. “Gov. Walker’s budget proposal highlights these differences perfectly.  While Minnesota’s Gov. (Mark) Dayton is raising taxes on businesses and consumers, Gov. Walker is cutting income taxes for middle and lower class families.”

Legislative & political notebook: News story clouds university budget

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Kaler

By Don Davis

The University of Minnesota prepares to ask legislators to approve a $1.8 billion budget as some lawmakers question a Wall Street Journal story that showed the school has an excessive administration budget.

University President Eric Kaler told reporters Friday that he agrees with legislators’ concerns about a top-heavy budget, but said the national newspaper article was misleading in saying the university has the largest administrative payroll of any research university.

The fact is, Kaler said, more than 1,000 employees were on the list the Journal used to draw its conclusion. But, he added, a third on the list are professors and another third are not paid by university or tuition funds.

Even with what he termed the Journal inaccuracies, Kaler said he agrees with a pair of lawmakers who asked for a study on administrative staff levels.

“We’re eager to do that,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, and Senate Higher Education Chairwoman Terri Bonoff, DFL-Minnetonka, met with Kaler earlier in the week and asked him to look into the situation.

“We ask that you enact both a short-term analysis … as well as exploring the in-depth analysis that other Big Ten universities have conducted,” the senators wrote to Kaler.

The president said he plans to deliver lawmakers a preliminary report by March 15.

The size of the administration was controversial when Kaler arrived in Minnesota 18 months ago and he said he already was looking into it, but changing such a large institution does not happen overnight.

“Much of what was talked about happened prior to my arrival,” Kaler said.

Nolan likes ag

Rick Nolan sounds thrilled to sit on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, and he hopes a personal relationship with the House speaker could help the cause.

“It is my first love,” the congressman said about agriculture as he rejoined the House after a 30-year absence.

The politician who represents the northeastern quarter of the state joins two other Minnesota Democrats on the committee: Collin Peterson of western Minnesota and Tim Walz from the south.

Unlike Peterson, who is the committee’s top Democrat, Nolan said he will take part in work on a new farm bill even if Republican House Speaker John Boehner refuses Peterson’s demand to promise the full House will hear a bill that comes out of the committee.

“I know John Boehner and I like John Boehner,” Nolan said in an interview.

Nolen said his cousin is a key Boehner staffer and they have talked at various social activities, building a relationship with a man who makes many critical decisions. It was Boehner who would not bring a farm bill to a full House vote last year.

The ag committee oversees the forestry industry, where Nolan worked for years. He owned and operated a forest products company in Emily, bought logs from local loggers and sold pallets.

Nolan took quite a step up when he was elected  Nov. 6. He now is resigning his latest government post: serving on his township planning board.

Franken to help

U.S. Sen. Al Franken promises to help Minnesota legislators working to revamp Minnesota health-care programs.

The Minnesota Democrat emerged Friday from a closed-door meeting with key state lawmakers and said it is important to save Minnesota’s nation-leading health-care system.

While Franken and state legislators met, Minnesota’s human services commissioner was in Washington, D.C., trying to get federal officials to release guidelines for the so-called Obamacare health reform in time that states can implement it.

“There has been a little frustration about getting regulations,” Franken said.

The new federal health-care law requires the state to launch a mostly online health insurance sales marketplace by Oct. 31, and state officials say they need to have legislation in place by the end of March to meet that deadline. But state law-writers need to know federal rules before they can finish their work.

Franken said he is leaning on federal officials to push them to get the rules wrapped up.

State Rep. Tom Huntley, DFL-Duluth, said that federal officials are overwhelmed with work needed to implement Obamacare.

Huntley sponsors a bill to replace the MinnesotaCare state-subsidized health insurance program. It would replace MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance, a program for the poor, with the federal government paying for most of the expenses of the new system.

Arguing, not talking

Republican and Democratic state Senate leaders spent something south of 10 minutes on the session’s opening day laying the groundwork for the year, emphasizing their hope to work together for Minnesotans.

Less than 48 hours later, they spent something north of two hours arguing about the budget majority Democrats gave minority Republicans. It was one of the most heated arguments, if not the most heated, that early in the session in recent years.

So Forum News Service asked Senate Minority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, if he and Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, had discussed the budget matter before airing their dirty laundry in public. Hann said they had not talked since the Nov. 6 election, other than during quick handshakes when they appeared together.

Bakk’s office said he had called Hann after Republicans named him their leader, but Hann never responded. Since then, apparently neither has asked for a meeting with the other.

Tuition freeze sought

Kaler is telling lawmakers if they give the university nearly $43 million extra that tuition can be kept at current levels two more years.

“Everywhere I go I hear that,” he said about freezing tuition.

Kaler said a tuition freeze likely would encourage more applications. As it is, the university expects 40,300 applications for 5,400 student spots it has available.

“I don’t think students should graduate from the University of Minnesota with $27,000 in debt,” he said.

The tuition freeze request is the largest increase Kaler seeks in the university’s nearly $1.2 billion two-year request to lawmakers.

The second biggest is $36 million for research in areas ranging from robotics and conservation to food safety and brain treatments.

The university also seeks $1.5 million to forgive education loans for health-care professionals who locate in underserved areas such as rural Minnesota.

While higher education has received larger cuts in recent years than many state programs, lawmakers and the governor face a $1.1 billion deficit as they write a two-year budget to begin July 1.

Dayton gone

Commissioners and staff members have met with Gov. Mark Dayton at the governor’s residence the past couple of weeks as he prepares a budget, including what are expected to be major tax changes, for delivery Jan. 22.

Dayton has not been in the Capitol since Christmas. Instead, he is home recovering from back surgery.

Besides his budget announcement later this month, Dayton plans a 7 p.m. Feb. 6 State of the State speech to legislators.

Franken thinking land

Franken says he is working to develop a stance on what to do with school trust lands around the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area.

“I’m really starting to immerse myself in it,” he said after spending several days in closed-door meetings on the subject. “I’m trying to process it.”

As the Minnesota Democrat said, the issue has been around for decades. It involves land the state owns in northeastern Minnesota that was set aside to raise money for schools across the state, but the federal government surrounded 86,000 aces of the land when it established the wilderness area.

With the school land surrounded, the state cannot use it for forestry, mining and other uses that could generate money for schools.

The state wants to swap the land for federal land to give the wilderness area more space and to give schools more of a chance to get land that can produce a profit. Washington would need to approve any such swap.

GOP: Is it just DL now?

Rural House Republicans are upset that urban Twin Cities lawmakers lead House Democrats, and about the decision to include farm programs in a committee that also deals with environment and natural resources issues.

Many Republicans say it appears the other party has dropped “F” from DFL (Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party).

Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, tweeted: “Think I will file a lawsuit to get the F removed from DFL.”

Faster permits wanted

The state still takes too long to issue environmental permits to businesses wanting to build or expand, the Dayton administration says.

Administration and legislative actions the past few years have made progress, Dayton’s office says. Ninety-six percent of environmental permits are issued within 150 days, the current state goal.

But Dayton Chief of Staff Tina Smith said the governor wants some permits issued in 90 or fewer days.

“Gov. Dayton has directed both the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to issue or deny permits within 90 days or 150 days, depending on the nature and complexity of the permit,” Smith said. “This new measure of efficiency will be good for business, good for our environment, and just plain good government.”

The quicker permits will be for projects such as storm water projects, which require less study.

Flooded cars?

Minnesota officials warn that cars damaged by Hurricane Sandy late last year could turn into Minnesotans’ nightmares this year.

Those cars may be on used car lots.

“Vehicles that look clean might not have been inspected by a professional for mechanical and electrical performance,” said Patricia McCormack, director of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Driver and Vehicle Services Division. “Hidden damage can cause an owner serious problems weeks or even months later.”

Minnesota law requires a dealer to tell a potential buy in writing if new and late-model vehicles have been damaged.

Franken: Just working

Franken said he is doing nothing more than what he was elected to do, not trying to lay groundwork for his 2014 re-election.

“It will take care of itself if I put my head down and do the work,” he told reporters at the Minnesota Capitol, where he met on health-care issues and talked to youths learning about government.

Franken is raising money for a second run for the Senate.

Franken

Electoral College a learning experience

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Moren, left, votes

Joe Moren taught high school students about the Electoral College for 40 years, but he really came to understand it Monday when he cast a vote for Barack Obama.

The 82-year-old Hibbing man, one of Minnesota’s 10 electors, has been active in Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party politics most of his life, but usually not in the spotlight, saying: “I enjoyed being a king-maker rather than a king.”

When he cast his vote Monday, he became the ultimate “king maker” along with 534 other electors around the country. They decided, officially, that Obama was re-elected.

Lil Ortendahl of Osakis watched as Moren and others voted for Obama. She was there herself a few years ago, but on Monday was on standby as an alternate elector.

The Electoral College “is important for democracy and everyone feels part of the government,” she said after a formal hour-long ceremony in the Minnesota state Capitol.

While the Electoral College is part of the country’s election process, Ortendahl and others wonder if it would be better to make presidential elections better reflect the voters.

The U.S. Constitution established the institution, with one elector for each member of a state’s congressional delegation. While it did not happen this year, it is possible that a candidate who gets the most popular votes can lose in the Electoral College.

Each party picks electors, and in Minnesota all electoral votes go to the candidate who wins.

Being an elector is an honor for party loyalists.

Gov. Mark Dayton told those gathered to see the Electoral College vote in the state Capitol rotunda that the American system is an example for the world, as despite campaigns coming from opposite political sides, the turnover of power always is peaceful.

Moren agreed, citing countries like Syria, where it may take violence to change leaders.

As a teacher in Wisconsin for five years and 35 years in Hibbing, Moren taught about the Electoral College from a textbook. But, he said, it took on more meaning when he took part.

The teacher in him led to a minor issue Monday. When he was given the first ballot, it listed both Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, so as a teacher he followed instructions and voted for both. However, the ballot was supposed to be just for president, so his first effort was tossed out and he cast his real vote on a second ballot, one which is headed to the National Archives.

While Ortendahl said she was proud to be part of the process, “I have a little trouble with it.”

Minnesota’s winner-take-all system is not fair, said the woman who has been involved in politics for 45 years. If the popular vote is divided, the Electoral College vote should be, too, she said.

The U.S. Constitution leaves it up to states to decide such details.

State legislators from both major parties told reporters before the Electoral College met that the institution should be changed, saying the current system gives some states more power than others.

“The state of Minnesota is not responsible for preserving the political power of voters in Ohio, Florida and a shrinking number of battleground states,” Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, said.

He is part of a movement known as National Popular Vote that is pushing a bill to require electoral votes to be granted based on popular vote.

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Minnesota vote for president and vice president:

– Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Democratic Party, 1,546,167 (52.65  percent)

– Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, Republican Party, 1,320,225 (44.96 percent)

– Gary Johnson and Jim Gray, Libertarian Party, 35,098 (1.20 percent)

– Jill Stein and Cheri Honkala, Green Party, 13,023 (0.44 percent)

– Virgil Goode and Jim Clymer, Constitution Party, 3,722 (0.13 percent)

– Jim Carlson and George McMahon, Grassroots Party, 3,149 (0.11 percent)

– Ross C. “Rocky” Anderson and Luis J. Rodriguez, Justice Party, 1,996 (0.07 percent)

– Dean Morstad and Josh Franke-Hyland, constitutional government, 1,092 (0.04 percent)

– James Harris and Maura Duluca, Socialist Workers Party, 1,051 (0.04 percent)

– Peta Lindsay and Yari Osorio, socialism and liberation, 397 (0.01 percent)

– Write-in candidates, 10,641 (0.36 percent)

In Duluth case, court says voters entitled to accurate ballot

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Voters should have an accurate ballot, the Minnesota Supreme Court said Tuesday in releasing its reason for switching candidates in a Duluth legislative race.

“Given the paramount interests of voters, who are entitled to a ballot that accurately identifies the candidates actually running for office,” high court justices wrote, it was only fair to replace Rep. Kerry Gauthier’s name with that of Erik Simonson.

The Tuesday opinion on the state House 7B race backs up a brief ruling the court handed down on Sept. 25.

In July, Democrat Gauthier and a teen-age boy had a sexual encounter in a Duluth-area rest stop. The Duluth News Tribune revealed the incident nearly a month later, setting in motion public discussions that eventually led to Gauthier trying to withdraw from the race and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party nominating Simonson to replace him.

Simonson won the Nov. 6 election and takes office early next month.

The Supreme Court delivered its ruling Sept. 25 so voters would know far enough in advance about the change, delaying release of the opinion with its reasoning until Tuesday.

The court criticized St. Louis County Auditor Don Dicklich for not accepting Gauthier’s withdrawal.

“Based on its wording and grammatical structure, this (state law) provision indicates that both partisan and nonpartisan candidates can create a vacancy in nomination in two ways — by dying or by filing an affidavit of withdrawal,” the unsigned Supreme Court opinion said.

Dicklich and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie had argued that under Minnesota law September was months too late for a legislative candidate to withdraw.

“We further hold that the county auditor erred when he rejected the affidavit of withdrawal that Gauthier attempted to file,” the court said.

The court said the Ritchie and Dicklich “interpretation has the potential to lead to an absurd result.” For example, the court said, there could be multiple elections for a seat because if a candidate is not allowed to withdraw, “a special election immediately becomes necessary to allow voters to once again choose their elected representative.”

The court backed the DFL and Simonson claim that they acted quickly to replace Gauthier.

“They contend that at most less than one week elapsed between the date on which Gauthier submitted his affidavit of withdrawal (Sept. 6) and the date on which petitioners sought relief in this court (Sept. 10),” the court opinion said. “On this point, petitioners are correct.”

The court also said that Gauthier attempted to follow the law to withdraw from the race: “Gauthier filed his affidavit more than 16 days before the general election, and he filed it with the county auditor. The DFL then attempted to file a certificate of nomination naming Simonson as the party’s newly  nominated candidate for District 7B.”

State laws give major political parties have the authority to fill a vacancy, the court said.

State board approves Franson, Dahle recount victories

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Justice Christopher Dietzen signs election certificate

The State Canvassing Board certified the winners of two legislative election recounts during a brief Tuesday meeting.

Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, won by 12 votes over Democrat Bob Cunniff in the closest legislative race. Democrat Kevin Dahle heads to the Senate after the board certified his 71-vote win over Republican Mike Dudley in their district south of the Twin Cities.

The four candidates dropped challenges they had made during the recounts, so the state board did not need to rule on who would be awarded the votes. There were not enough challenges to affect either race.

On election night, Franson led Cunniff by a single vote, but some polling place errors forced election officials to remove 35 ballots, which gave her an 11-vote lead. She picked up two more votes and Cunniff one more in the recount in Douglas and Otter Tail counties.

State Election Director Gary Poser said the recount results did not match election night totals because when people do not mark ballots properly machines cannot correctly register their intent.

Both recounts were triggered because the returns fell within a half of 1 percent, the margin set by state law. The state paid for the hand recount of each ballot in the two districts.

The canvassing board consists of Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, two Supreme Court justices and two district court judges.

Red Lake dependable Democratic

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Michael Meuers wonders if any community supported President Barack Obama more than his.

Almost 98 percent of voters on the northwestern Minnesota Red Lake American Indian reservation favored Obama on Nov. 6.

“In the traditional community of Ponemah, Obama scored with 99.23 percent of the vote,” Meuers said. “Romney got one vote (Libertarian, two).”

The news was not all bright for Democrats, Meuers said tongue in cheek: “Unfortunately, other DFLers, Collin Peterson, Amy Klobuchar, Roger Erickson and Rod Skoe only got 93 to 96 percent of the vote. We apologize for that and will keep working at it. We’re trying to locate and persuade those Republicans, but they must have a good hiding place.”

Meuers helped create Red Lake Political Education Committee in 1996 and is its only non-Indian member.

“Bottom line, I believe Red Lake Nation to be the most dependable community of its size in the state and perhaps the country as far as Democrat reliability,” he said.

Update: Franson wins two-day recount

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A two-day recount put Minnesota state Rep. Mary Franson 12 votes ahead of Bob Cunniff, sending her to a second term in the House.

There are not enough ballots in question to give Cunniff the lead, but the result is not official until the State Canvassing Board certifies it Tuesday. Cunniff conceded after Otter Tail County election workers finished their recount Thursday.

“The election proved yet again the importance of voting, and of making sure everyone’s votes are counted fairly and accurately,” Cunniff said.

He congratulated Franson.

“I believe the results of this election show that people of our district- and the state- would like to see more cooperation and compromise in St. Paul, and if there is anything I can do to help in that regard, I will be happy to lend a hand,” he said.

Franson, R-Alexandria, picked up one vote Thursday during the Otter Tail County recount in Fergus Falls. Franson and Cunniff, DFL-Alexandria, each gained a vote during Wednesday’s Douglas County recount.

Recounts in the two counties left Franson with the dozen-vote lead. Cunniff’s attorney challenged who should receive five votes, while Franson’s attorney challenged one over the two days.

Even if the state board agrees with all of Cunniff’s challenges, he would remain short of Franson, a freshman lawmaker who has been a lightning rod for welfare supporters.

The House District 8B race was a one-vote affair, with Franson in front, on election night.

Her lead increased to 11 when 35 ballots were randomly discarded last week after over-votes were found in three Alexandria precincts. A judge ordered the ballots withdrawn before the recount, as state law requires.

Cunniff won a majority of Franson’s home county, Douglas, but the incumbent carried Otter Tail.

Another recount is to end Friday for a state Senate seat south of the Twin Cities.

Update: Franson keeps 11-vote lead

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Al Edenloff, Alexandria Echo Press

Minnesota state Rep. Mary Franson maintained her 11-vote lead after election officials finished a state-ordered recount in Douglas County Wednesday.

The recount will switch to the other county in District 8B, Otter Tail, where ballots will be scrutinized Thursday.

After ballots from all 17 Douglas County precincts were recounted, Republican Franson and DFL challenger Bob Cunniff each picked up one vote.

When votes were tallied on election night, Franson held a one-vote lead. It increased to 11 when 35 ballots were randomly discarded last week after over-votes were found in three Alexandria precincts. A judge ordered the ballots to be withdrawn before the recount, as state law requires.

As was the case on election night, the recount showed Cunniff carrying most of Douglas County. He received 6,840 votes to Franson’s 5,843. Cunniff’s additional vote came from Ida Township while Franson picked up one more vote in Carlos Township.

Only two ballots were challenged. Cunniff challenged a ballot in Carlos Township and Franson questioned a ballot in Alexandria Ward 3. Those challenges will be sent on the State Canvassing Board to consider at its Dec. 4 meeting.

In past recounts, a number of ballots were the subject of arguments about voter intent. Such ballots could determine the outcome of races as close as in House District 8B.

Challenged ballots will be posted on the secretary of state’s Web site (www.sos.state.mn.us) when available.

State House race recount moves quickly

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By Al Edenloff, Alexandria Echo Press

A state-ordered recount is zipping right along in the race between Minnesota House 8B candidates, Rep. Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, and Bob Cunniff, DFL-Alexandria.

The process began in Douglas County this morning, with Otter Tail County election officials to work on it Thursday.

In Douglas County, the recount was moving along swiftly, according to election officials and attorneys for the candidates. They predicted that the results should be available this afternoon. Only a couple of ballots had been challenged by mid-day.

After the election, Franson held a one-vote lead. It increased to 11 when 35 ballots were randomly discarded last week after over-votes were found in three Alexandria precincts.

The State Canvassing Board on Tuesday approved rules governing the House District 8B recount and a state Senate recount south of the Twin Cities. The rules follow those in effect for the 2008 U.S. Senate and 2010 governor elections.

Representatives of the candidates may challenge election officials’ decisions about who should get each ballot. The state canvassing board will decide who, if anyone, receives votes from challenged ballots during its Dec. 4 meeting.

In past recounts, a number of ballots were the subject of arguments about voter intent. Such ballots could determine the outcome of races as close as in House District 8B, but in Douglas County there were not enough challenges to affect the election.

Challenged ballots will be posted on the secretary of state’s Web site (www.sos.state.mn.us) when available.

Two state legislative recounts begin Wednesday

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Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Christopher Dietzen draws a slip of paper out of a fish bowl Tuesday, naming a precinct elections officials will double-check for election returns accuracy. He sits on the State Canvassing Board, which certified most election winners.

A hand recount of 21,288 votes in a state House race begins Wednesday.

So does one in a state Senate race.

Douglas County officials begin the House recount work at 8:30 a.m. in the courthouse in Alexandria. In Otter Tail County, the recount begins at 9 a.m. Thursday in Fergus Falls.

The State Canvassing Board on Tuesday approved rules governing the House District 8B recount, as well as a state Senate recount south of the Twin Cities. Rules follow those in effect for the 2008 U.S. Senate and 2010 governor elections.

House District 8B is the tightest legislative race. Republican Rep. Mary Franson leads Democratic challenger Bob Cunniff by 11 votes. Franson’s lead earlier was a single vote, but it expanded after mistakes were found that forced election officials to withdraw 35 ballots last week.

In Senate District 20, Democrat Kevin Dahle leads Republican Mike Dudley by 78 votes. That district is in LeSueur, Rice and Scott counties.

Results from both recounts are due back to the State Canvassing Board before Dec. 4.

The board-approved rules require county officials to set aside space for the public to watch recounting.

“Cell phones and video cameras may be used in the public viewing areas, as long as their use is not disruptive,” the rules read.

Representatives of the candidates will be allowed to challenge election officials’ decisions about who should get each ballot. The canvassing board would decide who, if anyone, receives votes from challenged ballots during its Dec. 4 meeting.

In past recounts, a number of ballots were the subject of arguments about voter intent. Such ballots could determine the outcome of races as close as in House District 8B.

Challenged ballots will be posted on the secretary of state’s Web site (www.sos.state.mn.us) when available.

While the two recounts are important in their districts, they will not determine the balance of legislative power. Democrats won enough seats on Nov. 6 to control both legislative chambers.

Minnesota’s Nov. 6 election produced a record turnout.

More than 76 percent of eligible voters cast ballots, best in the country, but the state’s top election official says even more would participate if they could vote early.

In this year’s election, 2,950,780 Minnesotans voted. That is the most ever, Secretary of State Mark Ritchie said, and while final numbers are not in he said that he is sure it is the most in the country.

“We’re No. 1 by many,” he said.

Ritchie’s comments came after the State Canvassing Board approved returns from Nov. 6 voting. Only minor changes were reported from returns posted soon after the election.

Ritchie said he thinks young people helped boost the number of voters, but has seen no reports to back that up. This year’s election attracted more than 30,000 more voters than four years ago, state Elections Director Gary Poser said.

Allowing Minnesotans to vote early would help even more, he said. However, he added, since the state already leads the country in turnout, increased numbers would be modest.

Voting has increased in the few rural voting precincts where mail-in voting is allowed, Ritchie said.

Minnesota does not allow general early voting. It does allow absentee votes, in cases such as when a voter would be out of the precinct on Election Day.

Ritchie said he would not produce an early-voting plan, calling that a legislative duty. However, he does plan to meet with Senate election leader Sen. Katie Sieben, DFL-Cottage Grove, in coming days.

Another election issue Ritchie said should be handled is what to do if a disaster hits on or near Election Day.

“We need a plan,” Ritchie said.

Ritchie pointed out problems like Hurricane Sandy produced in the northeastern United States when it hit just before the election. There also was the infamous Halloween blizzard of 1991 that stopped activity in much of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

State Elections Director Gary Poser

Republicans worry DFL leaders lack rural credentials

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The Minnesota House agriculture committee chairman for the past two years is concerned Democrats are putting agriculture on the back burner as they take control of the chamber.

Rep. Rod Hamilton, R-Mountain Lake, said agriculture and rural finance issues were discussed in their own committee for years. But when Democrats become the House majority on Jan. 8, those issues will be considered with environment and natural resources matters.

“My concern is it will be playing a diminished role, if you will, and we just shouldn’t let that happen,” Hamilton said.

To further frustrate Hamilton, the House speaker and majority leader are from Minneapolis and St. Paul, shutting rural Minnesota out of the two top posts.

Democrats counter with their own argument: More than 80 percent of state funding will go through finance committees led by rural chairmen.

House Majority Leader-elect Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, said House leaders aim for balance among rural, suburban and urban areas.

“Our job is to make sure we are focusing on Minnesota as whole,” said Murphy, who grew up surrounded by farm country in the southern Wisconsin communities of Columbus and Janesville.

“I have farmers in my family,” she said. “It is not lost on me that we live in an agricultural economy and an agricultural state.”

When House Democrats made Rep. Paul Thissen of Minneapolis their choice for speaker and elected Murphy majority leader, it raised some rural eyebrows. It is not common for a party to make Twin Cities urban lawmakers their top two leaders.

“I worry about what direction that is going to steer,” said Rep. Kurt Daudt, the man House Republicans named their leader.

So far, he said, DFL leaders have been fair to him but he is concerned since he comes from Crown, a rural area just north of the Twin Cities.

In the past, Daudt said, “very often the DFL will push the funding formula to be more beneficial to the urban area.” For instance, Minneapolis schools receive 50 percent more funding per pupil than in his rural area, he said.

“What makes a kid in Minneapolis worth 50 percent more than a kid in my area?” Daudt asked. “Rural areas sometimes get forgotten about.”

Rep. Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, promised that rural Minnesota will be remembered while he is chairman of the House Education Finance Committee.

Marquart ran against Murphy in a DFL caucus election just after Election Day to give rural Minnesota a voice in the leadership circle. After losing that vote, the high school social studies teacher strongly defends Thissen’s pick of committee chairmen.

“Rural Minnesota has a lot of strength on these committees, which I was very pleased to see,” Marquart said. “I think it was important that Speaker-designate Thissen wanted to make sure … that there was a rural voice at the table when it comes to education finance.”

Hamilton said Marquart “is a good person,” but he joined Daudt in concerns about lower rural funding for schools and nursing homes. Still, he is most worried about agriculture spending.

Rep. Jean Wagenius, DFL-Minneapolis, will be chairwoman of the new Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance committee. The 26-year House veteran, who could not be reached for comment, long has been a DFL leader on environmental issues.

“I‘m not trying to pick a fight with Rep. Wagenius,” Hamilton said. “She is a champion on environmental issues, there is no question about it.”

In the Senate, Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm, will lead a finance division that includes the environment, economic development and agriculture. Tomassoni is from a smaller community, but one without much traditional agriculture in the area.

With agriculture funding now mixed with environment and natural resources funding, Hamilton said that he fears money that has been set aside for agriculture could go elsewhere.

If agriculture were to remain separate, he said, Democrats have “wonderful rural members” who could be chairman.

If agriculture ends up getting a fair treatment, he added, “I will be the first to apologize.”

Hamilton wondered if putting agriculture last in the committee title was a signal of its lack of importance.

“I want to keep an open mind, but I do want to raise my concerns,” Hamilton said. “If you don’t bring them up and they are not addressed right up front, then don’t be complaining at the end if things don’t go the way you want.”