Next steps: Eighth District convention April 10; state convention April 29 - May 1
Koochiching County Republicans took another step forward in the political process Saturday at the party’s county convention.
County convention delegates, who were selected at the GOP caucus on Feb. 2, chose delegates to send to the district and state conventions, discussed changes to the party platform and heard from some candidates running for election.
“It’s a remarkable year for politics,” exclaimed Terry Stone, chairman of the Koochiching County GOP and executive of the Eighth Congressional District.
The county convention, held at the Ranier Community Building, was “very business-like” and lasted about 2 1/2 hours, according to Stone.
The county delegates selected five delegates for the district convention, held April 10 at the Christ the King Catholic Church Parish Hall in Cambridge, Minn.; and five delegates for the state convention held April 29 through May 1 at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minneapolis.
Stone noted that although the delegates to each need not be the same, in this case, the same five delegates will be representing Koochiching County in each of the next two conventions.
The county convention included speeches from several candidates.
Marv Ott, from the Grand Rapids area, formally declared his candidacy Saturday at the Koochiching County GOP event. He will be seeking the District 3A seat currently held by Rep. Tom Anzelc, DFL. Ott also attended the local caucus held at Falls High School this month. Stone said that Ott received “very warm support” from those in attendance.
Two candidates for the Eighth Congressional District seat, Justin Eichorn and Darrel Trulson, also spoke at the event. The Eighth Congressional District seat is currently held by U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, a democrat.
Gubernatorial candidate Tom Eimmer had two University of Minnesota-Duluth students speak on his behalf; and Stone spoke on behalf of gubernatorial candidate Marty Seifert.
Stone remarked that the delegates asked the candidates and candidate representatives relevant questions after the 5-7 minute speeches, and noted that even new GOP members seemed knowledgeable about the topics being discussed.
Three changes to the GOP platform were also entertained. The proposals came from Republicans at the local caucus. The delegates voted 14-6 to reject a proposal to remove a plank reinstituting the death penalty; in other words, voters wanted to maintain the death penalty. A proposal to clarify use of tobacco in a person’s home or business passed 14-5. Delegates voted 17-3 to maintain a plank that limits the ability of so-called “anchor babies” of a non-U.S. citizen to be immediately granted American citizenship if born in the U.S.
Stone noted that it was unusual not to have any plank recommendations regarding the Republican pro-life abortion stance, but surmised that the lack of mention meant that the caucus participants felt the current platform fully described the party’s feelings on the issue. “There’s no more room to tighten that up,” Stone said, noting that there are already a number of planks on the topic.
One topic of discussion that Stone said was entertained is the state budget. He said that a $1.2 billion shortfall in the 2010 budget, and especially a projected $5 billion to $7 billion shortfall in the next biennium, could not be solved by increasing taxes slightly and decreasing spending slightly.
“We are way, way, way beyond massaging the budget,” Stone said. “It’s going to be ugly, but nothing short of a redesign” is going to fix the budget, he added.
Stone noted that among the cuts he would propose are to programs aimed at helping the homeless and impoverished. He said that the increase in the number of people using these types of programs show that the services do not function correctly.
He also said that the Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency were “bloated” and need to be “reduced, chopped or combined.” Seifert, Stone said, is the candidate who best understands these issues.
Stone said that a caravan tour of Eighth Congressional District seat candidates will start in International Falls on March 11. The group will make several stops throughout the northern Minnesota district on March 11 and 12, and will continue to other cities on March 25 and 26. The caravan will give voters a chance to meet and hear from the candidates.
