To the editor,

  I read your endorsement of Rick Nolan for MN-8 Congress and am scratching my head.

 We all choose to support candidates for our own reasons.  I have no quarrel with that.  But in reading The Journal's reasoning for endorsing Mr. Nolan leaves me in a quandry.  The Journal could have inserted Congressman Cravaack's name and used the same reasoning, thereby being more accurate.

 I distinctly remember Mr. Nolan when he served in Congress in the 70's.  I was intricately involved in the BWCA controversy during those days, where snowmobiles for fishing trips were outlawed, where outboard motors were severely restricted to just a small area, and logging in the portal zones was banned forever.  This bill was authored by Sierra Club front man San Francisco Congressman Phil Burton and co-sponsored by none other than Rick Nolan and St. Paul Congressman Bruce Vento.  Readers can Google the bill PL95-495 for verification.  How can The Journal say Nolan understands our economy and work with others when his legislative history proves otherwise?

 Furthermore, Mr. Nolan has always been anti-gun.  He has received poor marks from the National Rifle Association in the past.  The NRA and the Gun Owners of America have endorsed Congressman Cravaack for re-election.  In an area where hunting and shooting sports plays a big part of our economy in northeastern Minnesota, how can the Journal feel he understands and supports our economy?

Cravaack has his short-comings to be sure.  While he has out-reached with mobile offices to communities, the staff he has assembled is perfectly lousy about customer (constituent) service and responding to issues people bring to his attention.  I have heard it from folks in Borderland, as well as the Gunflint Trail.  He needs to improve that service.  But I would rather work with him on smoothing over his rough edges rather than throwing out the baby with the bath water.  I have lived here all my life, and the prospect of a Congressman Nolan further restricting our way of life up here scares me.  I am going to stick with Cravaack for now.

 Jim Saranpaa

Orr, MN