Minnesota Senate District 35 DFL

Judicial elections are supposed to be non-partisan and usually they are just that.  Three candidates for Judicial District #1 judge are vying for two spots in the August 10th primary election.

• Incumbent Judge Timothy Blakely sports a strong pedigree but got himself into ethical issues that caused the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards to recommend his dismissal from the bench. This was onkly the fourth time in forty years the Board made such a recommendation.
• Criminal defense attorney Stephen Baker ran for a Hennipen County judge position before moving to Lakeville.  Hardworking, Baker has been active supporting moderate and conservative causes. His literature supports Second Amendment rights and speaks against “activist judges”. Baker testified in favor of capital punishment.
• Larry Clark is an Assistant Dakota County Attorney is presented as the most home grown of the candidates. He has been a prosecutor for 21 years and completed two terms on the Red Wing Human Rights Commission. Clark has criticized opponent Blakely for his compromised ethics and has questioned Baker’s ability to provide an unbiased judiciary considering his past political ties.

Vote informed!

For more complete information follow this link to Frederick Melo’s Pioneer Press article on twincities.com.

August 9th, 2010 | Category: Candidates | Leave a comment

The monthly business meeting of the SD35 Central Committee will be held on the second Thursday of the month which lands on August 12th. The meeting is held at the Prior Lake Library beginning at 7:00PM and ending at 8:30PM. We look forward to seeing you there.

August 9th, 2010 | Category: sd35dfl | Leave a comment

The primary election is early this year. It is Tuesday August 10th. Not sure of your polling place? Polls are set up according to your precinct. You can check with your local city hall or use the link here to the Secretary of State’s Poll Finder link.

The DFL has endorsed the following candidates:

Matt Christianson - State Rep 35A

Jannaya Styrlund - State Rep 35B

Travis Burton - State Senate 35

Dan Powers - Congress 2nd District

Margaret Anderson-Kelliher - Governor

Lori  Swanson - Attorney General

Mark Ritchie - Secretary of State

Rebecca Otto - State Auditor

Every vote counts. Exercise your rights!

August 9th, 2010 | Category: Candidates, Governor 2010, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Come to the Scott County Fair on Thursday July 29th and become better informed. Jerry Kucera, Joe Thill and Joe Wagner, the county commissioner candidates in District 1, will debate Thursday evening at the Scott County Fair.

The candidate forum, which is at 7:30 p.m. in the gazebo, is the only debate scheduled before the Aug. 10 primary. It is being sponsored by Southwest Newspapers.

District 1 covers western Scott County. It includes the townships of Jackson, Louisville, Sand Creek, St. Lawrence, Blakeley, Helena and Belle Plaine, as well as the cities of Belle Plaine, Jordan and the portion of New Prague within Scott County.

Questions may be submitted at the forum or e-mailed in advance to Shannon Fiecke at sfiecke@swpub.com. You can also reach Fiecke at (952) 345-6679.

July 26th, 2010 | Category: Activities, Candidates, Community, Scott County | Leave a comment

Come meet your neighbors and share your thoughts about health care reform. Its a ‘pot luck” approach so bring along a dish to share. Water and grills provided.

- Learn about the Federal Health care Bill

- What would the Minnesota Health Plan means to you?

Visit with Joel Clemmer (Policy Advisor), Dan Powers (Candidate for 2nd Congressional District), Travis Burton (State Senate candidate SD35), Jannaya LaFrance (Sate Representative candidate SD35B).

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM HIDDEN VALLEY PARK

Glendale Avenue between Co. Rd 42 and McColl - West on 132nd St.

RSVP: Sharon Schmidt (952) 996-9070

July 12th, 2010 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a comment

DFL-endorsed candidate for Governor Margaret Anderson Kelliher announced today that she would increase the minimum wage by $1.50 – continuing an effort she began with Rep. Tom Rukavina and Archbishop Harry Flynn in 2008.

Currently Minnesota has the 44th lowest minimum wage rate in the nation. Kelliher’s proposal would change that because she says, Minnesota must and can do better.

“My opponent Tom Emmer thinks hard-working Minnesotans serving tables are earning six-figure salaries,” Kelliher said. Emmer proposed a tip penalty this week that could bring base wages for servers in Minnesota to as low as $2.13.

“Clearly Tom Emmer is out of touch with the challenges facing hard-working families struggling in this economy. What he has proposed is no different than stealing tips off the tables of working people.”

Kelliher says hard-working people like Renee Kroeten are doing everything they can to support their families and build a better life for their children. Kroeten is a single mom in Plymouth working three jobs – including one as a server at a Twin Cities hotel. Kelliher’s proposal would increase Kroeten’s base wages, helping her support her two kids.

“Renee wants to send her son to college this fall,” said Kelliher. “As a working mom with two kids in public schools, I know how hard it is to save the money to give my kids the opportunity to succeed. In these difficult times we shouldn’t be cutting wages for middle-class families. That’s why as Governor I will fight for families like Renee’s – and I won’t rest until we increase the minimum wage by $1.50.”

Kelliher’s proposal would bring the minimum wage to $7.65 for large employers (annual sales more than $625,000) and $6.75 for small employers (annual sales less than $625,000).

July 12th, 2010 | Category: Candidates, Governor 2010, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Workers | Leave a comment

Here in Scott County we have a summer full of fun events in our communities.  There is plenty of culture, food and entertainment to take advantage of while we have warm, beautiful days outside.  Courtesy of the Scott County Scene (PDF), below are some events we hope to see you at this summer:

July 16-18 Bar-B-Q Days in Belle Plaine, including a “grande day” parade at noon on Saturday and fireworks on Sunday evening

Sunday, July 18 Parish Festival at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Lake Township

July 28 – August 1 Scott County Fair

July 24-25 Julifest at St. Mark’s in Shakopee, featuring “old- tyme” German music and German and Mexican food Saturday evening and Sunday

August 4-8 Derby Days in Shakopee, fireworks on Saturday evening and parade on Sunday at 1:30

August 5-7 Lakefront Days in Prior Lake, including a parade on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and fireworks Saturday evening. Outdoor movies at The Bandshell in Lakefront Park Friday and Saturday nights

August 6-8 47th Annual Old Time Harvest Steam and Gas Engine Festival

August 7-8 Parish Festival at St. Wenceslaus, New Prague

August 20-22 Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community “Wacipi” (or Pow Wow)

Sunday, August 15 Parish Festival at Church of St. Mary of the Purification in Marystown

Sept. 10-11 Heimatfest at Lagoon Park in Jordan; car cruise and street dance Friday evening downtown Jordan; parade at 11 a.m. Saturday and fireworks at 9 p.m. Saturday

Sunday, Sept. 12 Parish Festival at Our Lady of the Prairie, Belle Plaine

Sept. 17-18 Dozinky celebration in New Prague; car cruise Friday evening and parade at noon Saturday

Sunday, Sept. 19 St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Fall Festival in Jordan

July 12th, 2010 | Category: Activities, Community, Scott County | Leave a comment

Minnesota Representative John Kline of Minnesota’s Second Congressional District has posted a citizen survey on his website (www.kline.house.gov). The survey seeks feedback on a wide range of topics and issues in a multiple choice format. Certainly no survey can completely measure constituent’s views with answers that are just phrases. Nonetheless, such surveys are useful tools that most elected officials use as a barometer to measure attitudes and concerns. We encourage all citizens no matter what their affiliation or political party to participate in such surveys. To go directly to the Rep. Kline Survey click HERE.

March 16th, 2010 | Category: John Kline | Comments (3)

Rush Limbaugh was on a roll railing as usual against this and against that. He proclaimed his complete opposition to health care reform. Why it would be complete socialism, he proclaimed. If the Obama health care plan is passed, Rush Limbaugh would move to Costa Rica. Apparently Rush failed to check into the Costa Rica approach. Costa Rica has a universal health care program and ranks above the United States in life expectancy along with Japan and France.  So evil is the concept of improved coverage that Limbaugh would move for full universal single payer coverage. Some times ranting is just ranting.

March 12th, 2010 | Category: Issues & Opinions | Leave a comment