Stonewall DFL Endorsement Convention Report

[indigo32]

Well it was a busy day yesterday... we screened for Senate, Governor, Secretary of State, State Auditor, Hennepin County Attorney, and ummm :crazy:

I was on the screening panel for Governor, and I'll be honest, I was blown away by Becky Lourey. She reminded me of Paul Wellstone. I also liked Steve Kelley alot, we didn't discuss the war, as this was a screening for Governor, but he seems quite progressive. Mr Hatch didn't come, or send a representative as Kelly Doran did (he sent Sheila Kiscaden), and so did not get consideration (he did fill out our questionnaire). Unfortunately Becky indicated she'll run in the primaries regardless of how the convention goes, and that basically lost her the endorsement to Steve Kelley (though again I like him).

I was not part of the Senate screening panel, but when the membership voted, it was overwhelmingly for Amy Klobachar. There does seem to be a serious push for unity around several candidates and she is one, this vote didn't even go to paper ballots.

We bucked this trend on the Secretary of State vote, though here, there wasn't so much of a contrast IMO, we had two good candidates. Understand I am not trashing Amy Klobachar, I just think Ford Bell is more in line with my views. Anyway Mark Ritchie appears to have a number of endorsements, and money in the bag. But we went with Christian Sande.

The State Auditor screening was a bit uncomfortable. Rebecca Otto burned Stonewall in the past, but came back to face us and take her medicine with a brave face. We endorsed the Reggie Edwards, a very qualified and friendly guy.

It was a long day, but fun.

[Minnesota Raindog]

1. What was Otto's response to her gay marriage vote in 2004? n/t

[indigo32]

2. She basically said

she felt she needed to eliminate it from the discussion in her next campaign, which was to be against a Bachman clone. Personally I understand how it's being used, but we're never going to fix the problem by running away. We need to fight back.

[ISUGRADIA]

3. Good Report. how many members showed up to vote?

[indigo32]

4. We had a great turnout

There were about 50 people.

[ISUGRADIA]

5. Delete. I mis read the post

[dpbrown]

6. Thanks. I'm for Lourey and Ritchie

So it's a good thing I didn't vote in this endorsement process.

[indigo32]

7. Yeah

I'm for Lourey too, and am now a boardmember representing a group that has endorsed against a candidate I feel very strongly about. DOH!

[dpbrown]

8. That's one of the downsides of the DFL attachment thingie

You gotta play by their rules.