More than 30 people turned out for the Cook County DFL precinct caucuses on Tuesday, February 4, including this little fellow who enjoyed listening to the political debates with his dad. See more of the DFL caucus, as well as the Republican caucus on page A3.
Cook County Democratic- Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chair Diane Parker welcomed 34 people to precinct caucuses at the Arrowhead Center for the Arts on Tuesday, February 4, 2014. Parker thanked everyone for coming out on such a bitterly cold winter day, but joked, “One good thing about coming out in this weather, if you heat with propane, you get to use someone else’s propane while you’re here!”
Parker sadly noted the recent passing of Joan Mondale, the wife of former Vice-President Walter Mondale and read a statement from Minnesota DFL Chairman Ken Martin noting, “With the death of Joan Mondale, the Minnesota Democratic- Farmer- Labor (DFL) Party lost a friend and the arts community a passionate advocate…”
In another missive, Martin wrote that precinct caucuses serve as the unofficial start of the 2014 election season. Martin listed accomplishments of incumbent DFL Governor Mark Dayton and Senator Al Franken. He stressed the importance of maintaining a majority in the Minnesota legislature in the upcoming election.
Paulette Anholm, treasurer, spoke noting that she is working hard to fill the shoes of Bev Denyes who served as treasurer for 40 years. Anholm made inroads with her friends at the caucus with a special contribution to the event—a tray full of patriotic sugar cookies.
Anholm explained that the Political Contribution Refund (PCR) program had been reinstated for 2014. She said the PCR is a way to support political candidates or a political party unit, such as the Cook County DFL. She said it is easy—participants donate $50, or $100 for a couple, to a candidate or political unit of their choice, submit a voucher and then receive a refund for that amount from the State of Minnesota.
Anholm said contributing to the local DFL helps pay for advertising, meeting space rent and administrative costs. Anholm said participants could split their donations between a candidate and the political unit. “I have the vouchers,” she said. “If you want to give tonight you can. If you want to give later, you can. I’ll meet you in the parking lot somewhere if you want,” she joked.
Associate DFL Chair Anton Moody shared a letter from one DFL candidate for Secretary of State, Debra Hillstrom of Brooklyn Park, a longtime Democratic legislator. Although a number of candidates announced that they are running for the office after Secretary Mark Ritchie announced he will not run again, only Hillstrom’s office sent a letter to the Cook County DFL.
Bill Hansen of Tofte spoke and he encouraged everyone to support U.S. Congressman Rick Nolan. “He’s been a tremendous congressman,” said Hansen.
“I know some of us are at odds with his stance on sulfide mining, but I assure you if a Republican were elected, it would be much worse. I’m hoping he will come around to my way of thinking and speak out in opposition to sulfide mining but overall he’s done a lot for us.
“If you disagree with him, give him a call and talk to him. He is willing to listen,” said Hansen.
Citizens got down to work in individual precincts then, introducing and debating 40 resolutions. There was interesting discussion on a number of topics such as seeking to legislatively overturn the recent high court decision regarding “Citizens United,” which eliminated restrictions on campaign spending by corporations and unions.
DFLers considered supporting the Impartial Justice Act, which seeks to evaluate judges on merit and requires more information for those voting for judges.
A resolution supporting expansion of several early childhood education programs was brought forward. Another resolution addressed the lengthy election process and suggested capping the time that campaigning can occur, as is done in England. A resolution supporting a reasonable statute allowing the use of medicinal marijuana was debated. There were resolutions tackling voters rights and in opposition to genetically modified organisms in our foods.
There were resolutions in opposition to Minnesota’s wolf hunt, to the shipping of tar sands on Great Lakes ships, and there was extensive discussion of mining. One participant asked why it was okay to extract precious metals from countries like China, but not in “our own backyard.” Concern was expressed that Minnesota and the United States were being hypocritical because of our dependence on the technology that comes from metals mining.
Another participant replied, “You don’t take a chances at the top of the watershed.”
Eventually agreement was reached on 37 of the resolutions and they were collected. A resolution committee will review them, consolidating those that are similar. They will be presented at the Cook County DFL Convention at the Cook County Community Center on Saturday, March 22 at 10 a.m. (registration at 9:30 a.m.).
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