Ben and Mary Petz stand with Dave Pascoe (right) who traveled from the Twin Cities to tell fellow Republicans that he was running for Deputy Chair of the Minnesota GOP. Pascoe is currently the chair of the Minnesota 5th Congressional District Republican Party. Pascoe attended the Cook County GOP 2017 convention held Monday, Feb. 13.
About 15 Cook County Republicans met in the log cabin at the Cook County Community Center on Monday, February 13 to select officers and discuss business for the coming year.
It was a peaceful, well organized, congenial meeting.
Mary Petz was elected temporary chair, and Pat Brandt gave the invocation. Petz read the treasurer’s report because GOP Treasurer Vance Benedix was unable to attend due to work.
The starting balance in 2016 was $1,857.81, and the ending balance was $590.74. A large envelope for donations for the local Basic Political Operating Unit (BPOU) was distributed, and money was collected to help with the 2017 budget.
Petz said much of last year’s budget was spent on advertising ($366), convention fees ($366) and 2016 Fisherman’s Picnic booth supplies and fees ($205.60).
A discussion was held about the importance of the Cook County BPOU forming a constitution and bylaws. A look back into records said Petz, and a review of what is registered at the state level indicates that Cook County Republicans have never had either a constitution or bylaws. It was decided to pursue finding a document from the state GOP that can be changed to represent Cook County Republicans’ bylaws and constitution.
In new business Mary Petz was again elected chair, Vance Benedix treasurer, and newcomer Paul Just was elected secretary.
Just said he had served on the Aitkin school board for 13 years, so he knew something about taking notes at meetings.
Mary Petz was elected as a delegate and her husband Ben an alternate to represent the Cook County GOP on the State Central Committee that will meet April 29.
Several letters from state central committee candidates were read, and Petz introduced Dave Pascoe, a candidate for state GOP deputy chair.
Originally from upstate New York, Pascoe has made his home in Minneapolis for the last five years. He grew up on a farm, attended college, and then earned a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. He is in the U.S. Naval Reserves and today makes his living as an associate wealth management advisor. He has served as chair of the Minnesota 5th Congressional District Republican Party from March 2015 to the present. Before that, he was treasurer of Minnesota Senate District 60 Republican Party from 2012 to 2014.
“I am a behind the scenes guy,” said Pascoe. “I like to organize. I enjoyed being treasurer. Everything was neat and fit together.
“Why did I come here? I think it’s important to get out of the metro area. In the metro, it’s a lot of door knocking. Doing it this way, it’s meeting groups of people and getting their input. Tonight I am driving to Thief River Falls and Roseau for meetings tomorrow.”
“While building capabilities in the metro should be a major focus I do not want us to make the same mistake as the DFL: they ignored Greater Minnesota. For that reason, my two main objectives as your deputy chair will be:
1. Spend a majority of my political time working with Republicans in Greater Minnesota to improve fundraising and organization.
2. Ensure the major functions of the party like the 2018 caucuses and endorsements are well run, fair, and transparent.”
Pascoe said it was important for Republicans to stay organized, committed and disciplined so the party could continue to expand on the gains it had made over the last four years with Keith Downey as chair of the party. Downey has announced he is stepping down and may run for governor.
The GOP’s state central committee meets in April to select a new deputy chair and vice chair.
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