Above: The old and the new—outgoing Cook County Republican Party Co-Chairs Garry Gamble (left) and Mark Breitsprecher (right) wish new Party Chairperson Rae Piepho well. Left: Mary Petz of Hovland was reelected to serve as secretary.
While the politics were decidedly local, Republicans attending the party’s Cook County precinct caucuses on Tuesday, February 4 heard some somber national news from Republican Co-Chairs Garry Gamble and Mark Breitsprecher.
Since President Barack Obama took office 19.4 million Americans have enrolled in the food stamp program, 10.4 million Americans are currently unemployed, 7.8 million Americans that would like to work full-time can only get part-time work, 6.7 million Americans have entered poverty since the president’s first inauguration, 5 million Americans had their health care plans cancelled after the Affordable Care Act became law, 721,000 shovel ready jobs have been lost since the president took office, 528,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost, median household income has dropped $3,827 under Obama, gasoline has gone up 79 percent under Obama, and 46 percent of 18- to 34-year olds are currently unemployed.
Those were just a few of the somber statistics cited by the co-chairs before the precinct caucus began.
Twenty-two people— double the number of last year— attended the meeting held at 7 p.m. at the 4-H log building at the Cook County Community Center.
Breitsprecher chaired the event along with his co-chair Gamble. Gamble announced that this would his last year as co-chair of the Cook County Republicans, saying, “I don’t want there to be the perception of a conflict of interest with my duties as a Cook County commissioner,” he said.
Breitsprecher also announced he was resigning because of a change in the law that won’t allow him to operate his ancient coin sales business from his home.
“I have to move by July,” said Breitsprecher, explaining that the law that affects him was written to stop crooked coin dealers from scamming people.
“It shouldn’t affect me but when I have tried to get help on this matter from my area DFL legislators they refused to help me. This is a DFL law and you know what they think about private businesses,” said Breitsprecher, adding that one Republican law maker in St. Paul had taken up his cause, “but I don’t know that it will be enough,” he said.
With that, Rae Piepho of Lutsen was nominated and elected to a two-year term to chair the party. Mary Petz of Hovland was again elected party secretary and Vance Benedix of Grand Marais was elected treasurer.
In a straw poll for the U.S. Senate seat now held by DFL Al Franken, Mike McFadden won with seven votes over a field of seven candidates.
In a straw poll for the governor seat now held by DFL Mark Dayton, Marty Seifert was chosen over a field of six candidates. Breitsprecher read letters sent by each candidate before the poll was taken. All of the candidates’ themes were similar, calling for a smaller but more effective government, balanced budgets, less taxes, less restrictions on business, a repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare), making a stronger educational system, protection for the unborn, and laws that will help strengthen the economy.
Newly elected treasurer Vance Benedix encouraged participants to take part in the Minnesota Political Contribution Refund (PCR) program, which was reinstated on July 13, 2013. The program is open to all major and minor party units and candidates who have a signed public subsidy agreement on file with the Campaign Finance Board.
Benedix said individuals donating $50 to a candidate or their party would receive that much back from the state. Couples donating $100 after filing a joint request would get back $100.
“This would be a good way to build up our local party’s finances,” Benedix said.
Currently there is little over $100 in the Cook County Republican fund.
While no resolutions were brought forth, people were encouraged to bring some to the March 3 convention that will be held at the 4-H log building at 7 p.m.
Breitsprecher urged all to get behind one candidate for each office, and not let small differences in ideology stop them from backing the party’s nominees at the state and national elections.
“Vote for your values and value your vote,” Breitsprecher told the crowd.
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