Joe Radinovich talked to Tim Kennedy after he had finished laying out reasons why people should vote for him to become the next congressman to represent Minnesota’s 8th District. Joe made a campaign swing through Cook County on Friday, Sept. 21, visiting Hedstrom Lumber Mill and North House Folk School before meeting with the public at Java Moose. Staff photo/Brian Larsen
“You must think I just got out of Stillwater [prison],” said Joe Radinovich to a small group who gathered to hear him speak at Java Moose on Friday, September 21.
Although there was laughter, Radinovich, DFL, who is running against Republican Pete Stauber for Congress to see who will represent Minnesota’s 8th District, met the allegations leveled against him in ads paid for by the Congressional Leadership Fund, head on.
“I was 17, 18, 19 when most of these things happened,” he said. “I’m not saying they didn’t happen. I took ownership of them. It was a hard time in my life.”
Part of the ad states: “Joe Radinovich wants to go to Washington to make laws, but he’s spent his life running from the law.
“18 misdemeanor crimes…30 traffic violations…five times Radinovich had his drivers’ license suspended…
“The cops even charged Radinovich with possession of drug paraphernalia.
“Fast times. Broken laws. Joe Radinovich isn’t fit to serve in Congress.”
The Crosby Ironton native went on to explain that at 17 he walked in on his brother who was bleeding from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His brother had attempted suicide, and Joe’s intervention saved his life. He missed school for the next couple of months because he was at his brother’s bedside while he was hospitalized.
The next year his step-grandfather murdered his mother and then took his own life. Those two events shattered Joe’s life. He went to Macalester College and soon dropped out. “I came home and slept on my father’s couch,” he said.
Aimless, without direction, he got in trouble during that time, mostly speeding tickets and parking violations, but he was also picked up for marijuana charge, something he doesn’t deny.
One day he decided he needed to change. He applied for and was hired as a para in the Crosby-Ironton school district.
He began working with a young boy who had also suffered a lot of trauma in his life.
Helping that young man gave Joe a sense of purpose. Energized, he began volunteering for political causes he believed in and worked as a union organizer.
At age 26 Radinovich became the youngest member of Minnesota Congress. He lost his bid for reelection, he said, when he came out in support of gay marriage.
On the big issues of the campaign, Joe said he supports mining as long as the big multinational companies follow the rules and procedures outlined in the permits to mine.
“Where a project is proposed, we should have a clear, science-based process that sets aside a significant amount of bankruptcy-proof financial assurances so that a proper closure can be done after the life of the project or the life of the company. We should increase inspection and oversight to ensure safe and ethical operation of any project,” he added.
As far as outside money coming into local campaigns, Radinovich was adamant, “We need to end the corrupting influence of secret money in our elections.
“I am the first candidate in this race to take the End Citizens United pledge to not accept contributions from corporate PACs in this campaign, but we need more reform of our elections to ensure they’re fair, open, and free.
“I believe in a strong and independent judiciary–particularly when it comes to lifetime appointments of federal judges–that will likely have the ongoing discussions about campaign finance and election reform on behalf of all of us.”
Healthcare is a right, said Radinovich. “A broken arm shouldn’t bankrupt you, and you shouldn’t have to choose between preventative care and paying your electric bill.
“I support Universal Healthcare that keeps our families and us healthy and working. This is a system that benefits all Americans, whether they’re self-employed, run a small business, or have bargained collectively for healthcare benefits.
“Too many of our healthcare dollars are going to middlemen and special interests when they should go to caring for our families and neighbors.”
On jobs and the economy, Radinovich answered, “The workforce continues to change, and we need to enact policies and programs that support new opportunities. Making investments in skills training and re-training, protecting the rights of workers to unionize, and fortifying complementary systems and services that make work possible–like healthcare, childcare, and public education–gives all of us the stability, employability, and safety we need to build our futures.”
A good job that pays a livable wage and health care, said Radinovich, goes a long way to helping people have a good life.
Radinovich said he looks forward to debating issues like health care, Social Security, Medicaid, tax cuts, etc. with Stauber.
As for attack ads, he said, “I want to take the high road. I want to debate the issues with Pete. When we do debate, it will be easy for the public to see our differences.”
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