Following the meeting at the Community Center Leah Phifer, who is exploring a run for the 8th District congressional seat, talked to those who came out to meet her.
With $500 in her bank account and the back tire of her 2001 Yamaha Vstar motorcycle low on air, Leah Phifer rolled into Grand Marais looking more like a rebel rock star than a potential candidate for the 8th District congressional seat.
That is until she took off her black leather jacket, removed her motorcycle helmet, and sat down to talk and listen to folks. Then it was evident that she was an intelligent, passionate young lady on a mission.
The 33-year-old former FBI and Homeland Security agent spent two days in Cook County rubbing elbows with the public, asking questions, taking a tour of the hospital and clinic, and learning as much as she could about what Cook County residents would like to see from their 8th District congressional representative.
A native of Two Harbors, Phifer, who now lives in Isanti, is exploring a run against Eighth District Congressional Representative Rick Nolan. She capped off her visit by meeting 20 people who turned out to greet her at the Cook County Community Center on July 24. Because it was nice out, chairs were brought outside and set up close to the 4-H building.
Bill Hansen, a local DFL leader, introduced Phifer. With Congress getting older and grayer, Hansen nodded to Phifer and said it needs fresh faces and new ideas, adding, “Only 18 percent of those now serving in Congress are women. That’s wrong. I am thrilled that Leah is throwing her hat in the ring and making an exploratory look at running for Congress.”
This was Phifer’s 37th day of an 80-day tour of the sprawling 8th District that covers 27,000 square miles. So far she has been to 11 counties. Early on, before her exploratory tour had much momentum, she met with people in small restaurants or coffee shops. And if no one showed up, “I talked to the baristas,” she laughed.
To date, Phifer said the two biggest issues 8th District people are most concerned about are health care and the proposed copper/nickel mining on the Iron Range. She comes from four generations of iron miners but noted that her father and the rest of her relatives, “did a different kind of mining than what is now being proposed.
“I understand the history of mining. But I am trying to understand the technical and environmental aspects as well.”
While she worked for Homeland Security and the FBI in counter terrorism, Phifer learned first-hand what drove people to extremist views. “We have broken political policies. Individuals who write laws that look good on paper don’t understand they are putting a band aid on the problems. We bomb and bomb countries, and that doesn’t get at the root problem of what is causing terrorism. Without food, housing, jobs, or security of any kind, people will do anything. We remove one terrorist and then take their place. Politicians who write these policies tend to be completely disconnected from the people they are writing them for.”
A handful of people expressed their concerns to Phifer. Topics included the proposed copper/ nickel Polymet mine; changes to the Affordable Care Act; stripping away of rights for women, gay people, transgender, and people of color; a diversified, sustainable economy that offers living wages; and a transference of old ideas to new ones that will bring people together. A need to reform the way campaigns are financed was also mentioned by several, and Phifer was quick to agree that change is needed.
Five hundred dollars and a good social media platform only go so far when you are stacked up against a campaign that will have millions of dollars donated to it by special interest groups.
Phifer asked questions but mostly listened. She said she would put her ideas for solutions on her website when she has garnered more information from the public.
With her background in law enforcement and national security, Phifer said she would like to bring some perspective and knowledge to Congress so real world solutions could be sought when policies are written and adopted.
Leah is a graduate of the Humphrey School of Public Affairs. She served in the Department of Homeland Security before working in Counter Terrorism at the FBI.
After the 80 days are up, Leah will assess her plans. If she decides not to run against Nolan, she was asked if she would go back to work for the FBI or NSA. “I have thought about that. It would be hard because of the Hatch Act. If you work for those agencies, you are not allowed to express your political views. I have found that I like campaigning and learning more about the political process. I quit my job when Nolan announced he was thinking of making a run for governor. I was all but assured he was going to run, but then he changed his mind and said he was going to try to keep his set in Congress. By then I had already put it out there that I was going to do an 80-day exploratory tour of the 8th District. I figured it was too late to go back on my word.”
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