Two Cook County Republicans served as voting delegates at the 2010 state convention in Minneapolis April 29 – May 1. They had the opportunity to meet a number of candidates and the man who was endorsed, Tom Emmer. (L-R) Cook County delegate Garry Gamble, Jacquie Emmer, GOP gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer, Cook County delegate Mary Petz.
Attending the 2010 Minnesota Republican Convention in Minneapolis April 29-May 1 was a privilege and a unique learning experience for this voting delegate from Cook County. It was similar to but a much larger forum than the Eighth Congressional District Convention held three weeks earlier in Cambridge when Chip Cravaack was endorsed as the 2010 U.S. House of Representative candidate.
Thursday evening’s order of business included the acceptance of the convention agenda and the platform committee’s report on the Preamble to the Republican Platform. Following these items was the endorsement of Secretary of State candidate Dan Severson. He was elected House Minority Whip in 2008.
We learned that the 2008 election in Minnesota produced 17,000 more counted ballots than eligible registered voters. Military absentee ballots numbered 13,000 and only 3,200 were counted, partly because the window to receive and return ballots was too short. Many ballots were received by voters afterElection Day. TheSecretary of State’s office had the opportunity to use computerized balloting in 2008 but chose not to do so.
Recent polls show that 71% DFL, 77% Independents, and 86% of Republicans “favor the enactment of requiring photo ID to ensure the integrity and accountability of our voting system.” There has been an increase of 1,000 more potential election judges for the upcoming counts.
Attorney General candidate Chris Barden was endorsed, supporting the “rebirth of fiscal responsibility in Minnesota and following our State Constitution more closely.” Attracting and retaining businesses and jobs is part of the plan to re-energize the office.
Pat Anderson, a former MN State Auditor, was endorsed to run this year from a pool of four candidates for that office. She stands for bringing back “action, innovation and aggressive oversight to the office to ensure that all levels of Minnesota government are spending tax money wisely.”
U.S. Representative Michele Bachman brought the delegates to their feet Friday morning (seemingly too early after our 1:30 a.m. departure the night before), speaking of the “extreme radical agenda permeating our country” and urging a return to constitutional conservatism, using the banner of our U.S. Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights.
Referring to recent credit card commercials, Governor Tim Pawlenty spoke of the taxpayers’ burdens of the “bailouts, cap and trade, healthcare reforms and stimulus packages” as outlandishly expensive, and November Republican victories as “priceless.”
Interspersed amongst the day’s speakers were endorsements for various MN legislative candidates and a speech by Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek who has served in law enforcement for 25 years. He spoke of how he works to advance public safety in Hennepin County, believing in “strengthening strategic partnerships with other agencies and the private sector.”
Then came the very exciting time when the five candidates for MN governor were given 20 minutes each to advance their campaigns. Phil Herwig, Marty Siefert, Tom Emmer, Bill Haas and Leslie Davis were presented and after the first ballot, MN Representatives Emmer and Siefert remained eligible for gubernatorial votes.
At this point, current Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau was introduced and mentioned that 12 ballots had been used in 2002 to finally nominate Tim Pawlenty as the 2002 endorsed candidate at 2 a.m.!
She also spoke with sincere gratitude of attending military deployments and return home celebrations for the “few soldiers that do so much” for us.
In the second balloting, Siefert and Emmer each received more votes, but not yet the 60% of the 2,000 required for GOP endorsement. At that point, 4:45 p.m., Marty Siefert very graciously turned his support to Tom Emmer, and the room all but exploded as fireworks went off, confetti dropped from the ceiling, and the noise became so much louder. The Emmer hockey shirt wearers had succeeded in their efforts!
Back to business on Saturday morning with discussion and approval of the Republican State Constitution Report, which included proposed changes to the articles dealing with central committee endorsements, state conventions, state party administration, and determining status of affiliates.
MN Supreme Court judicial candidates Greg Wersal and Tim Tingelstad were heard, and Dan Griffith campaigned for the MN Court of Appeals We need to know about our judicial candidates and retain the right to vote for them. They interpret the Constitution and apply the law, not rewrite it.
Throughout the three days were discussions and voting on the acceptance of each of the 10 sections of the party’s platform. These include: promoting economic prosperity, preserving civil rights, educating our children, strengthening our families and communities, protecting public safety, strengthening the rule of law, enjoying and protecting our natural resources, making government smaller and better, and defending America at home and abroad.
Garry Gamble and I, as Cook County delegates honored to be there, were seated conveniently in the very back right hand corner as if to allow attendees handy access to visit and tell us how or why they enjoy visiting Cook County!
Prior to the 3 p.m. adjournment, there was time for thanks to all who had spent much time and effort preparing for such an important and large event, and of course the Unity Rally led by Tom Emmer with the introduction of his Lt. Governor, Annette Meeks, and at the near end of convention business, hundreds of red, white, and blue balloons cascaded down from the ceiling in front of the stage.
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