Seated at their caucus tables, enthusiastic Cook County Republicans discussed the party’s platform, voted on resolutions, voted on delegates and then cast their ballots for one of the five Republican candidates running for the party’s nomination. While the nation’s eyes are on Donald Trump, Marco Rubio won the Cook County vote, with Trump placing fourth.
Following a trend seen across the entire state of Minnesota and country, a record number of Cook County Republicans turned out for the March 1 Super Tuesday caucus, and like the rest of the state, Florida Senator Marco Rubio got the most votes with 40, Texas senator Ted Cruz was second with 27, Dr. Ben Carson finished a close third with 25, Donald Trump was fourth with 17, and Ohio Governor John Kasich received 7 votes and Jeb Bush got 1 vote.
Preceding the somewhat raucous (boisterous) caucus was a last minute change in venue. A mix-up in schedules led Cook County Republicans to move their caucus from the quaint Cook County Community Center log building to the much larger St. John’s Catholic Church basement after it was learned a dance class was already scheduled for the March 1 date at the Community Center building.
Good thing for the mix-up because the smaller log building venue would never have been able to handle the largest turnout of Cook County Republicans ever seen at a caucus. One count had it at 134 people but it was impossible to get an accurate total because people came and went throughout the night. However, there were 13 tables set up for the county’s 13 precincts and each table had 10 chairs around it, all filled with eager participants who had come from the far edges of the east and west end of the county, as well as from the farthest reaches of the Gunflint Trail to get a chance to vote for their preferred Republican candidate to hopefully take on Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton who has been all but anointed to lead her party in the bid to retain the presidency.
The previous Cook County Republican Caucus record (at least since the year 2000) was 69 people that turned out for the 2012 caucus.
How much has changed in one year? Last February Cook County Republicans cast votes in a straw poll at their BPU (basic political operating unit) meeting and Mike Huckabee won with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker second and Dr. Ben Carson third, while Jeb Bush, Rand Paul and Chris Christie didn’t even receive one vote. As for Donald Trump, he wasn’t even in the crowded field of candidates at that time. Today, only Dr. Carson is holding on by a thin thread in the primary race out of those above-mentioned candidates.
When it came time to select caucus leadership posts, three familiar people retained their usual positions. Rae Piepho of Lutsen was voted to chair the caucus while Mary Petz of Hovland was re-elected secretary and Vance Benedix of Grand Marais retained the treasurer position.
Speeches were read on behalf of Dr. Ben Carson, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz before the voting.
Following the outline, each table formulated resolutions and elected precinct officers to attend the Tuesday, March 29 BPU Convention that is scheduled to be held at the Community Center log building at 7 p.m. At that meeting delegates will be selected to carry resolutions to the Eighth District Republican Convention to be held April 16 in Park Rapids.
Cook County delegates will also be selected to attend the State Convention held May 20-21 in Duluth.
The National Republican Convention will be held July 18-21 in Cleveland, Ohio, where 38 delegates from Minnesota will attend the convention to select a presidential nominee.
Financially, said Benedix, the local party is better off than it was last year when it had $772.80 in the bank. Today the party has approximately $1,600 in its coffers.
Discussion followed traditional themes that are threaded through the Standing Platform of the Republican Party of Minnesota’s 11 planks. These included “promoting economic prosperity, restoring and defending civil rights, protecting health care, educating children, strengthen families and communities, protecting public safety, strengthen the rule of law, enjoying and protecting our natural resources, making government smaller and better, and defending America at home and abroad.” Each precinct table wrote one or more resolutions in support of a plank or planks, and those will be carried to the Congressional District Convention where they will be voted on. Should they pass they will be forwarded to the State Convention and if passed there, they would be incorporated into the Standing Platform of the Minnesota Republican Party.
While the local Republican party looks forward to the presidential race, a quote at the bottom of the evening’s agenda seemed to sum up the feelings and resolve of those in the crowd, “The ultimate determinant in the struggle now going on for the world will not be bombs and rockets but a test of wills and ideas—a trial of spiritual resolve; the values we hold, the beliefs we cherish and the ideals to which we are dedicated. – Ronald Reagan.”
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