The Progressive Minnesota House 7B Forum last night nabbed some local TV and newspaper coverage. You’ll remember there are five DFL candidate’s for State Rep. Mike Jaros’s West Duluth legislative seat left open after Jaros retired suddenly two months ago.
The Duluth News-Tribune story gives an overview. I saw the WDIO (Channel 10, ABC) coverage this morning (video available online). WDIO actually did something interesting by showing a full sound bite from every candidate on the same question. This was a nice way to compare the speaking styles of the candidates. Unfortunately, they chose the question about Duluth’s so-called “red plan,” a local education issue only tangentially under the influence of the state legislature. So there was a lot of treading water, politically speaking, in the sound bites.
My gut reaction to the TV footage is that DFLers Marsh Stenersen and Roger Reinert looked the part of front runners. Reinert wore his own campaign button on his lapel, though. Isn’t that like wearing a certain band’s t-shirt to a concert performed by the same band? Kind of nerdy. (But, then again, so is blogging about a legislative primary in a district where you don’t live). Brandon Clokey spoke well, but vaguely. Dan Maryland and John Derbis didn’t stand out much to me. I can’t call this a fair assessment of the whole forum, though, since I wasn’t there. I encourage people to share their thoughts in the comments. And by all means, find out more about the candidate’s positions before you vote. I’ll be trying to finish my candidates’ questionnaire and get responses from all the DFL candidates before their upcoming primary.
I watched all the candidates interview for the 7b race last night at Wellstone Hall in Duluth for the ASCHME endorsement. Stenerson and Reinhart definitely stood out, but no one got the endorsement until after the primary. I found this not suprising at all because the central labor body and ASCHME have endorsed Reinhart in the past for his current job as Duluth city councilor and Stenerson has been a business agent for them for ever. Interesting dilemma for them as they think they basically control who is going to get elected with their endorsement, yet are batting less than 50%. I find the whole organization on the wrong side of corrupt and run by Alan Netland, who rules the A. Central Labor body, B. ASCHME, president of both. I think he’s starting a fan club called “The friends of Alan Mitchell”. Look out folks in St. Louis County and get ready for another financial screwing.