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MN-8 DFLers meet in Duluth
MPR recaps last nights MN-8 DFL debate between Rick Nolan, Tarryl Clark and Jeff Anderson. Once again, differences appear to be stylistic and biographical, with only a small amount of political separation. Listen to Dan Kraker’s story below: Related posts: No related posts.
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MN-8 DFLers meet tonight at Duluth forum
Tonight, the three candidates seeking the DFL nomination to face Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) in this year’s race for Congress will meet in a forum in Duluth. The event, sponsored by Duluth Community Action and others, will take place from 7-9 p.m. at Somer’s Hall at the College of St. Scholastica. The candidates, Jeff Anderson,…
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Nolan wins Range contests, poised for DFL endorsement
Another weekend of county political conventions in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District has put an exclamation point on a political reality. Former Congressman Rick Nolan of Crosby will win the DFL endorsement on May 5. Perhaps portending the 21 consecutive wins by Nolan in local contests, the other DFL candidates Tarryl Clark and Jeff Anderson had…
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Welcoming new strategies for northern Minnesota’s future
A couple northern Minnesota stories caught my eye this week and I’m here to argue that they’re related. First, there’s this Ron Brochu story from Business North about Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board Commissioner Tony Sertich speaking in Duluth. Brochu picked up on a subtle quote that shows the substantive change in policy Sertich…
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Anderson internal poll shows tight, volatile DFL race in MN-8
An internal polling battle is afoot in MN-8. Last week Tarryl Clark released an internal poll showing a tight-three way race for the DFL nomination in Minnesota’s Eighth Congressional District. Her poll also involved some follow-up questioning that she said showed voters would be inclined to support her once they knew more about her. The…
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Clark releases internal poll showing strength (upon prompting)
As reported last week, we now know that the three DFL candidates for Congress in Minnesota’s 8th Congressional district will likely compete in an August primary to face Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) next fall. Tarryl Clark’s campaign has sent me a memo touting Clark’s fundraising success (with numbers to be released next week) and highlights…
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Why is the state legislature so awful?
This Minnpost commentary by Steven Dornfield answers the question, “Why has the quality of the state legislature declined?” Where are the statesmen and stateswomen? Why is compromise more difficult than ever? Why are bright, talented people avoiding runs for office, or leaving after a term or two? To summarize, the answer is because it is…
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Shedding light on a dark chapter of Range policy
MPR has an informative update on the provision to shed more light on development deals under the purvey of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. A law that effectively hides key financial details about companies that receive agency funds was tucked in a conference bill a couple years ago to protect Excelsior Energy and…
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Dayton signs bill streamlining permits, could aid Range project
Yesterday, Gov. Mark Dayton signed a bill streamlining the state environmental permitting process for several projects in development. The bill included language proposed by State Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam) that makes it easier for Magnetation to build their processing plant in Itasca County. Magnetation still hasn’t committed to a site for its proposed pellet/nugget plant,…
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Anderson touts mining, commits to MN-8 DFL primary
Today former Duluth City Councilor and Ely native Jeff Anderson announced that he, too, would bypass the DFL endorsement process and run directly in the MN-8 primary. This virtually ensures that there will be a three-way DFL primary to challenge U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) taking place on Aug. 14. Former State Sen. Tarryl Clark…
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Nolan posting big lead in MN-8 DFL delegate race
I suppose it’s time for a quick update on northern Minnesota politics. As this Star Tribune story clearly shows, U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN8) will face a tough race for re-election in this northern Minnesota district. Three DFLers are vying to challenge him, former Duluth City Councilor and Ely native Jeff Anderson, former St. Cloud…
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MPR: "Awkward hugs can’t save northern Minnesota"
My recent thoughts on the “Hug a Ranger” campaign in St. Louis County got me a spot as today’s commentator on the Minnesota Public Radio News website. The title is “Awkward hugs can’t save northern Minnesota” and I’m sure other people aren’t writing things like this. I’m quite sure. It’s a distillation of some of…
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DNT editorial backs Anzelc IRRRB daylight provisions
Another follow-up, today the Duluth News Tribune editorial board strongly backs Balsam Twsp DFL Rep. Tom Anzelc’s IRRRB transparency provisions which recently advanced out of a House committee. No one wants to be a detriment to progress. But when public money is being doled out — whether by the millions or more, or even by…
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This hugging business just got real
This is a follow up on my “Hug a Ranger” post of last week. St. Louis County Commissioner Keith Nelson wrote me to clarify that the “Hug a Ranger” brochure the county put out to market the region’s impact and importance in the state included a typographical error. The claim that nonferrous mining would produce…
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Anzelc bill demanding IRRRB transparency advances
A bill by Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) requiring more transparency for potential development projects by the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board has cleared a committee hurdle in the State House, advancing in an Omnibus civil law bill. The bill has no Senate counterpart, where Iron Range senators have been cool to the idea.…