Your vote will count
To the editor:

Watching the big parties’ conventions on television gave us all a stark comparison and evoked in me soul-stirring questions.

What kind of people are we?

Are we really like the 25,000 republicans assembled in St. Paul — average age 59, economically well off white males, craving more of the Bush diet?

Do we love the simple-mindedness of propaganda?

Do we like spin instead of facts?

Do we relish inflammatory, hateful rhetoric?

Do we rub salt in old wounds to provoke hatred, like the 9-11 video?

Do we divide American against American for political gain?

Do we have names and labels for other people?

Is character assassination our style?

Are we just a crowd of extremist fighting other extremists?

Or are we the other millions — the less well-to-do population — women, Black, Latinos, Asian and Native American, united by the frustration of what we have come to be?

Has Washington used the 9-11 attack to cultivate our worst side and turned us into a scared, gullible, egotistical mob?

How did we slip from “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” and “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country,” to “go shopping with a 600 dollar stimulus check.”

The November election will be more than just selecting leaders. It will also show who we really are. Where will you be counted?

Joe Niedermayr
Lakeville

Vote LaComb
To the editor:

I’m writing in support of Sharon LaComb for the two-year team on Apple Valley City Council. LaComb brings a wealth of experience as vice president of Dakota County Technical College, Community Action Council, Apple Valley Chamber of Commerce, and other area organizations. I encourage you to support LaComb when you vote.

ALAN C. KOHLS
Apple Valley

Joseph Carter brings fairness to judicial district
To the editor:

Recently the St. Paul Pioneer Press ran a candidate comparison/interview piece concerning the First Judicial District election between Joseph Carter and Nathaniel Reitz. Each candidate provided a short biography and discussed the reasons they were seeking the office.

I found it disturbing Mr. Reitz’ expressed motivation is a single custody decision from many months ago.

I don’t know Judge Carter on a personal or social basis at all. I’m an attorney and I know him professionally from appearances in his court and from the MSBA Mock Trial program. I coached the AVHS team for a number of years. Mr. Carter coached the Eastview team for a like number of years.

I judge judicial credentials by three criteria:

Is the jurist learned in the law? Is he/she willing to research a novel issue to reach the proper result?

Does the jurist exhibit “judicial demeanor”?  Specifically, does she/he treat litigants and their attorneys with respect? Is any bias or prejudgment evident, political or otherwise?

Does the decision itself demand respect?

I have appeared in Judge Carter’s courtroom on a number of occasions. I have prevailed. I have lost. On each occasion, I emerged from his courtroom with the belief my client had been dealt with fairly. On each occasion, the decisions were well reasoned and predictable. They were within the range of what could be expected when entering the courtroom.

One issue politics is seldom in the public interest. Mr. Reitz may have the qualities of a good judge. To demonstrate those qualities, however, he must do more than pick apart a single, extremely difficult decision.   

DAVID ALBRIGHT
Apple Valley

Vote Workman for commissioner
To the editor:

I would like to encourage the residents of Burnsville to vote for Liz Workman for Dakota County commissioner on Nov. 4. She has served the citizens of Burnsville very well for the past 12 years as your City Council member.

As the current secretary of the I-35W Solutions Alliance, I have had the pleasure of working alongside Workman for the past four years on transportation issues affecting this corridor. She is not afraid to ask the tough questions and passionately advocates for the needs of Burnsville.

Representing Burnsville, Workman helped to elevate the needs of Highway 13 and County Road 5 as part of our legislative agenda. We will be asking our state legislators to assist in finding funding to better move transit along this regional corridor.

I’ve watched Workman work hard and build relationships with her council peers from Minneapolis,  Bloomington, Richfield, Savage and Lakeville as well as with representatives from other state and county agencies.

Given her experience, I believe Liz Workman is your best choice for Dakota County commissioner. Vote for Workman on Nov. 4.

ROBERT LILLIGREN
Vice president, Minneapolis City Council

Mack has a responsible approach
To the editor:

I attended the Independent School District 196 candidate forum on special education on Thursday, Oct. 2. 

Across the panel, answers were similar. The blaring difference between the candidates in House District 37A was that Tara Mack advocated an examination of how taxpayer dollars are spent in the system while her opponent advocated increased spending. 

We can all agree that the money put into the school system is one of the most important investments that citizens can make, but when advocating increased spending, we have to ask:  Where is the money coming from?

Minnesota’s education funding formula is tricky.  The property taxes are pooled around the state and then reallocated to make the system “fair.” It ensures that every child has an equal opportunity, but does not give the property taxpayers in the suburbs any satisfaction knowing that Minneapolis and St. Paul are still getting thousands of dollars more per pupil.

When asked if the candidates would support legislation for funding with an automatic inflationary increase, Mack and incumbent Shelley Madore gave two distinctively different answers. Mack said that there should be consistent, reliable funding for the schools so that they are not grappling annually with the budget changes. However, Mack didn’t think that an automatic addition to the funding formula was the appropriate step to achieve this: The funding should keep up with inflation but not be automatic.

Madore, on the other hand, advocated adding an automatic inflation control to the education funding formula. If this were to happen, where would the state  get the money? Putting the constituent’s taxes on auto-pilot is not only unfair, but unreasonable.

Mack held her own in a group of seasoned community activists, school board members and teachers.  She showed a responsible way of leading School District 196 into the future with accountability on all of the key players: teachers, students and parents. Mack was exceptional and should be voted in as our representative on Nov. 4.

Margaret Van Heel
Apple Valley

Correction: The following letter, which also appears in the print edition of the Oct. 17 Apple-Valley Rosemount Thisweek, contains inaccurate information. Judy Lindsay was not defeated in election to the School District 196 School Board. 

Judy Lindsay  brings an agenda of extremism
To the editor:

We are longtime residents of School District 196 and are active in volunteerism related to the district’s schools and the community of Apple Valley.

We observed firsthand the divisive and vitriolic failed policy views expressed by Judy Lindsay as a District 196 School Board member.  The electorate justifiably removed her from the board based on her extremism and in recognition of the wide gulf between her policy positions and those of mainstream School District 196 constituents.

We now find Ms. Lindsay resurrected as a candidate for House District 37B.  While we consider ourselves independent, we have tended to support Republican candidates, but cannot and will not support Judy Lindsay in her campaign.

It is critical that mainstream voters carefully examine the record of Judy Lindsay and reject it as flawed and failed; this community deserves more enlightened and effective leadership and should once again repudiate Judy Lindsay’s agenda of extremism.

DOUG McKEEN and CYNTHIA
LUSE-McKEEN
Apple Valley

LaComb works hard for the community
To the editor:

I have been actively involved in Apple Valley American Legion Post 1776 for many years. Throughout my time at the Legion I have been able to see many different people serve our community. Sharon LaComb is someone who really works at helping people in Apple Valley.

We have worked on the Apple Valley Fourth of July Committee together and were members of the Apple Valley Rotary together. Sharon was the first woman  elected president of the Apple Valley Rotary.

As long as I have known Sharon she has always been willing to help out if it means the community will benefit. I respect her hard work and share her values.

I would be proud and honored as a Legion member, an Apple Valley resident, and friend to have Sharon LaComb represent me on the Apple Valley City Council.

VERN SPINDLER
Apple Valley

Time for real change
To the editor:

Many  of us have been frustrated and are wondering why our interests in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District are not being represented.

The answer to that might lie in the fact that our congressional representative is not one of us.

After living most of his life in different places, he was sent to Lakeville with a fist full of money to take advantage of redistricting. The millions to win elections with spin and propaganda did not come from his constituents.  It came from the same predators that right now profit from the high gas prices and the housing/economic crises.

His kids never went to our schools, he never participated in the development of our communities, and he never sat in our traffic jams.

With his government retirement benefits, he is not concerned about our retirement, Social Security or health care.

He puts on a false halo, visits soldiers, veterans, commuters, businesses and walks in parades, to get press exposure.

But then he voted against minimum wages, lower drug prices, alternative minimum tax relief, health care for poor children, lowering student loan interest rates, energy alternatives, and making oil companies pay royalties and fair taxes.

Now he even wants  to privatize Social Security in order to put it in the claws of his predator godfathers.

See his complete voting record on: http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/k000363/

He tells us he is virtuous because he is fighting earmarks while at the same time he supports the thousand times larger boondoggles that resulted in our $10 trillion national debt.

After all this time in Congress, he is still only on the bottom of the totem pole while even first-term colleagues have achieved real status and  representational accomplishments.

In this election, we must end this Washington imposed domination and return control back to our hometowns.

We have our own man: Steve Sarvi – a veteran with lifelong deep roots in our districts communities.  He lives our lives and shares our values and concerns.  Steve Sarvi is an experienced, energetic, common sense person and will quickly earn respect, cooperation and results in Congress.

JEROME COOPER
Burnsville

Palin unfit for office?
To the editor:

Gov. Sarah Palin has been running around the country these past few weeks attacking the character of Sen. Barak Obama.

She implies that he can’t be trusted because he is unpatriotic; she infers that he might be an enemy of the country; she insinuates that he might be a terrorist, and, she intimates that he might be a Muslim or “not one of us.”

She has aroused Americans’ bloodlust while speaking with the pure voice of “moral authority.”

Unfortunately, the Governor’s moral imperative has just taken a giant hit from the Alaska state legislature. 

An investigation of the facts surrounding the the “Troopergate” scandal found that Palin broke state law and abused the power of her office with her firing of the Alaska Public Safety Commissioner.

The bi-partisan committee looking into Palin’s involvement in the scandal found that the Governor had “violated the public trust.”

She abused the authority of the office while working out a family feud involving her sister’s divorce. 

Palin then misled her constituents (and the American public) when she denied any wrongdoing and attempted to quash the investigation. 

Results of this investigation reflect poorly on the Governor’s own character, use of power, political judgment, and honesty.

The question no longer is whether she has any moral basis to question Sen. Obama, but rather, is she “morally fit” for the office of vice president of the United States, one step away from the Presidency? 

What does that say about Sen. McCain, who chose her despite knowing she was under investigation?

RICHARD AMARO
Lakeville

Joseph Carter brings fairness to judicial district
To the editor:

Recently the St. Paul Pioneer Press ran a candidate comparison/interview piece concerning the First Judicial District election between Joseph Carter and Nathaniel Reitz. Each candidate provided a short biography and discussed the reasons they were seeking the office.

I found it disturbing Mr. Reitz’ expressed motivation is a single custody decision from many months ago.

I don’t know Judge Carter on a personal or social basis at all. I’m an attorney and I know him professionally from appearances in his court and from the MSBA Mock Trial program. I coached the AVHS team for a number of years. Mr. Carter coached the Eastview team for a like number of years.

I judge judicial credentials by three criteria:

Is the jurist learned in the law? Is he/she willing to research a novel issue to reach the proper result?

Does the jurist exhibit “judicial demeanor”?  Specifically, does she/he treat litigants and their attorneys with respect? Is any bias or prejudgment evident, political or otherwise?

Does the decision itself demand respect?

I have appeared in Judge Carter’s courtroom on a number of occasions. I have prevailed. I have lost. On each occasion, I emerged from his courtroom with the belief my client had been dealt with fairly. On each occasion, the decisions were well reasoned and predictable. They were within the range of what could be expected when entering the courtroom.

One issue politics is seldom in the public interest. Mr. Reitz may have the qualities of a good judge. To demonstrate those qualities, however, he must do more than pick apart a single, extremely difficult decision.   

DAVID ALBRIGHT
Apple Valley

The logic of the House 37B election
To the editor:

For those who have not decided whom to vote for in District 37B’s legislative race, deductive reasoning should guide your vote.

Kurt Walter-Hansen lost the DFL nomination to Phil Sterner by a stunning 66 percent. Undaunted, he ran against Sterner again in September, where he was soundly defeated by 70 percent of voters. Hansen already lost this election twice, yet as an outsider looking in he continues pleading to voters for write-in votes.

Republican Judy Lindsay is a former school board member who butted heads with board members and district parents. She advocated eliminating the DARE program and the School of Environmental Studies, a nationally recognized environmental education program. Lindsay claimed that she defeated “school-based health clinics in 2002,” but board members and the district superintendent maintain that the issue was never even discussed.

Teacher’s unions strongly opposed Lindsay’s election to the board in 1999 due to her extremism, a belief echoed by retiring Republican Rep. Dennis Ozment. Says Ozment, “Judy’s an extremist. Everybody knows my opposition to Judy. She doesn’t support education. She’s just not electable.”

Lindsay’s virulent anti-gay activism flared as blatant hatred when she testified before the Senate judiciary committee that homosexuality correlates to bipolar disorder. This was her effort to amend the constitution so that human rights don’t apply to homosexuals.

Deductive reasoning comes down to this: Republicans shouldn’t vote for Hansen because he supports the Democrats’ platform, despite repeatedly spurning the DFL nomination process. Democrats shouldn’t vote for him because he managed just 500 votes in the primary. A Hansen vote is a Democratic throwaway vote that places Judy Lindsay one vote closer to power that her extremism should never wield.

Republicans, you trusted Dennis Ozment’s judgment by electing him to 24 years in office. If he doesn’t support Lindsay, why would you? The MCCL didn’t trust Lindsay either and endorsed Phil Sterner instead.

Phil Sterner’s moderate message and grassroots campaign has reached out and resonated with Apple Valley and Rosemount residents. He has shown the ethical standards and hard work he is willing to put in to represent us in St. Paul.

DANIEL MONAHAN
Apple Valley

Exceptional times, exceptional inexperience
To the editor:

I am deeply concerned that Tara Mack, the freshman candidate that the Republican Party nominated for House District 37A, is lacking civic experience and local knowledge of the issues that affect us all.

We are going through an exceptional economic crisis and we need the experience, knowledge and real-world solutions that DFL candidate Shelley Madore has already offered to our communities. As food and fuel prices increase along with the rapidly aging transportation infrastructure, we need a sound and stable voice in the Capitol.

We do not need, nor can we afford, any candidate who requires on-the-job training and a crash course in our collective values. We need Shelley Madore to continue the hard work, effort and accomplishments  she has brought to District 37A.

We should not gamble our future on the inexperienced candidacy of Tara Mack. Our homes, children, roads and values cannot withstand it.

Kurt Wahlstrom
Apple Valley

LaComb has record of leadership
To the editor:   

The city of Apple Valley would indeed be well-served by retaining Sharon LaComb on the City Council.  Her 30-year record of civic involvement in myriad organizations is virtually unparalleled.  Sharon’s leadership and oversight will ensure Apple Valley’s place as one of the most desirable locations in America in which to live, work, play and worship.

MIKE GARRISON
Apple Valley

Hansen seeks write-in votes
To the editor:

I am surprised Thisweek Newspapers decided, at the last minute, not to allow House of Representative write-in candidates the same opportunity as political party candidates to inform readers. After I submitted my answers to the questionnaire e-mailed me from Thisweek, the editors made a decision not to allow my voter’s guide answers to be printed. 

Minnesota Statute 204B.09, subd.3, allows write-in votes to be counted upon candidate request. This means I am a legitimate candidate supported by the Minnesota statutes, and I can win this election with 34 percent of the votes. The primary election gave me 23 percent support. Former Gov. Jesse Ventura’s poll number in June 1998 was 7 percent. In November 1998 he won the election with 37 percent of the votes.

My observation from daily contact with people from all walks of life is that a majority of them are disappointed in candidates the two major parties are pushing forward for the general election. The two major political parties are focused on who is most dedicated to “the party” rather than who is the best educated and qualified candidate to make the right decisions and fight for and represent the people.

In the general election, with only two parties and one candidate per party, it becomes a party election and not a candidate election. What is more important to the voting public? The candidate who makes decisions for us and spends our tax dollars, or the party? The party does not represent the citizens in the Legislature. The candidate does.


Kurt Hansen
Rosemount

The color of change
To the editor:

Driving around Burnsville/Eagan/Savage and beyond I can’t help but notice a curious and cowardly trend among Republican candidates this year. Starting at the so-called top of the ticket, John McCain suddenly reached into his Crayola box and found the long-forgotten blue one. 

The same for our “in crisis” Sen. Norm Coleman; you know Norm, he is the cool one who was allowed to vote at the end of almost every hot bill in the Senate since his party realized he was going to need wiggle room from this most unpopular of presidents. Yeah, his signs are blue; I’m guessing they’re blue because his voting record was enough to make most red in the face, including an obviously embarrassed Norm.

At least John Kline isn’t hiding his colors — his signs are as red as his shameful voting record, 98 percent with George W. Bush!  Steve Sarvi is the color you want to vote for this year, an Iraq War veteran and true family-values man. Those who yelled and screamed “support our troops” can now do so by putting one in Washington!

Finally, who is Diane Anderson and why does she think blue is her color?  Will Morgan earned that seat that had been almost given to the Republicans without their even asking.  Will was bipartisan when it made sense and progressive when it made more sense.

Whether you vote from the bottom up or the top down, there has never been a better time to completely reverse a polarizing Republican Party so out touch it thinks it can change colors in the middle of a vote that is all about it!

JEFF GERBINO
Burnsville

Smoking ban has benefitted many
To the editor:

I could not be more ecstatic about the Freedom to Breathe Act that was signed into law last October.  No longer do I have to cough my way through dinner when I’m out with my family and friends, and I feel much more comfortable bringing them out to eat when I know they aren’t being exposed to dangerous chemicals because the person on the other side of the restaurant decided to light up inside.

The men and women who this law really benefits, though, are the employees of the bars and restaurants across our state.  A March 2008 study conducted by the University of Minnesota showed that the levels of a lung cancer-causing agent had decreased by 85 percent in only the four months since the law took effect.  This law has already had a big impact on making Minnesota a much healthier and pleasant place to live and work.

Raj Mukherjee
Eagan

Vote Victoria Dvorak for Soil and Water board
To the editor:

Every year when I get to the downticket races, I feel frustrated because I know nothing about the candidates for the nonpartisan positions.

This year, for one race at least, that has changed.  Victoria Dvorak is running for District 2 Soil and Water Conservation supervisor.

I met Vickie two years ago when we did a fundraiser together. As we worked, I learned about her career in waste management, and saw how she extended her environmental commitment into her personal life – even taking coursework during her free time to extend and upgrade her work skills. During our time together, I saw her handle one setback, and was impressed.  She processed her disappointment quickly, then moved on to carefully study the other person’s point of view, and from that, she fished out a new thread of an idea that she followed until she had generated a new approach to the issue at hand.

Today, Vickie is a contractor with the Army Reserve at Fort Snelling.  Her title is water program manager,  and one of her responsibilities is project management dealing with soil erosion and storm water issues for a six-state region.

Dakota County’s recent population growth has brought new construction that impacts soil erosion and water quality, just when there is increasing demand on our water supply. Vickie has not only shown the temperament and expertise needed to make ecologically wise decisions, but also the targeted imagination to find out-of-the-box solutions to conflicting needs. In addition, adding her regional perspective and resources to the commission will enhance our ability to work with neighboring counties to reduce the impact of external pollution.

Please vote Victoria Dvorak for District 2 Soil and Water Conservation supervisor on Nov. 4.

COLEEN CHRISTENSEN
Apple Valley

$700 billion rescue
To the editor:

Anyone who depicts the $700 billion asset purchase strategy to help Americans avoid calamitous financial hardship as simply “stealing funds from hard-working taxpayers for fat cat Wall Street buddies” should take a short course on economics offered by our local Adult Learning Center.

They should be joined in the classroom by anyone who feels that the money for this really won’t cost us anything because it will just be added to our deficit.

What’s happening with the financial markets is too complex to simply characterize it in terms of villains and victims. Providers and  consumers, plus both political parties, bear the burden of responsibility for the challenge we face. Let’s not waste our energy or common purpose by pointing fingers, especially if political advantage is the only motivation — there will be plenty of time to exact consequences for the lawbreakers.  

JOHN NERDAHL
Lakeville

LaComb is the person for the job
To the editor:

We have lived across the street from Sharon LaComb and her family for over 30 years. She has been a good neighbor who always takes care of us when we have a need. We have watched her involvement in her children’s school, athletic and community activities. If you want a good neighborhood representative on the Apple Valley City Council, Sharon LaComb is the person for the job.

DAVE & ANNETTE COOK
Apple Valley

Freedom to Breathe at workplace
To the editor:

As a proud restaurant owner in Eagan, I am happy about the Freedom to Breath Act that was passed last October. It is so great to be able to provide a smoke-free workplace for my employees and customers.

Business has remained good, and it seems as if people are thoroughly enjoying themselves when they come out to eat these days.  Families appreciate the smoke free air, and are more comfortable eating when they know they aren’t putting the health of their children and themselves in jeopardy when they bring them out to eat.  Thank you to all the lawmakers that helped make this law possible.

Jamal Ansari
Mediterranean Cruise Cafe owner, Eagan

Yes or no?
To the editor:

On Nov. 4, we’ll be asked to vote for a constitutional amendment called “Clean Water, Wildlife, Cultural Heritage, and Natural Areas” which, if passed, would mean an increase to the sales and use tax of three-eighths of 1 percent. Supporters  are running a multimillion-dollar campaign, and rarely do they even mention the arts – it’s all about the environment.

Do you know that the environment and natural resources trust fund has a market value right now of over $400 million, not to mention the Department of Natural Resources’ biennial budget of $1.5 billion?  Will you vote “yes” to support the arts and further funding for the environment, or will you vote “no” to further tax increases?

Anne Dahlen
Burnsville

Tara Mack’s fund-raising
To the editor:

In response to a recent letter to the editor comparing the fund-raising efforts of Tara Mack and Shelley Madore , I was disappointed to read some inaccurate information about Mack’s report. After several reviews of the two candidates’ finance reports, it is clear that Mack did not accept any contributions in excess of the $500 individual limit, contrary to what Ms. Ruth misstated in her letter. 

In regard to large donations received, only 22 percent of funds raised by Mack’s campaign came from large donors or PACs, compared with Madore’s 45 percent.  This means that more than three-quarters of Mack’s funds have come from small contributions from dedicated citizens concerned for their community and accurate representation, not from “corporate executive donors” as implied by Ms. Ruth.

In addition to the inaccurate information, I think it is also important to note that Mack, as a first-time candidate, has gained notable financial support from the community she has lived in of all her life. According to the most recent campaign finance report, Mack has more than doubled the amount raised by incumbent Madore. It is rare to see a challenger outraise an incumbent by such a large margin.

Mack’s hard work and great fund-raising record should not be criticized but commended. It is a clear indication of the widespread support she has gained from local citizens and just one of the many reasons we should give her our vote on Nov. 4.

Eldon Nash
Apple Valley

Re-elect Madore
To the editor:

I am writing in support of the re-election of Shelley Madore to the Minnesota House of Representatives, District 37A.

Since her election two years ago, Madore has become a recognized and respected leader on issues pertaining to health care and education.

Her support of statewide health care insurance for public school employees and her innovative ideas to make sure all Minnesotans had affordable health care were refreshing and would have greatly impacted all Minnesotans. She recognizes that affordable health insurance is a right and that all Minnesotans should have accessible, affordable and adequate health insurance.

Her involvement in the ISD 196 school community gave her valuable insight into and understanding of the problems facing Minnesota schools. Again, she stepped forward and championed solutions that not only benefit District 37A schools, but all Minnesota schools.

She has been a consistent advocate for special education issues. Since being elected to the Minnesota House, Madore has constantly voiced her opinion that both the federal and state governments have to fulfill their obligations and fully fund special education to reduce the impact on a school district’s general fund.

As shown in a recent candidate forum, Madore’s opponent woefully lacked a comprehensive understanding of the issues and doesn’t have solutions for them.

The residents of District 37A need experience and leadership in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

I am asking you to re-elect Shelley Madore on Nov. 4.

HEATHER BROOKS
Apple Valley