What Our Candidates are Doing

Rep. Yvonne Selcer, HD48A

As Rep Yvonne Selcer and her team move into these final, crucial weeks of the campaign, they’re working to bring the door knocking and phoning to an even higher level to get out the good news of the work that has been done in the last two years. Yvonne stood up for the people of our community and Minnesotans, passing fiscally responsible legislation that paid our schools back, provided all day kindergarten, froze college tuition, promoted small business job creation and streamlined paperwork.

Even in the midst of this close race, Rep Selcer is also focused on the duties of her position as your state representative. She’s serving on legislative committees throughout the summer to prepare for the work that needs to continue during the next legislative session.

Her record of service and accomplishment, of course, will be distorted by the special interest groups, including the billionaire Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity, who are lining up to distort these accomplishments and protect their special interests.

Rep. Selcer and her team thank all those who have helped to date with door knocking, phoning, lawn sign distribution, office work and a variety of other important campaign tasks.

These last weeks leading up to Nov 4 are crucial to victory. Yvonne asks if you have volunteered, to keep volunteering.  If you have not yet had the opportunity to volunteer, please do so in the crucial coming weeks.  You can sign up to volunteer at yvonneselcer.com, or just call Maars, her organizer at 612-524-8427, and he will get you involved.

“Together, we can win again on Nov 4, and continue the work we have begun to move MN forward,” said Rep Selcer.  “Thanks to all of you for the many ways in which you are supporting this effort.”

Joan Howe-Pullis, HD48B Candidate

At their Campaign Head-quarters, things are gearing up for the rundown to Election Day.

Joan is out at the doors most days. When she’s not, she’s phoning the people of Eden Prairie.

If you’d like to help, phone banks and door knocks are being staged out of Eden Prairie. So, no long driving to pick up lit packets or getting to a phone bank and not having material to make calls.

Team Joan is also pulling together the details of what’s shaping up to be a great lit drop/door knock next month, so look for more information on it soon.

If you have time to help with any aspect of Joan’s race, send her an e-mail at .

Laurie McKendry, SD48

Even though the focus between now and Election Day is on our House seats and Laurie continues to help Yvonne and Joan, things are gearing up for the 2015-2016 election cycle when Laurie will be making a second run for the State Senate.

If you’re interested in seeing what a full campaign election cycle involves, we’ll be picking up our planning efforts in late November. E-mail to become part of Team McKendry.

Can You Host a Lawn Sign?

Our candidates are hoping to build visibility with lawn signs.

If you’re willing to have one in your yard between now and Election Day, please e-mail us at . We’ll pass your information along to our candidates.

League of Women Voters Candidate Forums

Again this year the League of Women Voters is hosting candidate forums for both our State House races and our Eden Prairie municipal races.

Please mark your calendar now and plan to attend. Not only will you learn more about the candidates and issue, your attendance helps support our candidates.

State House Forum

The State House Candidate Forum will be held Tuesday, September 30, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Minnetonka Community Center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., Minnetonka, MN. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Eden Prairie Municipal Forum

The forum for candidates running for Eden Prairie City Council will be held Thursday, October 2, 7:00 to 8:30 pm in the Council Chambers at the Eden Prairie Community Center, 8080 Mitchell Rd, Eden Prairie, MN. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

The top two vote getters on Election Day will be on the Eden Prairie City Council. So, if you’re a resident of this city, please attend.

Eden Prairie Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens is running unopposed.

Our DFL Ticket

To see who else is on the ballot, visit this post. We’ve also included information on the Eden Prairie City Council seats up for election this year and information on the judicial races we’ll have on the ballot.

Have Holasek Certificates Left Over from Our Grow with Us Plant Sale?

2015 UPDATE:  Holasek Greenhouses is now out of business. We have no information on how to receive refunds. Please contact the organization you purchased your certificates from for further information.

We’ve been informed that Holasek Greenhouses will be going out of business this year. If you didn’t use all your certificates this spring and summer, you have a limited time to receive a full refund. Please e-mail us at . We’ll contact you with the details, but please do it by September 30. Holasek’s will be closing their books for good in October, 2014.

Not Certain if You’re Registered to Vote?

This year, you can visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website to:

• Check if your registration is current, and
• Register to vote.

If you’d prefer to register in person, you can go to the City Clerk’s office at your municipality’s City Center and fill out the form there.

When Democrats vote, Democrats win. Get the pieces in place now to make voting simpler November 4.

Your Candidates Need Your Help Now

We’re over half way through September, the Fall routine should be established in your household. Your candidates and their volunteers have been working hard for months. But, there’s so much more to do.  (You’d be amazed how BIG a House District is, how many doors there are to visit.)

Support Your Candidates By:

Door knocking and phone calling are the big needs at this point in campaigns. If you’re comfortable doing that, please volunteer. Our candidates have included contact information in their articles.

If you’re not, there are still lots you can do:

• Make a contribution to one of our local races or to SD48 DFL if you haven’t yet
  • your first $50 contributed to a state campaign or party unit is refunded by the State of Minnesota to help make it possible for regular people to run
• Have some time on upcoming weekends or week days?
  • Help set up lawn signs
  • Help enter information
  • Help write a letter to the editor
  • Help feed volunteers
  • Got other ideas? Let us know, and we’ll “hook you up.”

You’ll meet a great group of people, and help create change in our district with your time  (It’s also a great thing for families to do.) Need to get connected?  Email us at . We’ll get you in touch with the right people.

When Dems Vote, Dems Win

Why?

We have the numbers to elect the people who are putting all their efforts into running for office if we just bother to vote.

No Excuse Absentee Voting

This year, you can go to your municipal community center and cast an early, no excuse absentee ballot from September 19 until the weekend before the election (check out your city’s website for hours on weekends). Just stop into your City Clerk’s office, complete the paperwork and fill out your ballot.

What happens when we don’t?

Remember 2010? That’s the last non-presidential election. We wound up with a Republican-controlled Legislature. That Legislature shut down our government for the longest time in our state’s history costing us tens of millions of dollars. It also brought us the two constitutional amendments that so divided our city.

And, when you vote between September 19 and November 4, help make certain our candidates win by bringing a progressive friend with you to the polls.

Remember, when Democrats vote Democrats win.

Town Hall Forum with Hennepin County Sherif Candidate Eddie Frizell

Team Frizell invites you to a discussion regarding public safety and how Eddie would lead the department as the County’s new Sheriff.

– Share how you would like to see the Sheriff’s office engaged with your community

– Discuss the duties of the Sheriff’s office

– Learn more about the $91.9 million Sheriff’s budget

– Hear Eddie’s priorities for the Sheriff’s office.

This event is not affiliated with the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in any way. For official business with the Sheriff’s Office, please call 612.348.2347.

RSVP at facebook.com/frizellforsheriff/events or by e-mail to [email protected].

The Party Party

We had a great time at our Party Party earlier this month.

Check out more info about the event including more photos here.

Thanks to All Who Attended Caucuses and Convention

Weren’t able to join us for these events? Here’s what happened:

Precinct Caucuses

Thanks to everyone who came out to participate in grassroots politics by attending their precinct caucuses in February.

Over 300 residents of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka came out on a cold, dark evening to meet with their neighbors, talk about issues important to them and elect precinct officers and delegates to the senate district convention.

Senate District Convention

On Saturday, March 10, over 100 people returned to the East Commons of Eden Prairie High School to participate in our convention.

We heard Rep. Yvonne Selcer (HD48A) announce that she is running for re-election this fall.

We also heard from:

• Lt. Gov. Candidate Tina Smith
• Attorney General Lori Swanson
• Senator Terri Bonoff
• Secretary of State Candidate Rep. Debra Hilstrom
• Secretary of State Candidate Rep. Steve Simon
• State Auditor Rebecca Otto
• House Speaker Paul Thissen
• Former House Minority Leader and MN2020 Founder Matt Entenza.

Convention delegates then elected delegates and alternates to the DFL State Central Committee, as well as delegates and alternates to the 3rd Congressional District and State DFL Conventions. Resolutions passed out of the precinct caucuses were reviewed and voted on to move forward to the next level of consideration where those passing will be incorporated into the State DFL platform.

What happened at the SD48 Republican Convention

At the Republican SD48 convention. held the same day as ours, the Republican delegates failed to endorse Rep. Jenifer Loon. As of today, Rep. Loon and Sheila Kihne will both be running in a primary.

For those of you who have been involved on the local level for some time will remember Ms. Kihne for her conservative blog, “The Activist Next Door” and position at the Third Congressional District Republican Party of Minnesota.

2014 = New Chance to Loan the District $50

With the start of 2014, you can once again make a contribution to SD48 DFL of up to $50 ($100 per couple) and receive a full refund from the State of Minnesota.

Take the time to write a check or visit the contribution page of this website and make a a secure, online contribution to Senate District 48 DFL.

Or, mail a check to:

Marylu Belisle, Deputy Treasurer
Senate District 48 DFL
15472 Sandhill Cir
Eden Prairie, MN 55347

Historically, people supporting Republican candidates have taken better advantage of this program than those supporting Democratic candidates — to the tune of $2 to Republicans through this program to $1 to Democrats.

Now’s the time to change that. Don’t want to make a contribution all at once? Consider making a monthly contribution. We have multiple options on our contribution page.

2nd Annual
Jackie Steveson Dinner
Sunday, May 4, 2014

On May 4, Third Congressional District DFL is hosting their second annual Jackie Stevenson Dinner.

Guest Speaker:  Former State Senator Becky Lourey

Emcee:  Buck Humphrey

5:30 PM cocktail hour and Silent Auction

7:00 PM dinner and program

For more information or to get your tickets, visit JackieStevensonDinner.com

Growing with Us Plant Sale

2015 UPDATE:  Holasek Greenhouses is now out of business. We have no information on how to receive refunds. Please contact the organization you purchased your certificates from for further information.

Thinking about green grass and flowers now that we’re losing snow pack? We’ve got a great way for you to spruce up your planters and beds. Buy certificates that can be used at Holasek’s Greenhouse or their Great Gardens by Grandma sites.

You can find more information here.

Want to learn more about creating great containers?

We’re excited to announce we’ll be hosting a workshop Saturday, May 10, at 10:00 am. Shirley Mah Kooyman, a Hennepin County Master Gardener and botanist, will show us how we can create beautiful, unique planters.

We’ll have more information soon. Here’s where you can find information now, and check back to for the latest news.

Update from Rep. Yvonne Selcer

Rep. Selcer has been busy working for the residents of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka in the legislature.

She reports that the state budget surplus has increased from a $627 million deficit last session to a $1.23 billion surplus, allowing the Minnesota House has approved over $500 million in Middle Class tax relief.

On February 28, Rep. Selcer’s free lunch bill for low income children was approved by the House Education Finance Committee. “This is a great opportunity to, in a bipartisan manner, to make a statement that no child shall go hungry in Minnesota because of an inability to pay,” said Rep. Selcer.

She also has a legislative survey available to share your views. You can complete the survey here. She is also continuing an aggressive door knock schedule that includes visiting with constituents on the weekends during the session.

Update from State Senate Candidate Laurie McKendry

Senate District 48 DFL appreciates having our candidates from 2012, Laurie McKendry, running again in 2016. She came close to winning the seat in 2012.  And, with your help, she will win in 2016.

Even though her race isn’t until 2016, she wanted to find out more about our communities. Laurie has been busy working in both Eden Prairie and Minnetonka.

She’s looking forward to the Southwest Light Rail join meeting with the Minnetonka City Council and the Economic Development Advisory Commissions, on which she serves.

She’s also serving on the Board of Eden Prairie’s AM Rotary as the Director of Service Projects. “What I love most about my work,” Laurie said, “is getting to know people on a personal level no matter what political affiliation they hold. Doing this gives me and the other person a chance to put politics aside and see one another without labels. I’ve found that most of us have more in common that we have differences.”

“As I look at what’s happening in Washington today,” Laurie continued, “I see a situation where it’s never been more important to elect State Senators and Representative on our local level who share out beliefs. All you have to do is look at the gridlock there and the issues that have worked their way down to the state level for decisions. Last year, Minnesota’s legislators passed legislation in these key areas for you and me and our families:

• immigration
• marriage equality
• voters’ rights
• affordable healthcare exchange, and
• environmental issues.

Doing your taxes?
Don’t forget the check boxes!

On both the federal and state income tax return forms, you have the opportunity to help Democrats

Federal Return

On your federal return, you’ll be asked, “Do you want $3 of your federal tax to go to the Presidential Election Campaign Fund?” Checking the box doesn’t increase the amount to taxes you owe and doesn’t decrease the size of any refund you’re due. The money provides funds for the Democratic presidential candidate and national party convention.

State Return

On your state return, you have the option of specifying $5 of state funds to go to state candidates (including our local legislative candidates like Rep. Selcer). Again, this will not increase the amount of taxes you owe or decrease any refund you’re due.

These are efforts to help keep running for office something a dedicated person can do, not just someone with personal wealth.

But, to work, people like you and me must check the boxes. So, please help our candidates with these two easy actions.