As more and more Minnesotans take advantage of early voting opportunities made possible by Steve Simon, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, Dan Severson, the GOP candidate, has built a campaign around suppressing voting to “solve” unfounded election corruption allegations.

“Severson is on record saying that Democrats win elections due to voter fraud,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “Severson claims that we have legislative majorities and Gov. Mark Dayton because of voter fraud. He says that Democrats will go statewide and find vulnerable seats and stuff ballot boxes.

“I call on Jeff Johnson and Keith Downey to refute Severson’s unfounded and irresponsible allegations. I question Severson’s ability to be Secretary of State when he makes dangerous allegations of crimes that don’t exist. Minnesotans deserve better.”

Martin said Minnesota is known for its high voter turnout and clean elections, yet Severson is using his unfounded claims of corruption to suppress voting. Voters recently saw “Double Talkin’ Dan” in action when he said he wants to make voting easy as possible at a Minneapolis Community and Technical College debate just weeks after a Daily Agenda Podcast when he said he didn’t support no-excuse absentee balloting or same day registration.

“This is very troubling because no-excuse absentee balloting received bi-partisan legislative support and Minnesota has had same-day registration for more than 40 years,” Martin said. “And no excuse balloting and same-day registration helps seniors, students, the disabled, new Minnesotans, and countless others.” (more…)

Dan Severson · Minnesota Secretary of State · voter suppression

Eden Prairie City Council

These seats are non-partisan. No DFL party endorsement has been given.

Mayor Nancy Tyra-Lukens is running unopposed. We believe Ms. Tyra-Lukens has served the people of Eden Prairie well during her tenures as Mayor and deserves another term.

Council Members Kathy Nelson and Sherry Butcher-Wickstrom are running for re-election along with Andrew K. Moller. We believe Ms. Nelson and Ms. Butcher-Wickstrom have also served the people of Eden Prairie well during their terms. And, therefore, deserve another term.

Mr. Moller filed for office, but doesn’t seem to have a campaign website.

Judgeships on the Ballot

At this month’s Third Congressional District Central Committee meeting, many of the judge candidates spoke to the body. CD3 then compiled information from those discussions and researched candidates. We’re including information on those races in our area with more than one candidate.

Associate Justice — Supreme Court 2, John Hancock, Wilhelmina (Mimi) Wright — Judge Wright has a website with an extensive list of DFL supporters including Sharon Sayles-Belton and Karen Thissen.  There is no contact information nor website for her opponent.  http://wrightforjustice.com/

Associate Justice — Supreme Court 3, Michelle L. MacDonald, David Lillehaug —  Judge Lillehaug is a known in the Twin Cities.  Please peruse his list of supporters for your information.  If you wish to know about his opponent, please do an internet search with her name to find out about her.  http://www.justicelillehaug.org/supporters

4th District Court 16 — Bruce Michael Rivers, James A. Moore — Judge Moore did not attend, as he has signed the agreement with the Hennepin County Bar Association to not participate in any partisan activities.  His endorsement list is here for your information: http://www.judgejamesmoore.org/endorsements/. Bruce Rivers joined us and spoke about his experience as a criminal defense attorney.  He is running a grassroots campaign and does not have a campaign website.  He links to his personal law firm website for information:  http://www.riverslawyers.com/

4th District Court 43 — Paul Scoggin, Bridget Ann Sullivan — Both of these very engaging candidates joined us last evening and spoke about their backgrounds, personal views and experience that draws them to run for this open seat.  Paul Scoggin offers an impressive list of supporters for our information:  http://www.scogginforjudge.com/#!supporters/c11vk.  Bridget Ann Sullivan also offers an impressive list of supporters http://www.sullivanfor43.com/index.asp?SEC=EA964D88-8CE3-461C-9D27-72FEC4E3292F&Type=B_EV.  Both are passionate and dedicated to their craft of advocating for justice.

4th District Court 53, Bev Benson, Chris Ritts — We were joined by both candidates for this open seat.  They spoke about their backgrounds, cases they have tried and the passion that drew them to run for this seat.  Bev Benson lists many supporters that will give credence to her speech: http://bevbensonforjudge.com/index.asp?SEC=8A65E138-CA67-4B2A-8866-19EF5E058525&Type=B_BASIC  Chris Ritts has an informative website that covers his background.  http://rittsforjudge.com/

4th District Court 61, Amy Dawson, Bevery J. Aho — We were joined by Amy Dawson, who spoke about her passion, experience and personal drive to serve the needs of justice last evening.  Her list of supporters is as extensive as her passion: http://www.amydawsonforjudge.com/  Her opponent is a known GOP activist, GOP state delegate who raised funds for George W. Bush. There are numerous writings online from her if you need more information.

Please look into all these candidates, read about them and make your decisions. Then, call them for a lawn sign and share your information with your friends, neighbors and family. Judges decide many issues in our community and we need to do our due diligence to make property decisions to elect those who share our values.

You can check on the licensure and other basic information of lawyers here.

Sample Ballots

We were able to download sample ballots and mark our endorsed candidates on them. If you’d like to take a completed sample ballot with you when you go to the polls, just click the link for the area you live in.

House District 48A Living in Eden Prairie

House District 48A Living in Minnetonka

House District 48B 

2014 elections · 2014 sample ballots · Al Franken · congress · Eddie Frizell · Gov. Dayton · HD48A · HD48B · Hennepin County Attorney · Hennepin County Sheriff · House District 48B · House Districti 48A · Joan Howe-Pullis · Lori Swanson · Mark Dayton · Mike Freeman · Minnesota Attorney General · Minnesota Secretary of State · Minnesota State Auditor · Rep. Selcer · Sharon Sund · State Auditor Rebecca Otto · Steve Simon · Tina Smith · U.S. Senate · Yvonne Selcer

Minnesota DFL Chair Ken Martin and Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, discuss the roles and responsibilities of the Minnesota Secretary of State, Rep. Simon’s campaign, and how DFLers can get involved.

When asked about the campaign goals, Rep. Simon said, “No matter what our partisan affiliation is I think we can all acknowledge that at the root of success in any issue that we care about is having free, fair, honest, open, secure elections.”

Minnesota Secretary of State · Rep. Simon · Steve Simon

Party is powered up, ready to win in November

With a focus on turning out base DFL voters, the Minnesota DFL has opened 18 offices across the state.

“Thanks to our strong fundraising, the DFL has built a campaign organization to help us win up and down the ballot,” said DFL Chairman Ken Martin. “The DFL is staffed up to talk about our growing economy, historic investment in education and tax relief for the middle class and get voters out to the polls for the DFL this fall.”

Three metro area offices are hosting official openings in the coming days.

• Congressional District 5, 2410 E. 38^th St., Minneapolis: Gov. Dayton and his running mate Tina Smith, Sen. Al Franken, Congressman Keith Ellison and legislators will speak at the office opening and barbeque at noon, Saturday, June 21.
• Congressional District 3, 915 Main St. W, Hopkins: Rep. Steve Simon, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, Sharon Sund, the DFL-endorsed candidate for CD 3 and DFL legislators and candidates will speak at the office opening event 12:30 p.m., Saturday, June 21.
• Congressional District 2, 4555 Erin Dr., Suite 260, Eagan: DFL Chairman Ken Martin, House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, Mike Obermueller, the DFL-endorsed candidate for CD 2, Rep. Steve Simon, the DFL-endorsed candidate for Secretary of State, and DFL legislators and candidates will speak at the office opening event Tuesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.

The DFL also has offices open in Albert Lea, Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Grand Rapids, Hibbing, Mankato, Moorhead, Morris, Rochester, Shoreview, St. Cloud, St. Paul, Virginia, and Willmar.

Martin said in addition to talking with voters about the promises made, promises kept by DFL leaders, field staff will also promote the new no excuse absentee balloting.

“Voting is now easier than ever in Minnesota,” Martin said. “No excuse absentee balloting makes voting more accessible to people with busy lifestyles or have concerns about getting to the polls. People can vote early in person or by mail and not worry about getting to the polls Nov. 4.”

For information on how to request an absentee ballot to vote early, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office at www.sos.state.mn.us and click on “Elections & Voting.”

3rd Congressional District · absentee voting · cd3 · Congressional campaign offices · Democratic Farmer Labor Party · DFL · early voting · Minnesota Secretary of State

In past elections, you needed to have a reason why you wouldn’t be voting in your precinct on Election Day.  With the law passed this year by the DFL-controlled Legislature, people can now vote via absentee ballot without having an excuse.

Here’s all you have to do:

1.    Apply for an absentee ballot from the Minnesota Secretary of State by clicking here, or visit your city or county election office. Election officials will mail the absentee ballot materials to you after receiving your application. You do not have to provide an excuse for not voting on Election Day in person.

2.    Fill out the absentee ballot. You’ll be asked to have a register voter or notary verify that you received a blank ballot and you were the person to vote.

3.    Return the absentee ballot via mail, fax, email, or drop it off in person at your city or county election office the day before the election.

absentee voting · early voting · Minnesota Secretary of State