Party time: Upcoming campaign events in 64B

Campaigning is shifting gears in 64B. With the holidays over, the candidates are starting to mount gatherings around the district. 

A few are coming up soon. Here's a quick listing:

Today:

Beth Fraser meet and greet, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, J&S Bean Factory, 1518 Randolph Ave., St. Paul.

Sunday, Dec. 29:

Gloria Zaiger meet and greet, 1 to 4 p.m., 1917 Bohland Ave., St. Paul.

Matt Freeman meet and greet and fundraiser, 4 to 6 p.m., Buca de Beppo, 2728 Gannon Road, St. Paul

Saturday, Jan. 4:

Beth Fraser meet and greet, 12:30 to 2 p.m., Quixotic Coffee, 769 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul.

Sunday, Jan. 5: 

Greta Bergstrom meet and greet, 4 to 5 p.m., J&S Bean Factory, 1518 Randolph Ave.

Thursday, Jan. 9:

Gloria Zaiger meet and greet, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., 1917 Bohland Ave., St. Paul

Sunday, Jan. 12:

Greta Bergstrom meet and greet, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Coffee Bene, 53 Cleveland Ave. S.

Gloria Zaiger says "C'mon over!"

Gloria Zaiger is turning out to be the most prolific lit dropper of the campaign so far. Here's another letter from the would-be DFL nominee, with a brief "meet the candidate" introduction AND an invite to her house. She's holding two events there (one during the Vikings game, but who wants to watch them play the Lions anyway).

You can't see it on the PDF here, but this letter is also signed by hand. Zaiger is working it.

Zaiger Letter by theracefor64b

Matt Freeman's calling card

Matt Freeman seems to be out working the doors now. We got a piece of lit he dropped by a house in Highland Park last week. It's a half-sheet, double sided card stock.

This version has a handwritten note, including Matt's mobile phone number -- without an area code. As if you needed to be told what it was, right?

Anyway, have a look. He's also among the first to include mention of the Ford Plant redevelopment in his lit.

Freeman Lit by theracefor64b

Greta Bergstrom's big debut

Greta Bergstrom is getting the lit out. Although several other candidates have been out with their paperwork repeatedly, Bergstrom seems to have been holding her fire. Now, she's out with a THREE PAGE lit piece. It found its way to the mailbox at The Race for 64B this week. (It was sent out via the U.S. Postal Service, by the way.)

The first two pages are an introductory letter, including a couple of events. She also lists Ward 5 city council member Amy Brendmoen (not a 64B resident) and former St. Paul DFL chair Jim Mogen as her co-chairs.

The last page is her political resume, with an interesting note: the last DFL campaign staff job on the list was for Mike Freeman for governor, back in 1998. That's rival Matt Freeman's dad.

Peruse the deets for yourself below:

Bergstrom Letter by theracefor64b

Freeman fundraiser Dec. 29 at Buca

Matt Freeman has a fundraiser next weekend. Here's the deets:

"Since announcing my candidacy for our District - 64B, I have been overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support from my friends and neighbors. Whether on the phones or out in the community, I have been fortunate to connect with many of you and am grateful for your feedback and ideas to build a stronger Saint Paul.

Today, I am inviting you to a meet-and-greet fundraiser at Buca di Beppo Restaurant to continue these conversations. Please join us on Sunday, December 29th from 4-6PM to hear more about my progressive vision for a stronger Saint Paul.

Together, we can meet the challenges that will define the next generation. We can ensure every student has access to a world class education- we can ensure the minimum wage is a livable wage - we can carry forward Representative Paymar's work and pass sensible gun legislation.

I hope you'll stop by on December 29th and be part of the conversation about how to accomplish our shared goals. Let me know you're attending by joining the Facebook event at facebook.com/MattFreemanforHouse.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you on the 29th!" 

Take a look at the host list here:

Glora Zaiger mailer

Between basketball practice, swim meets, winter recitals and holiday parties, things here at The Race for 64B are getting a little crazy, but politics wait for no one.

This is a little late getting up, but here's Gloria Zaiger's super-sized post card.

It's pretty slick, and again, Zaiger is one of the first out of the gate with the campaign apparatus, and pushing all the political and DFL buttons while she's at it: the union bug, the blue theme, the home address. Even the subtle "a better Minnesota" reference on the back side.

If you've got lit, or a candidate sent you some, pass it along to The Race for 64B. See the contact information at right.

Beth Fraser makes it official

Here's Beth Fraser's official announcement, following her   appearance at the DFL Senate District 64 meeting last night.

BETH FRASER FOR MN HOUSE

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

December 11, 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laura Nevitt

612-708-4644

bethforhouse@gmail.com

Beth Fraser announces candidacy for Minnesota House of Representatives

SAINT PAUL, MN – Beth Fraser announced today that she is seeking the House seat for district 64B, currently held by Representative Michael Paymar who recently announced his retirement.

Fraser lives in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood and has spent the last seven years working for Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. As the Deputy Secretary of State, she manages the Secretary of State’s legislative initiatives and oversees the Safe at Home address confidentiality program for survivors of domestic violence and stalking. Fraser has consistently won passage of legislation to make it easier for eligible voters to cast ballots and to strengthen the protection provided by Safe at Home. She frequently provides testimony before legislative committees, including against adoption of the “Photo ID” Constitutional Amendment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlx5eeWxQQs. Once the legislature decided to put it on the ballot, Fraser led the Office’s educational efforts about the potential impact of the proposed Constitutional Amendment.

Prior to joining the Secretary Ritchie’s staff, Fraser spent eight years leading the public policy work at the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action (now TakeAction Minnesota). There she gained experience in building broad coalitions and legislative advocacy. Fraser succeeded at winning passage of nation-leading legislation to ensure that private corporations who receive public subsidies meet specific job goals or return the public’s money. She also advocated for Fair And Clean Elections and a state budget that supports the public good, and founded the Voting Rights Coalition.

Fraser came to Minnesota nearly twenty years ago to organize community members in the Jordan neighborhood of Minneapolis through the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. She stayed in Minnesota and spent time working to organize mobile home residents who were facing buyouts.

“I have spent the last 20 years fighting for Minnesotans all across the state to make sure their voices matter,” Fraser said. “As a State Legislator, I will continue the fight, on behalf of my neighbors and the community in 64B, to ensure that all Minnesotans, no matter their economic status, their gender identity or the color of their skin, get dignity and respect and have a say over their own destiny,” concluded Fraser.

Seven Up: DFLers make their debut at Mac meeting

64B candidates (l to r.) Matthew Bergeron, Matt Freeman, Greta Bergstrom, Melanie McMahon, Gloria Zaiger, Beth Fraser and Dave Pinto) Photo: Tim Nelson

Seven of the candidates vying to replace outgoing state representative Michael Paymar made their party debut at a Senate District 64 DFL meeting at Macalester College last night. All offered a quick 2-minute introduction to party officers and DFLers.

Much of the detail was biographical, and you can read some of the information in the previous candidate postings here at The Race for 64B: (In the order above: Matthew Bergeron, Matt Freeman, Greta Bergstrom, Melanie McMahon, Gloria Zaiger, Beth Fraser, and Dave Pinto.)

Three of the candidates, Dave Pinto, Gloria Zaiger and Matt Freeman kicked off their speeches by emphasizing their party ties: "I know many of you," said Dave Pinto. "I've phone banked with you, I've been to caucuses with you." Gloria Zaiger ran quickly down her DFL resume as a party activist and Freeman laid out his campaign bone fides, including work on the Barack Obama and Amy Klobuchar campaigns and running Chris Coleman's re-election campaign. "We need somebody that's going to go out and organize," he said, as he wrapped up his pitch.

Both Melanie McMahon and Greta Bergstrom talked up their ties to the district. "My grandma moved to Randolph Avenue nearly 70 years ago, as single mom," McMahon told the crowd. She said she and her husband even bought a house near her grandmother's. Greta Bergstrom, who ran once before for the seat, started her pitch with her background: "I have been a resident of this district most of my life."

Matthew Bergeron, a House committee administrator, and deputy Secretary of State Beth Fraser, emphasized their state government experience. Bergeron talked about his service for the Health and Human Services Policy Committee and said it's a key aspect of state government and his experience would serve the district well. Fraser talked about her work on elections and the Voter ID amendment last year and with the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action. "My track record has 17 years of experience working at the Capitol," Fraser told the crowd.

The question and answer afterward had a couple interesting points. All were asked about the proposed PolyMet copper-nickel mine proposed for northern Minnesota. None expressed any real support.

•  "I want to make sure we don't do any environmental damage we can't undo," said McMahon.
• Bergstrom questioned whether 300 jobs was worth potentially centuries of cleanup: "I don't see a reason to vote for that," she said.
• Freeman said he was open to it, "but for me, the threshold would be very high to move forward."
• Bergeron called the employment "tempting," but added that "there are a lot of things that would have to be worked out before I'd be comfortable supporting it."
• Pinto said he was concerned about the potential lengthy environmental cleanup, noting that 500 years of potential water treatment was daunting: "Think about what happened 500 years ago," he said, by comparison.
• Fraser said she thinks the state needs to find something else to revitalize the Iron Range. "I want to find other economic options," she said. "How can we find alternatives."
• Zaiger was outright against it. "I sympathize with the need for jobs, but there hasn't been enough research, and I am right now opposed," she said.

And finally, the last question of the night: Would the candidates abide by the DFL endorsement? Six offered an emphatic "Yes!" and McMahon said "Absolutely!" So there you go.

Other news from the meeting:

• Beth Fraser said she will officially be getting in the race and plans to put out a release today. Look for that later here at The Race for 64B.
• Greta Bergstrom is planning a campaign event for the Chatterbox Pub in Highland Village on Sunday, from 4 to 6 p.m. She says there will be a formal invite and announcement as soon as today.
• The Feb. 4 precinct caucuses for 64B are scheduled for now for Highland Junior High. The Senate District 64 Convention is looking like it'll be March 23, a Sunday, at noon, at Central High.
• Party officials said last night they hare planning to have a pre-caucus candidate forum, likely some time in the last two weeks of January, so that would-be delegates to the convention can get a better look at who they'd like to support before Feb. 4.

A letter from Matt Freeman

This letter showed up in the mail yesterday. The REAL mail. Like postage paid.

Freeman Letter

By the numbers: Here's a look at the DFL delegate count

Since 64B has gone to the DFL for decades, it's probably a worthwhile effort to look at the party mechanism that's likely to pick the next representative for the area. 

Here's what the Senate District emailed out to candidates late last month for a head count:

Precinct	Delegates
ST. PAUL W-2 P-06	11
ST. PAUL W-3 P-01	36
ST. PAUL W-3 P-02	43
ST. PAUL W-3 P-03	47
ST. PAUL W-3 P-04	25
ST. PAUL W-3 P-05	27
ST. PAUL W-3 P-06	36
ST. PAUL W-3 P-08	29
ST. PAUL W-3 P-09	44
ST. PAUL W-3 P-10	29
ST. PAUL W-3 P-11	29
ST. PAUL W-3 P-13	34
ST. PAUL W-3 P-14	62
ST. PAUL W-4 P-07	31
Total	483

The DFL has a standard 60 percent endorsement requirement; that would mean a candidate will have to get 299 delegates to win the endorsement -- if everybody shows up.

"I think we'll come close to filling everything," says Elizabeth Wefel, a Senate District 64 chair.

The precinct caucuses are 55 days away.

Martin Ludden says he's decided against 64B run

Martin Ludden, a Comcast executive and Iraq war vet, says he's NOT going to run for the open seat in 64B next year. In response to an inquiry by The Race for 64B, Ludden said he'd decided against it:

"After very serious consideration and lots of conversations with friends and local leaders, my wife and I have made the difficult decision that the timing of a run for office is not right for our family. I remain excited about the future of this district and I look forward to finding other ways to continue serving my home community and the people of Minnesota."

That leaves at least seven, and possibly eight people still in the running on the DFL side. Here's a list from the Senate DFL District 64 website. Tomorrow night the party is having a candidate, well, what to call it? Gathering, perhaps?

These folks are on the agenda, at any rate: 

Melanie McMahon 
Gloria Zaiger 
Beth Fraser 
Greta Bergstrom 
Dave Pinto 
Matt Freeman 
Matt Bergeron 

You may also note that absent from this list is former legislator Brian Bergson. He's been tentative about a run in the past, but The Race for 64B has asked him directly, and hopefully we'll have a little clarity on that issue shortly.

And now, a word from Gloria Zaiger

This may be the internet age, but the campaign for 64B is still being fought in the trenches. Or at least the political equivalent: on the phones.

There's lots of calling going on, and The Race for 64B is always standing by to hear from the prospects in the race.

Here's a voice mail from DFLer Gloria Zaiger, working the phones last week. Have a listen:




If you hear from one of the candidates and are willing to share a voice mail or other communications, The Race for 64B would LOVE to hear about it. You can email tim@theracefor64b.com or call 315-4900.

You know the area code.

A look at the voting records of 64B candidates

Flickr photo: Bill Roehl

The great thing about Minnesota is that you can get some idea of the voting records of candidates before they even get to the Legislature.

And they may be telling, depending on how you feel about a candidate and her or his habits.

In the interest of fuller disclosure, The Race for 64B is doing the legwork for you. Here are the voter registration records for the candidates who have declared or say they're thinking about a run for the office next year.

The registrations histories don't tell you WHO they voted for or even what races were on their ballots. But the voter files have some important data -- like how often they exercise their franchise. It also tells you where they did it.

Take a look for yourself. 

It's all public information, taken right from the state's voter database, at the request of The Race for 64B. The database only covers Minnesota, and only goes back as far as the state's electronic records started in 1993, according to Ramsey County elections manager Joe Mansky. So these records may not reflect the full history of each voter.

Several candidates also say there are errors in their records (see the explanations below), but Mansky said in an interview today there is no independent way to check those claims outside of the state database.

Feel free to add comments to this post if the data gives you any insight. Click on each name to see the documents.

• Matthew Bergeron
• Brian Bergson
• Greta Bergstrom
• Beth Fraser
• Matt Freeman *
• Martin Ludden
• Melanie McMahon **
• Dave Pinto
• Gloria Zaiger

* Matt Freeman says his voter registration record does not reflect a ballot he cast in 2008. Freeman says he was working for Barack Obama's presidential campaign in Minnesota that fall and voted in-person absentee at the Isanti County courthouse in Cambridge.

** Melanie McMahon says her voter registration record does not reflect ballots she cast in 2000, and 2007. She said she voted by absentee ballot in 2000, when she was traveling in Europe. She says she's sure she voted at the polls in the 2007 election, but doesn't know why her record doesn't reflect that vote.

Dave Pinto makes his case to delegates

Here's the letter Dave Pinto is mailing out to DFL delegates for his 64B bid, formally announced last night.

Pinto Letter 2013 by Tim Nelson

Pinto announces he's in

Here's his release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                               

CONTACT: Megan Ryan, 651.252.1706, media@davepinto.com  

December 5, 2013                                              

DAVE PINTO ANNOUNCES RUN FOR DISTRICT 64B

Prosecutor of domestic violence and sex trafficking vows to be “champion for kids, champion for all”

(Saint Paul, MN) – Today Dave Pinto joined the field seeking the DFL endorsement for the Highland Park seat that will open when Representative Michael Paymar steps down. As a senior prosecutor in the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Pinto has had great success using the law to champion the underserved and hopes to bring his passion and experience to the Capitol to advocate for kids and work for a better future for Minnesota.

In a letter to DFL delegates of the district, Pinto highlighted his progressive agenda and belief in a minimum wage that can support a family, universal health care, a strong education system, affordable housing for families and seniors, and equity in opportunity, among other progressive issues.

Pinto wrote, “I’ve lived out this belief in my day-to-day work through advocating for and protecting children. As a lawyer in private practice, I helped change a suburban high school’s discriminatory treatment of its LGBT students. At the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, I’ve led a team of attorneys prosecuting domestic violence involving children, and now focus on juvenile sex trafficking, taking on traffickers and working for policy change to protect our kids from this modern-day form of slavery.”

Pinto’s work in prosecuting juvenile sex trafficking and domestic violence has been gaining attention. He successfully prosecuted two high-profile casesin November, where juries convicted two St. Paul men on sex-trafficking charges (see Star Tribune article). In September, he received an inaugural “Inspire Award” from the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women.

“If we do all we can as advocates for kids, we will be doing all we can to create a better future in Minnesota,” said Dave Pinto, Ramsey County Prosecutor and candidate for House District 64B. “At the Capitol, I will strive to be a champion for kids, a champion for all.”

The Pinto Volunteer Committee is co-chaired by George Latimer and Marlene Kayser, who will host a fundraiser in January.

“I’ve known Dave for a long time and I support him because I’m impressed with his intellect, his integrity and his commitment to public service. With his background, Dave could have done anything. Instead, he worked for those in our community who need help the most,” said former Saint Paul Mayor George Latimer.

Pinto lives in Highland Park with his wife Abby and two sons. He grew up in Falcon Heights and has graduate degrees in law and business. He served in the Clinton White House and in Congressman Bruce Vento’s office. After law school he worked as an attorney at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, where he was recognized for providing legal services to the underserved prior to moving to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office. He is a member of AFSCME Council 5, and has served on the Highland District Council and St. Paul’s Long-Term Capital Improvement Budget Committee. 

Pinto Volunteer Committee

Former Mayor George Latimer and Marlene Kayser, Honorary Co-Chairs, Steve Cohen, Treasurer, P.O. Box 8119, St. Paul, MN 55108-8119, 651.252.1706, info@davepinto.com, www.davepinto.com

###

And theyr'e off! Campaign events are underway

We got our first campaign event invite this morning! It's from Matt Freeman. (And it looks like he has a 651 phone number now, too.)

See the details below. And if you get one, please send it along to tim@theracefor64b.com. Unlike the campaigns, you CAN contribute to this blog anonymously, if you prefer, and I'd be happy to entertain requests to delete your identifying information.

Here's the Freeman "Meet and Greet" invite.

Freeman Meet and Greet

Bergeron makes it official: he's in

Legislative staffer and one-time lobbyist Matthew Bergeron says he's made up his mind and he's going for it: he has officially announced he's running for the 64B House seat being vacated by Michael Paymar next year.

You can read Bergeron's official release on the subject below. It's chock-a-block with legislative references and includes laudatory comments -- though not quite endorsements -- from Rochester Rep. Tina Liebling as well as Golden Valley DFLer Ryan Winkler. (And a campaign contact phone number with a 763 area code to match.)

Bergeron is the 5th candidate to officially announce for the race. Two more may join them yet this week.

Bergeron Announcement Press Release by Tim Nelson

Dave Pinto says he'll announce his 64B intentions soon

Ramsey County prosecutor Dave Pinto is getting his case together for the 64B race left open by the decision by Michael Paymar not to run in 2014.

"I'm not ready to announce," Pinto said in an interview this weekend. "But I would say it would be soon."

The assistant Ramsey County Attorney made his political debut in 2010, contending with John Choi for the DFL endorsement. Choi got it and won the election, but Pinto is working for him now.

Pinto has been a senior prosecutor focusing on domestic abuse cases where children are involved, and does policy and legislative work on the issue now. He's also a key player in the Ramsey County Attorney's efforts to combat juvenile sex trafficking.

Pinto grew up in Falcon Heights and went to school in Roseville. He went to Harvard, and then on to the University of Virginia for an MBA and a law degree. He's since clerked for 8th Circuit Court of Appeals judge Diana Murphy and is a Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi alum, as well.

But he says public service drew him away from the law firm to the Ramsey County Attorney's office: "I just wanted my day to day work to mean something more, to take care of the community."

And he thinks the next logical step for that is the Legislature.

Pinto says fighting sex trafficking and domestic violence remain priorities for him, but he'd like to expand the scope of his work. "I think of it generally as taking care of kids. Everything from early childhood education, to anti-bullying and the Safe Schools for All. I think the child protection and child welfare systems need a good look. And, of course, education."

Pinto has had some volunteer community: he has served in the past on the Highland District Council and serves on the city of St. Paul's Long Range Capital Improvement Budget Committee (along with fellow 64B contender Melanie McMahon).

Look for a formal announcement and a website at http://www.davepinto.com

Bergstrom: I'm in it to win it, but I won't run against the DFL endorsement in 2014

Greta Bergstrom has made up her mind, and she's decided to make a run for it: she put up a website and says she's decided to run for the 64B seat.

It's actually her third campaign in the district. She managed Howard Orenstein's re-election in 1992 and sought the seat when he retired in 1996.

Bergstrom says its home turf, and not just because of her political experience. She grew up in the neighborhood and went to Groveland Park elementary and Highland Junior and Senior High.

She's a Macalester grad, and but for a couple years when she was a guardian ad litem and thinking about a law career in Washington, D.C., Bergstrom says she's lived in Senate District 64 almost her entire life.

"My values really have been shaped by the people in the district," she says. "Whether its the schools - the public schools or college - or my neighbors or the people I grew up with... I know this district."

Bergstrom is currently the communications director for TakeAction Minnesota, the St. Paul-based liberal action group. She's also worked in corporate communications for Best Buy, particularly in the Hispanic market. At North Woods advertising, she helped work on the campaigns of the likes of Ned Lamont, the U.S. Senate contender in Connecticut and John Hickenlooper, the Denver mayoral candidate and now Colorado governor.

A political communications veteran, she says she's ready to sit at the other side of the desk, listening to constituents and advocates make their case and be a decision maker.

"My job to to listen to people about the issues that impact their lives, help shape their stories and connect these stories to decision-makers at the Capitol and beyond," Bergstrom says. "That's what I do on a daily basis and it's great experience for becoming a state legislator."

She says she's focused on equity issues, on minimum wage, on income and educational disparities, and health care access. Bergstrom concedes the district is relatively well off, but thinks people care about those issues, nonetheless.

Still, its the DFL endorsement she'll have to win first. 

TakeAction-backed race Rena Moran ran against the DFL's Jeremiah Ellis in 2010 and beat him after Cy Thao decided not to run again. There may well be some suspicion that if TakeAction endorses in 64B, that could conflict with the party process again.

Bergstrom says she doesn't know if TakeAction will even get involved in the 64B race, let alone if she'll be their candidate.

But even if she is, she says she won't mount a primary challenge. "I'm seeking the DFL endorsement," Bergstrom says. "If somebody else wins it, I won't challenge... If there's a district that you can expect to make a strong endorsement and move forward, its this one. And I expect we can all come together."

You can check out her webpage at http://gretafor64b.com.

Martin Ludden, war vet and Comcast exec, "considering" 64B race

Iraq vet, Nativity alum and former Klobuchar staffer Martin Ludden says he's now "definitely considering" a run for the 64B seat in the Legislature being vacated by Michael Paymar.

"I grew up in 64B, just down the street from Widmers," Ludden said in an interview today. He also went to St. Thomas and got a degree in photography and American studies from the U of M.

He'a an Army vet. He joined the Reserves in the spring of 2001, and stayed in the reserves for almost 10 years, including two stints in Iraq, in 2003-2004 and again as a squad leader in 2009-2010.

After college, he joined the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and worked as a veterans service representative, processing claims by vets for the agency. He worked out at Fort Snelling, where U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar had her office, and eventually joined her staff as an outreach director with a focus on veterans and public safety.

He did a brief stint after that as the executive director of the Disabled American Veterans Foundation, and then joined Comcast, where he's a government affairs manager focusing on their Internet Essentials program.

"It's getting low income families hooked up to the internet with a very low price product," he says. "It's helping kind of bridge the digital divide, which I would argue is a significant part of the achievement gap. Or can be."

(Vice president for Ludden's Comcast division, for those of you keeping track at home, is Emmett Coleman, brother of St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman.)

Ludden says he moved back into the district in 2010 and thinks he's be a good fit representing the area at the Capitol.

"I think I've got kind of a unique skill set," Ludden says. "I have cross-sector experience, public, private, military, non-profit, and that comes with having to work with people of a pretty broad background in order to get stuff done. And I think that's a skill set that would translate pretty well to the Capitol."

Ludden says he plans to seek the DFL endorsement. 

UPDATE: He says he hopes to make a decision in the next week or so.

Greens eyeing 64B race, but no contender yet

"Its not our strongest neighborhood in the city," concedes St. Paul Green Party spokesman Jesse Mortenson. But he says there may be some issues to get some traction on in House District 64B for his party.

Greens had a good showing with Jim Ivey in the Ward 2 contest back in 2011, and Mortenson himself had a decent showing in the 64A race when Matt Entenza left the legislature and Erin Murphy battled out the DFL endorsement at the convention that spring.

Greens have some pull in Merriam Park and back in 2003 Elizabeth Dickinson came within 123 votes of cutting short DFLer Dave Thune's attempted comeback in Ward 2.

"We're having some conversations with people, but we don't have a candidate right now," Mortenson said of the open 64B race. He's not naming names. But with what is practically a once-in-a-generation opening in the city's delegation, it's a tempting opportunity.

Mortenson says he thinks there is a rising interest in environmental issues in the district, particularly with the potential redevelopment of the Ford Plant site: "That's a big change there, and it remains to be seen how green that redevelopment could be, or whether they'll just settle for another shopping mall. It's easy to give lip service to a space like that."

There IS some transit coming to the area for development to, as they say, orient to: MetroTransit is planning bus rapid transit along Snelling Avenue and Ford Parkway, scheduled to open in 2015.

But even if that's a sign that the Highland Park neighborhood may be recasting some of its post-war, semi-suburban origins, particularly around the old Ford Plant, a Green party run for the Legislature is something else altogether.

Mortenson says the St. Paul Greens are of different minds about whether to take on the DFL establishment. 

"My own take is that its really, really hard to win partisan races as a third party," Mortenson says. "You look at it and say 'That's a long shot. But I also think the question is, what are the issues that we can talk about in the neighborhood, when we're out going door to door?"

Those include the minimum wage and health care. Here's what he had to say in an email about the issues:

"The DFL's failure to pass a minimum wage increase last session is a big disappointment. Something is wrong when the DFL can get its officials at every level of MN politics together to pass a huge Vikings subsidy, but can't get two houses together to advance the minimum wage. If you believe in a fair shot for working people, and you look at how much harder this last recession was (and continues to be) on them, then I think it's easy to see that the DFL really whiffed in a way that puts families further behind.

 
The last Metro Stats report was revealing on that front: if you have a degree, if you were already making middle- or upper-income: then you're seeing a recovery. If you work a retail or service job, then not only did you face more unemployment and a greater percentage drop in income, but those factors haven't gotten much better. What is this next legislator going to do to change the dynamics at the capitol for working families?

And given all the problems with the ACA insurance exchanges, the fact that Vermont is going forward with a single-payer plan seems to be under the radar. Minnesota still has an opportunity to be a leader out of the tangle of paperwork, rising costs and confusing requirements. I talked about it in 2006 and it's still relevant: is our St. Paul delegation pushing forward with innovation or content to do the best job we can with a deeply flawed health care reform?"

So, keep an eye out. Mortenson says if they get some interest from a strong candidate, they'll engage the endorsement process and decide whether to get into the race.

Beth Fraser "very very seriously considering" 64B run

Beth Fraser could very well be Deputy Secretary of State for the next 13 months. But even if she can’t keep her job after 2014, she’d like to keep her address. Fraser, in an interview today, confirmed that she’s thinking of running for the 64B seat, possibly moving into the House DFL caucus digs upstairs from her State Office Building office. "I’m very, very seriously considering running,” Fraser said. “I’ve been doing legislative and public policy work for 15 years and building a track record for getting things done and pushing progressive policy change at the state level.” Fraser has lived in St. Paul for most of the last decade, and for about a year and a half in 64B. She originally came to Minnesota after college, to work for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps, a year long service program that had her working in Minneapolis’ Jordan neighborhood. After that, she moved out to work on poverty issues in the suburbs and got a taste of public policy -- she says she helped pass a law that made it easier for home owners to sell their homes in mobile home parks. She says poverty and social justice issues remain a passion. She went on to work for the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action, a precursor, along with Progressive Minnesota, to TakeAction Minnesota. Fraser worked first as a policy organizer, then as the group’s public policy director. Fraser went to work for Secretary of State Mark Ritchie in 2007 and took the No. 2 position in the office in July. She’s worked on issues like absentee voting for out of state military personnel and voter registration reforms. She was also led the Secretary of State's office's public and legislative outreach effort on the 2012 Voter ID amendment. “I work very closely with legislators, drafting bills and doing a lot of testifying,” Fraser says. She says she will seek the DFL endorsement, and is working the phones this week to gauge interest in supporting her run.

Matthew Bergeron is also thinking about 64B race

Next up: Matthew Bergeron, a veteran of Paul Thissen's 2010 gubernatorial campaign, Lockridge alum and committee administrator for the Health and Human Service Policy Committee in the House.

Bergeron confirmed tonight that he's thinking about a bid for the DFL endorsement for the 64B seat being vacated by Michael Paymar next year. Bergeron is an attorney who also staffs Rep. Ryan Winkler's Select Committee on Living Wage Jobs.

"I've gotten a lot of encouragement and support," he says of the race, although he's not ready to commit yet. "I think I've got a background and skill set that will allow me to be really effective at the Capitol."

Bergeron also says he's got family ties to the district. His dad was a United Food and Commercial Workers member and steward at the Highland Park Lunds. His dad's a Tommie. Mom was a Katie.

Bergeron is actually a Mounds View native, and graduated from Irondale. But he went to Macalester, and like so many other alums, didn't make it far off campus after graduation. He also went to William Mitchell, where he got his law degree in 2011.

Along the way, he took some time off from law school to work on Thissen's 2010 campaign as a field organizer for the 4th, 6th and 8th Congressional Districts. He went to work for Lockridge Grindal Nauen as a legislative assistant for the 2011 session.

After Lockridge, he started his own lobbying firm, the Bergeron Strategies Group after that. Bergeron says he repped the Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators, an affiliate of the Association of Minnesota Counties.

You can see his LinkedIn profile here.

And when Thissen and the DFL hit the jackpot in 2012 and took the House back, Bergeron signed on as caucus staff, where he works today for committee chair Tina Liebling, DFL-Rochester. (Bergeron is also a college friend of Crosby 10B DFLer Rep. Joe Radinovich.) He hopes his background as a lobbyist, legislative staffer and long time campaigner will give him a leg up in an endorsement bid.

The rise of TakeAction in Minnesota politics

Betsy Hodges is a veteran of Progressive Minnesota, a forerunner of TakeAction Minnesota. She won the 2013 Minneapolis mayor's race. (Flickr photo: Grassroots Solutions, 2010)

TakeAction Minnesota communications director Greta Bergstrom says she's deciding this week if she wants to run in the 64B race that's opened up with the decision of DFLer Michael Paymar not to run.

MPR's Mark Zdechlik takes a look at the group and its growing influence in conventional electoral politics in a story that ran on today's All Things Considered.

Of note is the nod from former St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman, who lost one of his early campaigns -- a 1999 referendum on a sales tax for a Twins stadium in St. Paul -- to some of the same people who went on to help run Progressive Minnesota and TakeAction.

Note also that Zdechlik's story has comment from University of Minnesota political scientist and 64B resident Larry Jacobs.

UPDATED: "Game on" says Gloria Zaiger for 64B seat

Gloria Zaiger says she's in.

Zaiger is an IT specialist for US Bank, where she's been for the last 24 years. She's a long time St. Paulite, and long time Como Park area resident. She was also campaign manager for DFL state Rep. Alice Hausman in the 2006 and 2008 cycles. 

Zaiger is making a very enthusiastic commitment on her Facebook page. Here's her announcement:

"I am very excited to make my Big Announcement! I want to let everyone know, I have announced my candidacy for the MN State House of Representatives! I am running for Rep Paymar's open seat in district 64B. I am excited to have this opportunity to serve my district and my state. I long admired Rep Paymar's willingness to take on tough issues, like better background checks on gun purchases and animal cruelty issues. I want to continue his work on those issues and more. I have long been passionate about the environment, especially open space preservation and climate change. Being married to a public school teacher, I am intimately aware of the struggles happening in our schools, and believe we need to do more to highlight the daily battles our educators face to educate our kids. But, I feel we aren't accomplishing all we could for our state because of the anger and bitterness between the parties. I want to emulate our great Senator Amy Klobuchar, who worked with Republican women in the Senate to end the federal shutdown. I know it will take a lot to change the tone in politics, but it has to start somewhere. I want to reach out, listen, and find common ground, and disagree with respect. That's who I am, that why I'm running. I look forward to speaking with you more about the issues and the campaign. Woohoo- game on, folks!"

She moved to 64B in 2009 and has been a caucus organizer for the last two cycles. Zaiger has served in the past as an envelope stuffer, door knocker, affirmative action chair and picnic organizer. 

"I've worn a lot of hats in the DFL," she said in an interview tonight, although she says, most of her work has been has been in District 66.

Zaiger says she's long wanted to see politics as a candidate, and wants primarily to work on environmental issues if she wins.

"I will seek the DFL endorsement," she says. "And I will abide by it."

You can see her campaign Facebook page here.

Former legislator Brian Bergson mulling 64B race

Former DFL legislator Brian Bergson says he's thinking about getting into the 64B race as well. He says people have talked to him about it, but he's hasn't made any decisions.

Bergson works now as an Assistant to the Commissioner in Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry.

Bergson's resume includes being a principal at SquareOne Consulting, LLC., and a stint at Goff Public, the Lowertown public affairs/public relations shop.

Before that, he was communications and legislative affairs director for Minnesota attorney general Lori Swanson, handling both press and lobbying duties. He also worked for eight years as a lobbyist for the Minnesota Association of Professional employees. 

In the mid 90s, he was a co-owner of Capitol Targeting, "a political polling, fundraising and consulting business.”

Bergson is also a veteran of the US Military.  He served in the US Army for 21 years, and most recently the USAF.  In 2011 he deployed to Afghanistan.


Before that, he served District 48A in 1993-1994, representing Osseo, Brooklyn Park and Champlin.

Turf battle: Here's the boundaries for the 64B race

In case you were wondering, here's the district map for the 64B race for 2014. I'll have a live Google Map of candidates residences once we get a few more in the queue.

64B District Map

Upon further review, Ted Davis says he won't run

Davis Communications principal Ted Davis said last night that he's decided against running for the eventually- to-be-vacant-64B seat in the Minnesota Legislature. He says "things are changing," and for now he'll be a spectator for the bid for the DFL endorsement and, eventually, the seat. Davis says he's not backing anybody "at this time."

Greta Bergstrom mulling another run at 64B race

She was in contention back in 1996, when Howard Orenstein left the legislature and opened up the seat last time. And now Greta Bergstrom says she's thinking about giving it another shot.

TakeAction Minnesota's communications director said in an interview tonight that she's leaning towards a run for the seat.

"I haven't actually made a decision yet, but I am thinking about it," Bergstrom said. "I am seriously considering it."

She sought the DFL endorsement back in 1996, and was among the top contenders in the endorsement battle that Michael Paymar won. She finished just behind Pat Harris, who went on to win the Ward 3 council seat in 1999.

Bergstrom has been the communications director for the liberal political action group since January 2009, and before that worked for North Woods Advertising -- the Bill Hillsman shop known for its work on behalf of Paul Wellstone's 1990 campaign and Jesse Ventura's 1998 gubernatorial bid. (Ward 5 City Council member Amy Brendmoen is another North Woods alum.)

The most interesting part of a Bergstrom bid may well be her current employer. TakeAction's political arm has a full-on vetting process to look over a field of candidates, and it isn't even a sure thing that 64B is a race TakeAction would be involved in. So there's no guarantee that Bergstrom would have TakeAction's backing. 

But we saw in Rena Moran's 2010 election that TakeAction and its alumnae can be a formidable force. Moran beat Jeremiah Ellis and the DFL endorsement that year. And, of course, a Progressive Minnesota alumna, Betsy Hodges, will be taking the corner office in Minneapolis city hall on Jan. 2.

Bergstrom says she still has some people to talk to about a run, and hopes to make a decision by the end of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Matt Freeman makes it official and announces for 64B

Just weeks after helming mayor Chris Coleman's re-election campaign, Matt Freeman is hitting the trail again. He's officially announced he's in the 64B race and looking for the DFL endorsement.

Freeman has a long political pedigree, the grandson of a one-time governor and U.S. Agriculture secretary, and the son of former legislator and two-time gubernatorial contender Mike Freeman. Oh, yeah, and two-time Hennepin County Attorney, too.

Matt, though, has built up his own resume, including field and political director for Amy Klobuchar's 2012 re-election bid. He handled field staff, as well as endorsements by unions and other "electeds." He's still working part time in the office of St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman, as well.

And although he's still got that dreaded "612" prefix on his cell phone (see the announcement below), he's got some chops in the district. He ran Ward 3 council member Chris Tolbert's hard-fought campaign in 2011, including the contentious DFL endorsement process.

Tolbert is one of his campaign co-chairs this time, as is former Minnesota Nurses Association President Linda Slattengren. That organization played a key role the last time one of the neighborhood's legislative seats was open in 2006 -- and former MNA executive director Erin Murphy (64A) is now the House majority leader.

Freeman 64B Announcement Release by Tim Nelson