Seven questions the DFL isn't asking

Here are the questions The Race for 64B submitted to the candidate forum on March 9th. As you can see, they didn't get asked at Macalester on Sunday.

But it would still be good to hear the answers:

For all candidates:

The DFL caucus in the House is typically divided into three factions: Minneapolis and its suburbs, St. Paul and its suburbs, and the Iron Range, including Duluth. A majority often requires two of the three: Minneapolis and St. Paul, or St. Paul and the Range. That's how the Vikings stadium passed: St. Paul and the Range voted for it. Given the needs of the East Metro, like redeveloping the Ford Plant and building out the Gateway Corridor, can St. Paul lawmakers afford to openly oppose copper nickel mining and risk losing allies in the Range delegation if Minneapolis won't support East Metro economic development? Are you willing to make that trade-off?

For Beth Fraser: 

You talk a lot about voting rights, and you talk often about your support of access to the democratic process. But in 2012, District 64B has some of the highest voter turnout in the state, maybe even the nation. Michael Paymar ranked 8th in vote totals in the House in the last election, and five of the seven above him were competitive races. Is moving ahead of DFLers Frank Hornstein and Paul Thissen in turnout really a priority for 64B? Why wouldn't you be a better candidate for secretary of state, where you could have a more direct impact on the issue?

For Melanie McMahon:

You're a committee administrator at the Capitol. You declared the same day your committee chairman, Michael Paymar, said he wasn't running again. He's since come out publicly in support of you. How do you respond to people to whom this looks like the machinations of Capitol insiders, or feel like the political machinery in the district excludes them if the DFL only puts you on the ballot in August?

For Matt Freeman:

Your voting record and your career show that you've worked practically all over the state.You're young and relatively new to the neighborhood and you're drawing a lot of support from outside 64B, from your family and from the mayor's office. The district already elected a former Duluth City Council member and Duluth mayoral contender. Why shouldn't 64B voters prefer someone with deeper ties to the district to succeed him?

For Dave Pinto:

You talk a lot about your work in the Ramsey County attorney's office to protect children and fight crime. These are important issues and 64B surely has some of these cases. But child abuse and neglect and sex trafficking are probably not as great a public concern in 64B that they are in other neighborhoods. You DID run for Ramsey County attorney in 2010: isn't your agenda more suited for that office, and can't you serve 64B better as a prosecutor?

For Greta Bergstrom:

You have a long history here and strong ties to the district. But you also work for TakeAction Minnesota and now have their endorsement. Their involvement has proven sometimes difficult for the DFL. Jeremiah Ellis lost in 65A in 2010, despite the party endorsement. In Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges battled to a no-endorsement with a former DFL party chair last year. Are you more than another TakeAction candidate for the Legislature? Can you give two examples a priority for 64B for you that's different from TakeAction's agenda? 

For Gloria Zaiger:

You have been very active in the DFL and in some local issues, like the city's capital budget committee and animal welfare. But you don't make a living in public policy or a related field. You haven't said much about experience working at the Capitol and its many constituencies. Why shouldn't 64B look for someone with more direct experience in state policy?

Matt Freeman on higher education

Here's the letter Matt Freeman has out on higher education and student debt, with a coda on K-12 schools at the end:

Freeman Higher Ed Letter

With comment period closing, 64B candidates weigh in on copper-nickel mining

There is about 24 hours left to weigh in on the PolyMet proposal to start copper-nickel mining in northeastern Minnesota.

So the candidates in St. Paul are weighing in.

Here are letters from Greta Bergstrom and Beth Fraser on the topic:

Bergstrom PolyMet Letter by Tim Nelson

Fraser PolyMet Letter

Video: Candidates wrap up the Macalester forum

You are NOT going to watch all 96 minutes of the 64B candidate forum. Really.

So, in lieu of the full buffet, have a look at the dessert. Here are the final statements from the District 64B candidate forum held at Weyerhauser Chapel at Macalester College on Sunday.

They're in the order in which they were presented:

Listen: Hear the full 64B candidate forum

The 64B Candidates (l. to r.): Dave Pinto, Matt Freeman,
 Melanie McMahon, Greta Bergstrom, Beth Fraser, Gloria Zaiger.

The six candidates vying for the DFL endorsement in District 64B on March 23 met at Macalester College's Weyerhauser Chapel today for a 90 minute candidate forum. They talked about health care, the environment, public safety, transportation, education and voter participation.

The forum was opened by Senate District 64 DFL Party Chair Elizabeth Wefel and state Sen. Dick Cohen. The discussion was moderated by former DFL state Rep. Kathleen Vallenga.

It was a pretty polite affair, without a lot of distinction between the two candidates -- and no direct interaction between the candidates. But you can hear a little daylight between them, at least stylistically, during the debate.

You can see most of the questions and responses, liveblogged in the previous post. If you want to actually hear what they had to say, well, we got yer debate right here:

Live: District 64B Candidate Forum at Macalester College

Could a lesbian treehugger be the most conservative candidate in this race?

Gloria Zaiger is not happy. The National Organization for Women gave her a C rating when it screened the six candidates running for the DFL endorsement in 64B.

"I was shocked," she said in an interview. "I didn't think they'd hit me this hard."

Zaiger says she's as pro-choice, pro-environment, liberal and Democratic as anybody in the race to succeed Michael Paymar in Minnesota's 64B House seat. She attributes the NOW rating to her answer to several of the questions on the NOW political action committee screening questionnaire:

• There is currently a five-year lifetime limit for a family to receive welfare benefits. Do you think this time limit should be eliminated or extended?
• Do you support eliminating or waiving any of the welfare work requirements?

She says she answered "No." And she says she has good reason. And for the record, Zaiger says she doesn't consider this idea, or herself, conservative in any way. Zaiger says she's a believer in self-empowerment. 

Here's the story she's telling delegates about her own upbringing: 

I was raised in a low income family. My father had an 8th grade education and supported his eight kids by driving a taxi. We didn't have much money before he died, and things were even worse after. My mom used every program she could to keep a roof over our head and food on the table, and, to go to night school. One of my earliest memories is of her teaching herself to type on a manual typewriter, and doing the lessons from her classes, so she could get a job. She said over and over, education is the way out, and that we needed to prepare so we would never end up in the situation she was in. From those beginnings, and with other programs to help, all eight of us went to college.

"I believe in welfare," Zaiger said in an interview. "I do think we need to give people a helping hand. But I think welfare can be a program of dependence. Use it, but then help move people to a place of empowerment. That's what I saw when I was a kid."

She also says that other programs, like housing assistance, job training and employment assistance are good investments and a good alternative to open-ended welfare benefits: "It's not just about cutting people off. It's about finding alternatives."

Zaiger says she's gotten some blowback from the rating. One delegate emailed her in disbelief.

But Zaiger hopes there's an upside: that it separates her from the pack. "I think it shows that I'm not a rubber stamp, that I think for myself -- that and how important I think opportunity is."

Here's Zaiger's response to the NOW rating (adapted from her campaign email):

Zaiger Response by theracefor64b

Here's the NOW questionnaire:

NOW PAC Questionnaire by theracefor64b

Beth Fraser's education letter to convention delegates

Beth Fraser is outlining her education position in a letter to delegates to the March 23 convention. Here's it is:

Fraser Education Letter by theracefor64b

Candidate Forum tomorrow, follow it here live

The Senate District 64 DFL is hosting a candidate forum at Macalester College tomorrow for the six candidates vying for the party endorsement on March 23.

Weyerhauser Chapel, in warmer days

The Race for 64B will be covering the event live, and will have the full audio of the forum available shortly after it concludes. You should also be able to hear the event, as it happens, via Mixlr. Here are the deets:

Don't forget to join us this Sunday, March 9, at Macalester College's Weyerhauser Chapel from 1-2:30pm for a forum for the 64B candidates. If you'd like to chat with the candidates in advance, we're doing an optional meet & greet starting at 12:15. Former State Representative Kathleen Vellenga will be moderating. We'll be focusing more on policy issues for this forum. If you have topics/questions you'd like to suggest, please send them to chair@sd64dfl.org.

On the DFL agenda: Beat the Clock

The rules for the Senate District 64 convention are out. You can see the whole shebang below.

A couple of observations: The drop off rules aren't exactly steep. Anybody with less than 10 percent of the ballots in the first round will be dropped -- which could easily leave EVERYBODY in the race for the second ballot. The drop-off only goes up by 5 percent per round, which may mean the runners up may linger on a little longer.

Here's the relevant rule:

Candidates receiving less than 10% will be dropped after the first ballot. On subsequent ballots, the drop-off percentage will be raised by 5% each ballot. In addition, after the 3rd ballot, the lowest remaining candidate will be dropped, regardless of the candidate’s percentage.
However, in no case will this drop-off rule be used to reduce the number of candidates remaining on the next ballot to less than two.

And there are a couple of fail safes in the rules. The Senate District DFL will NOT endorse before the primary if the convention doesn't pick a candidate -- it's do or die on Sunday. Also, no "no endorsement" motion can be introduced before the 7th ballot. That's some pressure to endorse.

Will it go that many rounds? With three candidates reporting five-figure war chests in 2013 alone, as well as the Take Action and womenwinning endorsements for Greta Bergstrom, the top four could have the resources for a long, drawn out battle later this month - possibly setting up a scenario like last year's mayoral race in Minneapolis where delegates had to decamp from the Convention Center before endorsing either Mark Andrew or Betsy Hodges. And this time, since there's NO ranked-choice voting, it would set up a battle royale for the Aug. 12 primary.

The Senate District 64 convention start has been moved up to 11 a.m. on March 23rd at Central High School to give the party more runway. But the convention has to wrap up its business by 9 and be out of the building by 10, according to district chair Elizabeth Wefel.

"We're going to be taking steps, both in the rules and the preparations to try to get through the business as soon as possible," says Wefel, although the 64B endorsement is the last scheduled business before the adjournment.

She noted the agenda floor fight in the 64A endorsement battle when Matt Entenza retired and Erin Murphy won the DFL nod in 2006, and said this time, they're going to keep the agenda moving -- including electing state delegates from the "A" side first, so they don't have to stick around for the "B" side politicking, if they don't want to.

Here's the rules of the game:

SD 64 DFL Convention Rules Final

Melanie McMahon's calling card

Here's the postcard Melanie McMahon is walking around as she doorknocks delegates ahead of the March 23 convention.

McMahon Card

Matt Freeman's education letter

Here's a letter from Matt Freeman talking about his education priorities:

Freeman education letter

Beth Fraser's "Endorsements" card

The delegate mail is starting to come in ahead of the March 23th convention. Here's a card from Beth Fraser:

Greta Bergstrom gets womenwinning nod

Greta Bergstrom has gained another key endorsement in the Race for 64B. She's picked up womenwinning, a pro-choice political coalition. Here's the release:

womenwinning Endorses Greta Bergstrom for State Representative in House District 64B
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Meagan Bachmayer Ph: 651-251-0690
meagan@womenwinning.org

Minnesota’s largest women’s PAC significantly impacts the House District 64B race Saint Paul, Minn. – womenwinning, Minnesota’s largest resource for women in politics, announces its endorsement of Greta Bergstrom for State Representative in House District 64B. If elected in November, Bergstrom would join a growing class of pro-choice women in the Minnesota State House.

“We are thrilled to endorse Greta Bergstrom for the Minnesota State House in District 64B,” said Lauren Beecham, Executive Director of womenwinning. “Greta has built an impressive career advocating for women and progressive policies in the State of Minnesota – including efforts to make our tax system more fair for middle-class families, expanding access to health care and restoring investments in our public schools. Her deep roots in the 64B community along with her relationships with organizations and policymakers around the state will make her an excellent legislator at the Capitol.”

As a Democratic stronghold, there is a competitive field of six candidates vying for House District 64B’s DFL endorsement, including Beth Fraser, Matt Freeman, Melanie McMahon, Dave Pinto and Gloria Zaiger. Beecham said that despite the strong field, “Bergstrom’s unique combination of strategic skills, knowledge of the legislative landscape and tenacity in moving progressive policy made her stand out as the best qualified to represent the district. We want to see more women like Greta stepping forward to serve our state.”

womenwinning’s endorsement comes with significant power. Just last year, womenwinning elected Betsy Hodges the second woman Mayor of Minneapolis – the state’s largest city. In total, last November, 76 percent of womenwinning-endorsed candidates won their elections. Last cycle, womenwinning raised over one million dollars in both direct candidate fundraising and support for its political and educational programs. 


### About womenwinning

 womenwinning‘s mission is to encourage, promote, support, and elect pro-choice women of all political parties to all levels of public office. womenwinning runs a smart, strategic and targeted political program focused on districts deemed winnable for pro-choice women candidates with the goal of increasing the number of women serving in public office. Last November’s strong wins build upon the success of the womenwinning Statewide Candidate Recruitment Program which was launched in 2011.

womenwinning was established in 1982 by 25 multi-partisan, pro-choice women who wanted to increase the number of women in public office. Thirty-two years later, womenwinning is the largest and most influential statewide women’s PAC in Minnesota having raised millions of dollars and supported thousands of women candidates. To learn more about womenwinning, go to www.womenwinning.org or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Melanie McMahon's delegate letter

Here's Melanie McMahon's letter to DFL delegates heading to the March 23rd convention at Central High School:

Melanie McMahon delegate letter by theracefor64b

Matt Freeman's delegate letter

Here's Matt Freeman's letter to delegates set to decide on a DFL endorsement on March 23rd:

Freeman Delegate Letter

Gloria Zaiger delegate letter

Sorry to be a little post-holiday on this letter from Gloria Zaiger. She sent it to DFL 64B convention delegates before Valentine's Day:

Zaiger Delegate Letter

Beth Fraser delegate letter

Here's the letter Beth Fraser is sending out to delegates for the March 23 DFL convention, where six candidates will be vying for the party endorsement:

Fraser Letter by theracefor64b

Greta Bergstrom delegate letter

Here's candidate Greta Bergstrom's letter to DFL delegates:

Bergstrom Delegate Letter by theracefor64b

Dave Pinto events ahead of the DFL convention

Dave Pinto is mailing out a schedule of meetings for his campaign, ahead of the March 23 district convention. Here's the card he is sending out:

Pinto Events

Bergstrom delegate party

Here's the invitation to Greta Bergstrom's "Thank You" party for DFL delegates

Bergstrom Event by theracefor64b

Dave Pinto delegate letter

Here's candidate Dave Pinto's letter to District 64B DFL delegates:

Pinto Delegate Letter

Former Secretary of State Joan Growe backs Beth Fraser

Former Minnesota Secretary of State, State Representative and one-time U.S. Senate contender Joan Growe has endorsed deputy Secretary of State Beth Fraser for the 64B seat in St. Paul

(Growe lives in Minneapolis, by the way. She's a constituent of DFL State Rep. Frank Hornstein)

Growe Letter of Support

A look at the DFL Precinct caucuses

Here's what it looked like last night at the DFL precinct caucuses in District 64B on Tuesday night. 

Candidate Greta Bergstrom waited for caucus business to officially begin

Gloria Zaiger talked to caucus goers about her DFL party work

Beth Fraser talked about her record as deputy Secretary of State

Assistant County Attorney Dave Pinto spoke to would-be delegates

Matt Freeman said he wanted to listen to voters

Melanie McMahon talked about her work as a legislative staffer

Paymar is backing Melanie McMahon for DFL endorsement, 2014 election

Michael Paymar visited a precinct caucus on Tuesday night

Outgoing state Rep. Michael Paymar was making the rounds at the precinct caucuses at Highland Middle School on Tuesday night. He thanked DFLers for their support.

But he was also quietly offering his own support, to candidate Melanie McMahon. She is his former campaign manager, and the administrator of the House committee he chairs.

He said he didn't want to formally endorse McMahon, but that he does think voters would do well to elect her. Here's an interview with Paymar from Tuesday night:

No clear DFL winner from caucus night, delegates later this week, 46 days to the convention

Nobody won. Get ready for a six week campaign.

That's the takeaway from tonight's 64B DFL precinct caucuses. Here's DFL Senate District Chair Elizabeth Wefel to explain it to the uninitiated:

Head for your precinct caucuses in 64B

Republicans and DFLers will hold their precinct caucuses, starting at 7 p.m. tonight:

The GOP will be at Expo Elementary, at 540 Warwick St. Paul.

Here's the map:

 


The DFLers will formally kick off their 6-way race for the endorsement at Highland Park Junior High. Here's that map:

Beth Fraser's caucus day appeal

Here's the email Beth Fraser is putting out this morning to get people to the caucuses:

Fraser Caucus Email

Matt Freeman picking up political heavyweights

Former legislator Howard Orenstein is backing Matt Freeman in a letter mailed over the weekend.

Orenstein says he talked to the candidates bucking for the DFL endorsement next month, and says Freeman "really stood out."

He's also, of course, the son of Orenstein's boss, Hennepin County attorney Mike Freeman, which might make it a little awkward to endorse anybody else. 

Freeman is also circulating a letter from Carole Faricy, a former city planning commissioner, key fundraiser and DFL activist in the neighborhood.

Here's Orenstein's letter:

Orenstein letter

And here's Faricy's letter:

Faricy Letter

Minnesota Nurses Association backing Greta Bergstrom

The Minnesota Nurses Association, the union that helped launch DFL House minority leader Erin Murphy's political career in 2006, is endorsing DFLer Greta Bergstrom this morning in the race for the 64B endorsement.

Here's the release they just put out:

MNA Nurses Endorse Greta Bergstrom to Represent St. Paul's District 64B in Legislature

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Rick Fuentes

(o) 651-414-2863
(c) 612-741-0662
rick.fuentes@mnnurses.org

Jan Rabbers
(o) 651-414-2861
(c) 612-860-6658
jan.rabbers@mnnurses.org

(St Paul) - February 4, 2014.   Members of the Minnesota Nurses Association have decided to endorse Greta Bergstrom to represent Saint Paul's District 64b seat in the legislature.  Nurses feel Bergstrom's attention to health care, understanding of the complex world of insurance coverage, and her watchdog attitude toward HMOs make her the best fit among many good candidates to look out for the best interests of patients.

Bergstrom shines as the most capable candidate over a very qualified field to represent Highland Park, Mac-Groveland, and West 7th neighborhoods of Saint Paul.  Bergstrom's experience in public affairs at TakeAction Minnesota gives her the connections and knowledge of the issues needed at the Capitol.  Bergstrom has fought to ensure HMOs are accountable during the long-running debate over the effects of the Affordable Care Act.  Bergstrom has staunchly advocated for universal health care to guarantee all Minnesotans have the health care they need when they need it.

Bergstrom has demonstrated her commitment to protecting all Minnesotans with her work in defeating the Voter ID amendment and in her work to bring economic equity to all Minnesotans.  Bergstrom worked to ensure the legislature passed a tax plan that brings fairness back to the state's taxpayers and takes the state's revenue out of the roller coaster ride that has resulted in cuts to services and hikes to local taxes. 

Bergstrom also grew up in the 64B district and continues to live there with her husband, raising their two children.  Her dedication to her community and to ensuring economic opportunity for everyone has shaped her career. She also brings a breadth of communications experience from the private sector, through her time with Best Buy Advertising.

###

St. Paul Republicans get their mojo going

St. Paul Republicans are bringing in some big hitters to 64B this Friday.

Headlining the bill are GOP Sen. David Hann, of Eden Prairie, and the Senate minority leader. Republican Party of Minnesota chair and former legislator Keith Downey will also be on hand.

Here's the invite:

A Precinct Caucus Letter from Greta Bergstrom

Greta Bergstrom had a piece of lit in this weekend's mail. It includes a letter making her pitch for the DFL endorsement, and a copy of a Highland Villager letter from former City Council member, one-time mayoral contender and one-time judicial contender Jay Benanav (who won't actually be caucusing for Greta because he doesn't live in the district, by the way.) It also has a handy-dandy Highland Junior High map for caucus goers:

Bergstrom Letter by theracefor64b

Beth Fraser's big pre-caucus post card

The direct mail barrage is starting in earnest in 64B. Here's a postcard from Beth Fraser that came in the mail this weekend, ahead of tomorrow's precinct caucuses.

Fraser Card by theracefor64b

TakeAction backing Greta Bergstrom

Greta Bergstrom has picked up her employer's endorsement at TakeAction Minnesota. Here's the release they put out this afternoon:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 3, 2014

Contact:

Steve Rogness, Political Director, 651-379-0753

steve@takeactionminnesota.org

Greta Bergstrom Endorsed by TakeAction Minnesota for State House District 64B

Progressive champion will be a powerful force to advance social, racial, and economic justice at the Capitol

St. Paul, MN (February 3, 2014) –  Statewide progressive people’s network TakeAction Minnesota announced its endorsement of Greta Bergstrom in the highly competitive race to replace outgoing State Representative Michael Paymar.  Bergstrom was screened along with all five other candidates by TakeAction Minnesota’s membership on Saturday.

Political Committee Chair Gene Nichols noted that Greta brings a unique combination of skills, knowledge, and experience to her candidacy. “Greta Bergstrom has what it takes to be an unstoppable force for positive change at the Capitol: she has been fighting – and winning – underdog progressive campaigns for decades. She will be a determined champion and passionate advocate for the common good.”

Bergstrom said she was proud to receive the organization’s endorsement. “Having worked with TakeAction Minnesota for years, I am proud to have the organization join my campaign and help me add another powerful voice for progressive change to the Capitol. TakeAction fights day-in and day-out to win policies that will improve our lives in Minnesota – and that’s exactly what I will do as a legislator.”

TakeAction Minnesota has a track record of success in supporting progressive candidates, and will be working hard in the coming weeks to support Bergstrom in securing the DFL endorsement at the Party’s convention on March 23^rd.

# # #

TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide people’s network of individual and organizational members working collaboratively to raise the voices of Minnesotans in their own communities to advance social, racial and economic justice. The organization has offices in St. Paul and Duluth.

Endorsement: Pinto picks up nods from four St. Paul School Board members

Dave Pinto is rolling out more endorsements ahead of tomorrow's precinct caucuses. Here's the letter he has out from past and present school board members, including chair Mary Doran:

Pinto Letter by theracefor64b

In money race, Pinto leads with Freeman close behind

Dave Pinto leads the money race

Legislative candidates for 2013 had to file their paperwork, and it was made public by the state's Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

The reporting period only covers 2013, so it isn't the whole picture. But it tells a lot. Dave Pinto lead the pack with nearly $20k, and a ton of cash on hand. Matt Freeman was just a handful of big contributors behind him, and Beth Fraser in third. 

The numbers dropped off pretty substantially after that. Melanie McMahon, in fourth, had less than half of Pinto's war chest. Gloria Zaiger's fortunes were boosted in no small part by a $500 personal loan.

Here's the chart:

Not much too surprising here, although Greta Bergstrom ran when this seat was open last, and has the longest standing ties to the district. As communications director for TakeAction Minnesota, she's also got a ready network of contacts in hand. It's a little surprising to see her in 5th place in the money race.

Fraser

Also, despite a comparatively short stint in the district, and without the kind of family and local political ties that Pinto and Freeman have, Fraser was pretty clearly punching above her weight in fundraising last year. And remember, she didn't officially get into the race until more than three weeks after incumbent Michael Paymar announced he wasn't running again, and his would-be successors first took the field. (UPDATE: Her third place, it should be noted, does include a $5,000 self-financed contribution, which isn't listed as a loan in her finance report.)

But again, this is 2013 money, and a lot can change in a race this short. The precinct caucuses are Tuesday.

Here's the details of their finances. Click on the link to see their CFPDB report:

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

(Note also that Matthew Bergeron has dropped out, but still had to disclose his fundraising.)

Hear this: The 64B candidate forum on Jan. 29th

The six candidates running for the DFL nomination for the 64B race met at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center last night for a pre-caucus candidate forum. We'll have some analysis of what they had to say later.

But in the meantime, for the record, here is the debate.

It ran from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and went in round-robin order, starting with Deputy Secretary of State Beth Fraser, attorney and House committee administrator Melanie McMahon, assistant Ramsey County attorney Dave Pinto, Take Action Minnesota communications director Greta Bergstrom, political organizer and campaign manager Matt Freeman and longtime DFL activist Gloria Zaiger.

Mitch Gordon, an former neighborhood candidate and DFL party official, moderated the debate. It's a long discussion. There's about 87 minutes of audio.





(Please note that there was a technical glitch at the 43:50 point and about 2 minutes of audio was lost in a Beth Fraser and Melanie McMahon response.)

Live feed: 64B candidate forum at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center

Beth Fraser addresses a standing room only crowd at the 64B forum.

The six candidates running for the 64B DFL nomination are at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center at a candidate forum before the Feb. 4 precinct caucuses. 

The audio will also be available archived on the web on Thursday, if you can't listen live to the debate.

Click here for the audio, streaming now.

Candidate forum tonight: Listen here at The Race For 64B

Here's the announcement from the Senate District 64 DFL:

Join us this Wednesday January 29 at 7:00 pm for our first Candidate Forum for the SD64 DFL B race. The Forum will be at the Jewish Community Center (1375 St. Paul Ave, St. Paul) starting at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. Please make sure to have a photo ID on you if you attend the Forum on Wednesday, it will be needed to enter the JCC. See you on Wednesday and bring your questions!

The Race for 64B will be streaming the debate audio live on this website (fingers crossed that the wifi holds up). The entire forum will be archived and available through the rest of the election, again through this site.

Endorsement: Pinto wins AFSCME endorsement

Assistant county attorney Dave Pinto has won the AFSCME Council 5 endorsement, a key union nod in a DFL endorsement race.

Here's what AFSCME president Judy Wahlberg writes in the endorsement announcement:

AFSCME Council 5’s endorsement is significant. The union is one of the largest and most politically active in Minnesota. It represents almost 500 workers and retirees who can vote in House District 64B, which includes Highland Park, Mac-Groveland, and Fort Road/West 7th neighborhoods in St. Paul.

Here's the full release:

Pinto Campaign AFSCME announcement by theracefor64b

Endorsement: Would-be contender hosts Freeman event

There's an interesting twist about to take place in The Race for 64B. One-time comer Martin Ludden, who was considering running for the DFL endorsement, is hosting a Meet and Greet for Matt Freeman tonight.

Both Ludden and Freeman are alums of U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's staff, Ludden on the official side and Freeman on the campaign side.

Ludden says he's happy to endorse Freeman: "I don't think anybody is going to outwork Matt Freeman on the campaign trail, and nobody will outwork him in the Legislature."

Here's the invite:

Ludden Meet and Greet