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

Endorsement: Beth Fraser gets Stonewall DFL nod

Here's the release from the Fraser campaign:

Stonewall DFL Endorses Beth Fraser,

Minnesota Deputy Secretary of State, for Open House Seat

SAINT PAUL, Minnesota – Stonewall DFL announced today its endorsement of Beth Fraser, Minnesota deputy secretary of state, in the election contest to replace retiring Rep. Michael Paymar, DFL-St. Paul, District 64B.

"As St. Paul's first openly LGBT legislator, we know Beth will be a strong voice and advocate for progress and equality for all," said Stonewall DFL Chair Gerald Strauss. "Her demonstrated legislative experience clearly positions her as the most accomplished and knowledgeable of those pursuing this critical statehouse office representing St. Paul constituents."

Fraser, who has lived in Saint Paul for 12 years, spent the last seven years working in the Office of the Secretary of State under Secretary Mark Ritchie. As deputy secretary of state, she manages the office's legislative initiatives, as well as the state's Safe at Home address confidentiality program.

Prior to accepting her appointment as a deputy secretary of state for Ritchie in 2007, Fraser spent eight years leading public policy efforts for the Minnesota Alliance for Progressive Action, now TakeAction Minnesota. In that position, she established broad coalitions for legislative advocacy. Notably, she succeeded at winning passage of nation-leading legislation ensuring that private corporations receiving state public subsidies meet specific job goals or return public funds. She also advocated for Fair And Clean Elections legislation and founded the Voting Rights Coalition.

"I am very proud to have the esteemed support of Stonewall," said Fraser. "In my life, through school into my adult career, I've witnessed unfairness based on misunderstanding and fear. There is still much to be accomplished at the Capitol to ensure equal and just consideration of all, regardless of identity, race, creed, or any other difference which makes us unique -- our hallmark of being an American. I want to serve to ensure every Minnesota receives dignity and respect."

Fraser, a graduate of Trinity University with a BA in Sociology, moved to Minnesota nearly 20 years ago to organize community members in the Minneapolis Jordan neighborhood for the Lutheran Volunteer Corps. She chose to remain in Minnesota and worked to organize mobile-home residents facing buyouts for All Parks Alliance for Change.

Currently, Minnesota has only two openly gay members in the House. If elected, Fraser would increase the voice of the LGBT community and be the first LBGT member from Saint Paul.

Stonewall DFL, www.stonewalldfl.org, was formed in 1980 as a caucus of the Minnesota DFL. One of the oldest and most active party caucuses, it champions progress on issues facing the LBGT community, including HIV/AIDS, youth homelessness, school bullying, gender neutral services, and access to affordable and non-discriminatory health care.

Caucuses to select candidates for the open St. Paul House seat will be held on Tuesday, February 4 at 7 pm at Highland Junior High. Delegates will select the party's official candidate at the district convention at Central High School on Sunday, March 23.

Learn more about Beth Fraser and her positions on legislation and issues facing St. Paul residents at www.bethfor64B.com.

# # #

Being there: Updated candidate events in 64B

Here's an updated event list for the six 64B candidates still in the running:

Thursday, Jan. 23:

Melanie McMahon, Meet and Greet, Flat Earth Brewing Company, 2035 Benson Ave, St. Paul, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Beth Fraser, Meet & Greet, Hosted by David Mayo, Jim and Dixie Olmstead, and Mary Diaz, Wilder Park Condo, 1181 Edgecumbe Rd, Craft Room - 17th Floor, 7 p.m.

Saturday, Jan. 25th:

Beth Fraser, Meet and Greet, J & S Bean Factory, 1518 Randolph Ave., 12:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Dave Pinto, Randolph and Fairview Area Coffee Party, Hosted by Joan Wittman, Corondelet Village, 525 S. Fairview Ave., St. Paul, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Sunday, Jan. 26th:

Greta Bergstrom, Meet and Greet, Home of Sara Erickson and Nick Vogenthaler, 724 Fairmount Ave., St. Paul, 4 to 6 p.m.

Dave Pinto, Mattocks Park Area Open House, Hosted by Bob Tracy and Julie Earl, 371 Macalester St., 4 to 6 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 27: 

Beth Fraser, Meet and Greet, Hosted by Marcia Avner, Wy Spano and former Majority Leader John Hottinger, home of Marcia Avner and Wy Spano, 1469 Edgcumbe Rd., St. Paul, 6 to 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 29th:

District 64B Candidates Forum, St. Paul Jewish Community Center, 1375 St. Paul Ave., St. Paul, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 31:

Dave Pinto, pre-caucus party, J & S Bean Factory, 1518 Randolph Ave., 3:30 to 5 p.m.

Dave Pinto, pre-caucus Kickoff Party, Hosted by former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer, 754 Linwood Ave., St. Paul, 6 to 8 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 1st:

Melanie McMahon, Meet and Greet, Hillcrest Community Center, Upstairs Meeting Room at 1978 Ford Pkwy, St. Paul, 10:30am to 12:00 p.m.

A brief word from Melanie McMahon

Melanie McMahon's letter just arrived in the mail, a sign that she, too, is raising some money.

It hits some very familiar points, although, like other candidates, she's adding the environment to her regular talking points -- just as the state starts its PolyMet hearings and the debate on the Iron Range really starts to heat up.

Like the others, the letter echoes McMahon's elevator speech, which you can see here.

Read on:

McMahon Letter by theracefor64b

Mail Bag: Greta Bergstrom ups her game

Here's a card from Greta Bergstrom that arrived in the mail.

It's mostly what she's been saying from the beginning of the campaign with a couple of new additions: she's talking about indexing the minimum wage for inflation now, above and beyond simply raising it.

She's also talking now about "Protecting our environment and natural resources from being risked for short term financial game" and added talking point to her elevator pitch -- and undoubtedly a familiar argument in the PolyMet mining debate.

Bergstrom is also matching some of the family photos we've seen from the other candidates -- Melanie McMahon and Dave Pinto -- on their websites and lit.

Bergstrom Card by theracefor64b

Mail Bag: Beth Fraser makes her case in a letter to caucus goers

Here's a letter from Beth Fraser, hitting many of the same points she talked about at last month's Senate District 64 DFL meeting, and on the video posted on this site.

It actually came in the mail, a sign that Fraser has some money, although it won't be until Feb. 1 that we get to see all the candidate's financial filings.

At any rate, have a read:

Fraser Letter by theracefor64b

Matt Freeman's supersized postcard

It's been a busy couple of weeks here at The Race for 64B, so we're going to catch up on our campaign lit.

Here's the first piece, a giant postcard from Matt Freeman. There may be no way, mathematically speaking, to fit more blue color onto this document.

Freeman Card by theracefor64b

And then there were six: Matthew Bergeron suspends campaign

DFL contender Matthew Bergeron says he's dropping out of the race to replace Michael Paymar. He says he's stopping his campaign to focus on the job he already has at the Capitol. Here's the release he put out this morning:

Bergeron Withdrawal Press Release

Governor may headline DFL fundraiser

Here's the fundraising announcement sent out by the Senate District 64 for tomorrow night at Mancini's. A visit by Gov. Mark Dayton looks like a "hope," but since he's on the campaign trail himself, it might not be in vain.

Dear Friends,

We hope can join us at Mancini's tomorrow to catchup with our Legislators, Senator Cohen, Rep. Murphy, and Rep. Paymar and to meet candidates for the SD64 B Seat as well as Secretary of State we're hosting a Fundraiser/64 Meet and greet at Mancini's on January 15. We're very excited about a very special guest who may be joining us. Governor Dayton hopes to stop by between events to visit his friends in SD64

We hope you can join us!

Here are the details:

Attendees: Sen. Richard Cohen, Rep. Erin Murphy and Rep. Michael Paymar (and we hope Governor Dayton!) All of the 64B candidates have also committed to attending.

Location - Mancini's 531 7th St W, St Paul, MN 55102

Date & Time - January 15, 6 - 8

Suggested Donation $25 - $50 - $100 - $250.

The first $50 you donate is refundable to you under the state's political contribution refund program.

If you want to donate, but can't make the event please visit www.sd64dfl.org/donate

We'd like to offer a special thanks to everyone who has signed up to co-host the event:

PLATINUM Co-hosts ($250+):
Cristine Almeida & Brian Gorecki
Rolf Westgard
Paul Cassidy
Grania McKiernan
Carole Faricy

Co-hosts ($100+)
Eric & Greta Bergstrom
Gloria Zaiger
Dave Pinto
Matt Freeman
Beth Fraser
Melanie McMahon
Matt Bergeron
(yes, all 7 candidates for the 64B seat!)
County Commissioner Rafael E. Ortega
Sharon Sudman
Doug Carnival
Philip Stoyke
Eric Celeste
Tim Flaherty
Marcia Avner & Wy Spano
Beth & Jon Commers
Rich Ginsberg
Lyn Burton
Bill Struszinski
Thomas and Marlene Kayser
Ken Iosso
Kevin Walli
Kelsey Johnson
John Kavanagh
Barbara Frey & Howard Orenstein
Brian Bergson
Elizabeth Emerson
John Knapp
Patti Cullen
John Curry
Bill Black
Ted Davis

If you have questions regarding the event or want to be a co-sponsor please contact our Fundraising Chair Chris Haas at bling@sd64dfl.org.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Best Regards,

Elizabeth Wefel & Rick Varco, SD64 DFL Chair & Vice Chair

info@sd64dfl.org
www.sd64dfl.org
Keep track of all of our events at http://www.sd64dfl.org/facebook

The $64,000, 64B question: Will there be a primary?

All of the candidates in the 64B race so far say they'll abide by the DFL endorsement if there is one in March. But that's no guarantee there will be anendorsement, or that another viable candidate might not jump in the race later. What do you think? Fill out the survey below. We'll run in again occasionally and see what readers think.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

A review of the recent (campaign) literature

Flickr photo: leff

The holidays are well behind us and the campaigning is starting to pick up.

You can find some of the recent mail below.

Starting off is the invite for Greta Bergstrom's fundraiser tonight. It's topped with an all-star political cast, starting with former mayoral contender and city council member Jay Benanav. 

But, interestingly, not a single headliner is a 64B resident. (Jay Benanav and Lucy Kanson are on the A side of the district). It also features Duluth mayor Don Ness -- which is the second connection between that city's chief executive and the St. Paul district. Incumbent state representative Michael Paymar ran unsuccessfully for that very office back in 1987, according to the Duluth News Tribune.

Bergstrom Fundraiser by theracefor64b

By the way, here's the letter that was included with the fundraiser announcement:

Bergstrom Letter by theracefor64b

And here's a meet and greet invite from Beth Fraser for Saturday:

Fraser Invite by theracefor64b

Video: Meet the candidates!

There's a big field running for the 64B House seat right now, and it's hard to get a look at all the candidates. But The Race for 64B is doing the legwork for you.

All seven of the announced contenders graciously agreed to offer their introductions for posterity in The Race for 64B's palatial and high-tech video facility.

None of them are perfect, but if you've seen these folks in person, particularly at the Senate District 64 gathering last month, they seem to ring pretty true to the candidates.

Have a look for yourself.

Beth Fraser

Dave Pinto

Melanie McMahon

Matthew Bergeron

Gloria Zaiger

Matt Freeman

Greta Bergstrom

Look for more from the field in the weeks to come. The Race for 64B has more plans for candidate interaction that you'll find very interesting.

We'll also have complete coverage of the DFL candidate forum scheduled for January 29th.

(A brief note on production: The candidates are listed in this posting in the order that they agreed to come in and be videotaped. The red highlights in some candidates' video come from the studio lights. All candidates were limited to an approximately 2 minute time limit. The videos were trimmed to length but are otherwise unedited.)

More 64B events

Get out your calendar. There are only about four weeks left before caucuses, and the political agenda is filling up some more.

Here are the upcoming events for 64B:

Jan. 9

Gloria Zaiger meet and greet, at her home, 1917 Bohland Ave., St. Paul,  6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

Greta Bergstrom fundraiser, home of Jay Benanav & Lucy Kanson, 1898 Ashland Ave., St. Paul, 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Matt Freeman fundraiser, home of Carol Sime and John Grafstrom, 2130 Watson Ave., St. Paul, 6 to 7 p.m.

Jan. 11

Beth Fraser meet and greet, Espresso Royale, 475 Fairview Ave. S., St. Paul, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Jan. 12

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

Jan. 13

Dave Pinto meet and greet, hosted by Deborah Moses at Caribou Coffee, 2340 7th St. W., St. Paul, 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 18

Gloria Zaiger meet and greet, location TBA, 10:00 a.m. to noon

Jan. 21

Dave Pinto house party at Rich Gehrman's, 2148 Eleanor Ave., St. Paul, 6 to 8 p.m.

Jan. 23

Melanie McMahon meet and greet, Flat Earth Brewing Company, 2035 Benson Ave., St. Paul, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 25th

Dave Pinto coffee party hosted by Joan Wittman, 525 Fairview Ave., St. Paul (Carondelet Village Homes), 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Jan. 31st

Dave Pinto caucus kick off party hosted by former St. Paul mayor George Latimer (754 Linwood Ave., St. Paul), 6 to 8 p.m. Alternate event from 3 to 5 p.m. for those folks who are observing Shabbat services.

Feb. 1
Melanie McMahon meet and greet at Hillcrest Rec Center, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, 10:10 a.m. to noon.