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.