Get Involved

Hennepin County Attorney Campaigns

Both the Lugar and Freeman campaign have a variety of opportunities available. They particularly need help leading up to the March 7th precinct caucuses.

Andy Luger: Call or email the Luger Campaign at: (952) 938-2999 or info@andyluger.com

Mike Freeman: Call or email Ben with the Freeman Campaign at: (612)860-2213 or rudo0063@umn.edu

Get Involved

Volunteer Opportunities!

Hatch for Governor
This Sunday, May 5, from 5:30-9 p.m., the Hatch for Governor Campaign is looking for volunteers to help call DFL delegates for upcoming endorsing conventions. The Hatch Campaign is located on the second floor of the Labor Union building at 411 Main, St. Paul, 55102. Email lacoursn02@yahoo.com for a ride or more information at 651-485-1938 or lacoursn02@yahoo.com.

If you have information on a volunteer opportunity you would like to have posted, email us!

Caucus Training at the Law School!

Learn how to caucus from

DFL Chair Brian Melendez

Brain Melendez teach you how to influence which candidates the DFL endorses and how you can get involved in the DFL Party!

Tuesday, February 28th
at 12:20 in Room 15

Lunch provided!

Party with the St. Paul DFL!

St. Paul DFL Event

The St. Paul DFL is putting on a big fundraiser Saturday night at the UAW hall on Ford Parkway in St. Paul. The event is only $10 to attend, and includes a nonbinding straw poll for all the races.

This is an opportunity for DFL activists and friends from around the state to meet the candidates prior to the caucuses, dance, have fun, and cast a non-binding preference ballot for the DFL candidate of their choice. All DFL candidates seeking the DFL endorsement for United States Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and Auditor have also been invited and each will have an opportunity to address the crowd.

When: This Saturday, February 25 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Where: Local 879 UAW Hall, 2191 Ford Parkway, Saint Paul.
How Much: $10 to get in at the door, with a cash bar, games, door prizes, and other goodies for sale.
Who Will Be There: All DFL candidates who are seeking the DFL endorsement for United States Senate, Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and Auditor have also been invited

The DFL needs your help!

From DFL Associate Chair Donna Cassutt:

With the excitement of the upcoming November elections, and with precinct caucuses right around the corner, I am writing to ask if you are available to help out in our St Paul office between now and March 7, 2006. We are in need of volunteers to answer phone calls from individuals trying to locate their precinct caucus location. This will be greatly helpful in ensuring that our caucus attendance is strong, allowing people to meet with their neighbors to help shape the DFL Platform and begin our candidate endorsement process!

Volunteers are needed weekdays beginning tomorrow, Thursday, February 23 through Tuesday, March 7, 2006. We are scheduling two shifts daily, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. and from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. If you are able to help out with a shift or two at the DFL office, 255 E Plato Blvd, St Paul 55107 please contact Linda Simon at lsimon@dfl.org to schedule your shift(s). Please include the date and time(s) you are available and the best way for Linda to contact you to confirm.

Thanks very much for your consideration!

DonnaDonna Cassutt,

Associate Chair,
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Opportunity to Act Against Ads

Letter from the Minnesota DFL

Below is a letter sent by the Minnesota DFL in regard to the Progress for America Voter Fund ads being run on KARE 11.

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Dear DFLer,

I’ve heard from many of you that you are disturbed by the misleading “Midwest Heroes” ads produced by Progress for America Voter Fund that are currently being run by KARE 11 and WCCO. The ads erroneously make a connection between Iraq and the 9/11 terrorists attacks and suggest that the war in Iraq will prevent an attack by Al Queda in America. The 9/11 Commission findings clearly state that there was no connection between Iraq and the the Al Queda terrorists attacks on 9/11. We must call for media responsibility regarding this issue. We have extraordinary sympathy for our troops and their families and believe that while our soldiers’ role is to protect the citizens of our country, it is our role as citizens to protect our soldiers and to make certain that they are not misused. It is a travesty that the tragedies of five countries and the deaths of our brave men and women are being used in this type of propaganda.

Right now, our state is a testing ground for these ads. If Minnesota speaks out and says no to this ad, the entire country can thank us. What we do here, now, will have an enormous impact on the success or failure of this kind of swiftboating in 06.

You can view the ads at:

http://www.midwestheroes.com/

Additionally, WCCO did a Reality Check stating that the ad is misleading and partly true, which in my mind means that it is partly false. See it at:

http://www.wcco.com/video/?id=14609@wcco.dayport.com

If you feel that this ad is doing a disservice to our troops and is misleading at best, and pure propaganda at worst, please call:

KARE 11 at 763 546 1111
WCCO at 612 370 0611

to ask for the removal of the ads. Letters to the Editor in your local paper would be helpful to point out the untruths being communicated to citizens as fact. Thanks in advance for being a voice of truth, and for all that you do to improve the state of our nation and state.

DFL Chair Brian Melendez will be holding a press conference at the State Capitol today at 2:30 to ask that this ad be pulled from the air waves. He will be joined by congressional candidate and veteran Tim Walz. Please tune in to your evening news to see coverage of this important event.

Sincerely,

Donna

Donna Cassutt, Associate Chair,
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

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National Opportunity

National Democratic Law Students Council

Interested in getting involved in the Democratic Party outside of Minnesota? Don’t have spring break plans?

From March 17-19, the National Democratic Law Students Council—a new national association of Democratic law students—will hold its kickoff convention at Harvard Law School.

The convention will feature DNC Chair Howard Dean and will include a series of panels, trainings, and talks focusing on the variety of ways law students (both as students and as future lawyers) can get involved in politics—such as through voter protection work, organizing on campus, and running for office. Delegates will meet other Democratic law students from around the country and learn practical skills from prominent politicians and experienced lawyers. To register for the convention, email Russ Anello with your name and the name of your law school. Space is limited, so register early!

When: March 17-19
Where: Harvard Law School: Boston, Massachusetts
Register: Email Russ Anello
For More information: National Democratic Law Students Council

Bridging the Partisan Divide

You Are Invited!

On the eve of the 2006 Legislative Session, the Citizens League invites you to attend Bridging the Partisan Divide – An intergenerational, bi-partisan conversation about the importance of civility and working across party lines.

Joan Growe and Duane Benson will share their experiences as political leaders in a more cooperative era of government. They will be joined by legislators Laura Brod and Steve Simon, who are active in the 2020 Caucus, a bi-partisan group of legislators committed to working across party lines to tackle tough long-term issues. Nate Garvis will moderate the discussion.

The conversation will provide fresh insight on how the political climate has changed, how certain actions, approaches and issues divide us, and what citizens and leadership can do to work together more effectively.

The forum will start at 5 p.m. in Auerbach Commons with an hour of registration, appetizers, drinks, and mingling, followed at 6 pm with an hour-long conversation with the panelists in Lockhart Hall. After the conversation, a reception will follow. This event is open to the public and students will be given priority registration.

When: February 28, 2006 ▪ 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Where: University of Minnesota Law School
Admission: $5 for students, $10 for Citizens League Members and $15 for non-members
To Register: www.citizensleague.net or call 651-293-0575

Sponsored by

University of Minnesota Law School
Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
U of M Political Science Department

Law School Career & Professional
Development Center
Public Affairs Student Association

Common Grounds
Law Council
Law School Democrats
Law School Republicans

Borene for Senate

Fellow U of M 2L Running for State Senate!
Many of you may know that a University of Minnesota Law Student, Andrew Borene, is running for Minnesota State Senate (District 41). If you haven’t heard about fellow 2L Borene’s candidacy, take a look at your fellow classmates computers—more than a few of them have Borene for Senate stickers!

Although it is early in the 2006 election season, Borene’s campaign is already gaining momentum. His candidacy was featured in a KARE 11 news story about veterans running as Democrats and his kick off event was standing room only!!


Interested in helping out the Borene Campaign? For more information on volunteering your time email the campaign directly. If you would like to contribute to the Borene Campaign, the campaign web page has information on donating and the Campaign Contribution Refund program.

MN Campaign Refund Program

Are you interested in helping a campaign, but don’t have lots of time (or money)? Minnesota has a little know tax refund program called the Political Contribution Refund.

This program allows those persons eligible to vote in Minnesota who are donating to a registered political party or a state level partisan candidate (who has agreed to a state spending limit) to be reimbursed for up to $50 for their individual contribution or $100 for married couples’ contribution.

For information about candidates participating in this program, look at the Campaign Finance Board’s list of Campaigns who have said “yes” to Public Subsidies.

For information about the program, who can participate and how go to the Political Contribution Refund webpage.

Thank You!

Thanks for Making the Spring Social a Success!

Thanks to all who attended our first annual Law School Democrats Spring Social! If you are interested in getting involved with any of the candidates in attendance, email us and we will put you in touch with the campaign.

Elected officials and Candidates in attendance:

Andy Luger, Candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
Mike Freeman, Candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
Cory Tennison, Candidate for Ramsey County Attorney
Steve Kelley, Candidate for Governor
Sheila Kiscaden, Candidate for Lieutenant Governor
Christian Sande, Candidate for Sec of State
JP Barone, DFL 4th Congressional District Chair
Rebecca Otto, Candidate for State Auditor
Commissioner Toni Carter
Commissioner Victoria Reinhart
Donna Cassutt, DFL Associate Chair
Council Member Dave Thune
Council Member Cam Gordon
Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner

Also in attendance were representatives from
the Doran for Governor and the Hatch for Governor Campaigns.

Gubernatorial Forum

Business Democrats Gubernatorial Forum

The Business Dems are hosting a candidate forum for Governor candidates, moderated by Politics in Minnesota's Blois Olson.

When: Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: Santorini's in St. Louis Park (9920 Wayzata Blvd.)
Who: Mike Hatch, Becky Lourey, Steve Kelley and Kelly Doran

Members $15, guests $20. RSVP to Robert Jacobs at 763 424-3036 or rjacobs@teamcreative.com.

Law Dems Spring Social

Law School Democrats Spring Social
Come and mingle, network, and debate
with some of the DFL’s finest!

Everyone is welcome!

Tuesday, February 7th
4:30 – 6:30 PM Town Hall Brewery

Steve Kelley Gubernatorial Candidate
Rebecca Otto Candidate for State Auditor
Christian Sande Candidate for Secretary of State
Dave Thune St. Paul Councilman

Contact The Law Dems with any questions!

Upcoming Campaign Events

Mark Ritchie Announces Candidacy for Minnesota Secretary of State!

Join community leaders at the Capitol in support of Mark Ritchie's challenge to Mary Kiffmeyer!

WHO will be there:
Elected officials from across the state
SEIU Local 26 President Javier Morillo-Alicea
Former First Lady of Minnesota Jane Freeman
Other voting rights and statewide leaders to be announced soon

WHEN: February 6, 2005 at 10:30 AM
WHERE: Inside the Capitol Hill Rotunda in St. Paul

Do you want to know about more opportunities to get involved with Mark Ritchie? Email Mark Ritchie!