Pioneer Press Editor Board Endorsement Interview

August 30, 2010

A couple weeks ago CCCR received a participation request from the Pioneer Press. The paper's editor board is looking at endorsements for various legislative positions in Minnesota, including HD50-A. Today I attended the 50-A endorsement interview along with the other candidate Carolyn Laine.

I arrived at the Pioneer Press offices in downtown St. Paul 30 minutes early. Using the security desk telephone in the newspapers lobby I made contact with Patricia Effenberger from the editor board. Patricia kindly told me to wait until closer to our 2 p.m. meeting time when she would come down and escort both Carolyn and me to the meeting location. Although Carolyn had not arrived by 1:58 p.m., Patricia greeted me in the lobby and I was escorted to the editor's conference room.

Mike Burbach and Jim Ragsdale introduced themselves as they joined Patricia and me.  We began the forum without Carolyn. She joined the meeting about 2:08 p.m. after Patricia excused herself to escort Carolyn from the lobby. As indicated in communications prior to the meeting the forum was very casual and informal. The casual environment allowed the board to learn about our personalities along with the content of our positions.

Mike and Jim asked the majority of questions during our meeting. All three interviewers had specific topics of interest, were truly interested in our replies, and would provide clarifying or follow-up questions. Although a forum is designed to focus on candidates positions of issues related to their potential election victory, there was one time of personal challenge when Carolyn brought up my pending bankruptcy. She accused me of hypocrisy by discharging my business debt while using the government tools of the court and advocating government restrict its authority, powers, and taxation to the Constitution.

For the next few minutes as Carolyn spoke, I considered her accusation. I realized "the law" that currently exists for bankruptcy, whether right or wrong, is the law. I appealed to Mike and Jim for rebuttal opportunity, to which they kindly granted. I reminded Carolyn of the primary Seatbelt law of which she voted for. Constitutional or not, I obey that law as it is the law today. Carolyn and I continued for a couple minutes discussing the primary seatbelt law. At one point Carolyn stated that she personally did not believe that government should require everyone to wear seatbelts, and that in fact she chooses not to wear her seatbelt at times.

I appreciate the time provided by the Pioneer Press to consider an endorsement for HD50-A and inviting both candidates to a joint forum. Carolyn and I provided the editor board with clear, contrasting viewpoints of government in Minnesota; specifically how we would govern, how we see government interaction with the population, our priorities for the next legislature, and a look into our personalities as candidates.

In closing, thank you Mike, Jim and Patricia for a great forum.

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