TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th is election day. Continuing my push to get out the progressive grassroots for the 2007 election on TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6th, I now turn to Minnesota. This one is for Paul Welstone!
These are the endorsements of Progressive Majority in Minnesota:
Melvin Carter III, Candidate for St. Paul City Council - Ward 1 (Challenger)
Melvin Carter is a 28 year old, African American, first time candidate for Saint Paul City Council. Melvin is a lifetime resident of Saint Paul with a background in community and electoral organizing; most recently he worked on the Policy Outreach Team in the office of Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. Melvin is running against a Chamber of Commerce-endorsed and one-term incumbent, Debbie Montgomery. Melvin's election would contribute to shifting the St. Paul City Council from a moderate Council to a progressive Council. Melvin has already secured the endorsements of AFSCME Council 5, Take Action Minnesota, ACORN PAC, and St. Paul Firefighters IAFF Local 21, St. Paul Trades & Labor Assembly, Congressman Keith Ellison, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, Laborers Local 132, SEIU Minnesota State Council, Stonewall DFL, and six of the 12 DFL legislators in Saint Paul. Melvin is a dynamic leader with potential to make a difference in St. Paul.
Click here to support and learn more about Melvin [1].
John Nephew, Candidate for Maplewood City Council - At Large (Challenger)
John Nephew is a small business owner and first time candidate for Maplewood City Council, At Large. John is a lifetime resident of Minnesota and has lived in Maplewood for six years. John has participated in Maplewoodvoices.com (a local blog that addresses the city of Maplewood's problems) and frequently attends City Council meetings to voice his concerns over the mismanagement of the city. He is challenging current City Councilmember Rebecca Cave. John's election would shift the Maplewood City Council from a conservative Council to a progressive Council. Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Senator Chuck Wiger, Representative Nora Slawik, Representative Leon Lillie and former Representative Scott Wasiluk all support John. In addition, John has been endorsed by AFSCME Council 5, and has been screened by the St. Paul Building Trades & Labor Assembly. John is committed to returning pride to the city of Maplewood, delivering on promises of fiscal responsibility and restoring good government to the city.
Click here to support and learn more about John [2].
Tammie Yak, Candidate for Moorhead City Council - Ward 1 (Challenger)
Tammie Yak is a 34 year-old candidate for Moorhead City Council, Ward 1. Tammie is self-employed as a non-profit consultant, a mother of six children and very involved in her community. She was appointed to the Moorhead Human Rights Commission three years ago and currently serves as its chair. Tammie has been an avid volunteer and leader in the Fargo-Moorhead area her whole life, serving as a volunteer with the PTA, People Escaping Poverty Project, Habitat for Humanity and Lutheran Social Services. Tammie's election would ensure the council maintains its progressive majority, and defeat conservative incumbent Nancy Otto.
Click here to support and learn more about Tammie [3].
Pakou Hang, Candidate for St. Paul City Council - Ward 6 (Challenger)
Pakou Hang is a 30 year old, Hmong-American, first-time candidate running for Saint Paul City Council. She was born in a refugee camp in Thailand and immigrated to the United States with her parents when she was fifteen days old. Pakou has dedicated herself to serving underrepresented communities through grassroots politics and community organizing. Pakou faces a challenging opponent, incumbent Dan Bostrom: a 3-term city councilmember, retired Saint Paul Police Sergeant, and former Saint Paul School Board Chair. Pakou's election would contribute to shifting the St. Paul City Council from a moderate Council to a staunchly progressive Council. Pakou has been endorsed by Take Action Minnesota, ACORN PAC, St. Paul Firefighters IAFF Local 21, Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, U.S. Representative Keith Ellison, DFL Feminist Caucus, Stonewall DFL, SEIU Minnesota State Council, and six of the 12 DFL legislators in Saint Paul. She is committed to sustainable economic growth on Saint Paul's East Side and has made quality education a top priority. She will be a champion for social justice issues, public safety and economic development in her community.
Click here to support and learn more about Pakou [4].
Warren Harder, Candidate for Anoka-Hennepin School Board - District 5 (Challenger)
Warren Harder is an International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) member and a first time candidate for Anoka-Hennepin School Board, District 5. Warren has been a resident of Brooklyn Park for six years where he works as a union organizer. The current school board is split evenly between progressive and non-progressive members. Warren is running against two-term incumbent Scott Wenzel who, due to a poor labor voting record, has lost all labor support that he previously carried. Progressive Majority learned of Warren as a potential candidate from several of our labor partners. The election of Warren would swing the board to a progressive majority. Thus far, Warren has successfully secured endorsements from the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council (AFL-CIO), Minneapolis Building and Construction Trades, SEIU, Education Minnesota, and the North Suburban Advisory Committee. Additionally, the Harder campaign is actively seeking endorsements from Teamsters and AFSCME. One of the reasons Warren and his family moved to Brooklyn Park was because of the strong school system, and now he's concerned the district is taking steps backward. He is committed to making sure students' needs are met and that the district retains its teachers to serve students well.
Click here to support and learn more about Warren [5].
Kim Ross, Candidate for Eden Prairie School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Kim Ross is a first-time candidate for Eden Prairie School Board, At Large. Kim is a lifetime resident of Minnesota, has lived in Eden Prairie for 13 years, and has a six year old daughter. Currently, Ross is a marketing consultant, with a background in information technology and communications. Kim serves on the Citizens for Eden Prairie Schools and has been a tireless advocate for K-12 Education, lobbying at the legislature on behalf of her community. The current school board is made up of seven members, with 4 seats up in 2007 and only one incumbent running for re-election. Kim's election to the Eden Prairie School Board would maintain a strong progressive majority, and would prevent a shift to a conservative board. Eden Prairie is located in Western Hennepin County and is a conservative leaning area, but local electoral successes will help bolster the district's progressive base and build a bench of future leaders.
Click here to support and learn more about Kim [6].
Janet Glover, Candidate for Monticello School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Janet Glover is a first-time candidate and union member running for school board in Monticello (Wright County), MN. Janet has lived in Monticello for six years and in Minnesota for over 30. She is a former AFSCME Council 65 member, former president of her local chapter, a current member of MAPE (Minnesota Association of Professional Employees), and very active on the Wright County Labor Council. Three seats are up in 2007 on the Monticello School Board, with one incumbent running for reelection. Janet is working hard by door knocking and raising funds to build a strong base and name recognition, and should be an exciting candidate to watch.
Pam Rykken, Candidate for St. Louis Park School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Pam Rykken is a lifetime resident of Minnesota, has lived in St. Louis Park for 41 years, and is a first time candidate for St. Louis Park School Board. Pam is a fitness instructor and has been very involved in the Democratic Party serving on the Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Education Foundation and as a volunteer on a variety of political campaigns. Most recently Pam joined Secretary of State Mark Ritchie's campaign staff. Pam is running for an open seat in tricky St. Louis Park. While a strong Democratic district, Republicans are often elected to the non-partisan city council and school board. Winning this race will help to strengthen the progressives in this suburb and build the bench for future legislative races. In addition, Pam is a strong, confident candidate with deep connections in her community. With enrollment declining and talks of additional school closings in the St. Louis Park School District, Pam is committed to addressing the tough problems in her community with creative and realistic solutions.
Click here to support and learn more about Pam [7].
Kevin Riach, Candidate for St. Paul School Board- At Large (Challenger)
Kevin Riach is a first-time, former teacher, and Union member candidate running for St. Paul School Board. He has won recognition for his innovative use of technology in the classroom, received the Leadership Development Award from the National Council of Teachers of English, and is listed as a ''Who's Who Among American Teachers.'' Kevin has been endorsed by the St. Paul DFL, Stonewall DFL, St. Paul Building Trades Council, SEIU, AFSCME, Take Action Minnesota, St. Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly, Congresswoman Betty McCollum, State Senators Ellen Anderson and Sandy Pappas, State Representative John Lesch, St. Paul City Councilmember Lee Helgen and current St. Paul School Boardmember John Brodrick. He is a rising star and champion for strong education, and will work tirelessly for St. Paul students.
Click here to support and learn more about Kevin [8].
Susan Stradtmann, Candidate for West St. Paul School Board - At Large (Open Seat)
Sue Stradtmann is a first-time candidate and union member running for school board in West St. Paul (Dakota County), MN. Sue has lived in West St. Paul for 28 years. She is an SEIU organizer and is represented by the Steelworkers Union. Sue is also active at her church in West St. Paul and is a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (appointed by the West St. Paul mayor). Sue's addition to the West St. Paul School Board will ensure that the board maintains a progressive majority and prevent a shift to a conservative board.
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