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Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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Area Republicans endorse Pundt, LeMieur for House CAMPAIGN 2008 Associate Editor Republicans from House Districts 12A and 12B Tuesday night endorsed one state legislative candidate unanimously and the other by a margin that was just short of that mark.
Little Falls City Council President Mike LeMieur was endorsed by acclamation for the 12B seat. He will face Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, a first-term lawmaker. The convention was conducted at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.
Former radio news journalist David Allan Pundt of Baxter received 47 of 50 votes cast for the District 12A seat in his contest against Chrissy Nakonsky of Brainerd. Nakonsky nominated herself and received only one vote. Two votes were "no" votes. Nakonsky said she would challenge Pundt in the Republican primary.
The winner of the District 12A Republican primary will face Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, who was elected in 2006.
LeMieur said that if elected he'll work to reduce the burden on working families, support Camp Ripley, fight for gun owner's rights and help rural communities face their challenges.
"State government must learn to live within its means," he said.
LeMieur said he is pro-life from conception to natural death and he would fight to end taxpayer-funded abortion. He said he would only vote for pro-life House leadership, a position that distinguishes him from his opponent. He said the vote for speaker of the House was the first and most important vote a legislator would make.
After his endorsement he said voting for a pro-life speaker was the most important vote because it defines the legislation that will be heard.
"I think it will be a tough battle," he said of the upcoming race.
He said he had nothing personal against Doty but that they had different philosophies.
LeMieur was nominated by Clara Kedrowski of Little Falls, with seconding motions by Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, and Robert Holz of Little Falls.
In an unusual move, Pundt seconded his opponent's self-nomination when it appeared that there was no one else who was going to do so.
A Bertha native, Pundt moved to Brainerd in 1958 and later attended Washington High School. He said he would work to repeal the 2008 gas tax increase.
With record high gasoline prices, he asked "Do we really need to pay a little bit more?" Noting that some of the gas tax money would be used for light rail he asked "Do you really need light rail in Little Falls?"
He praised the "courageous voters" of the Brainerd and Crosby-Ironton school districts who recently turned down education referendums for a system he said was educating fewer students at a higher price.
The message he pledged to bring to St. Paul was: "That's enough. No more taxes. Lower taxes."
Minnesota, he said, is heading in the wrong direction with too many people riding in the wagon with the rest of us pushing.
"I believe in the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death," Pundt said. "I believe that the second amendment of the Bill of Rights to the United States Constitution guarantees that our government will not infringe on our God-given right to keep and bear arms. I believe that personal property rights, liberty and freedom are the primary reasons this is the greatest country the world has ever known. I stand for lower taxes, limited government and common sense in public life."
Pundt was nominated by Tony Bauer of Lake Edward Township. The nomination was seconded by Sally Ihne, former Central Lakes College president.
Nakonsky, in a speech to the Republicans, said Minnesota's education system is busted. Nakonsky called for lowering administrator's pay to help restore funding and also called for a cap on the cost of prescription drugs. Nakonsky said that poverty is an issue and said that her own family lived in poverty.
Nakonsky, a male to female transgender person said when she attended the Republican caucuses she heard people say that poor people like being on public assistance.
"I'm on public assistance and I hate it," Nakonsky said.
Pundt, who has never before run for public office, said after his endorsement that the campaign would be interesting, noting that one never has the experience of a first campaign again.
"I'm going to have a very positive campaign," he said. "I don't know that I'll even mention John Ward that much."
Delivering the keynote address was retired Maj. Gen. Rick Erlandson of Maple Grove, who began his career in the Marines Corps and spent decades with the Minnesota Army National Guard. His service included time in Iraq.
"Young citizen-soldiers of Minnesota, young citizen-soldiers of Crow Wing and Morrison counties are performing magnificently," he said.
He recounted humanitarian efforts by the soldiers, above and beyond their military duties, that helped provide school supplies and other amenities.
"It's not part of their mission, mind you, but they see it as a way to win the hearts and mind of the people."
He said we owe the men and women of the military our deepest respect and gratitude.
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.
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