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The real purpose of my article is public perception which is important in winning an election. I am limited in my response space in the comments section so I hope Walter does not mind me putting up his comment as it reflected many emails coming in today.
Here are a few specific examples I think illustrate the difference between Emmer & Seifert. If you read the two websites of the candidates Emmer has the correct macro viewpoint on Agriculture and certainly hits the right notes. It is five paragraphs and broad. When Tom Emmer made his way out to Todd County this past winter I can tell you the conservative farmers were impressed with his speaking ability and he certainly said the right things. The same farmers were a little disappointed at the lack of specifics and inability to discuss Agriculture in any real detail beyond Green Acres. Agriculture is a big issue here in West Central Minnesota and one of the largest pieces of our Minnesota economy.
If you look at the Seifert website he shows a depth of knowledge on very specific issues within Agriculture. He can sit and talk with that farmer about specific issues that affect farming today. Sure green acres is important but so are issues in dairy, livestock issues, open and free trade, ethanol, etc.
The perception right now when I hear people talk in our area is that Seifert can represent the causes of rural areas because he shows a natural understanding and comfort with the issue.
I am not saying that Emmer needs to have milked a cow in order to win rural votes. However, I am saying his continued campaign style combined with his regional location means he has to show that he is a student of the issue and has a knowledge of it that gets beyond macro policy and talking points.
Mayor Norm Coleman of St. Paul did a fantastic job in his first campaign at studying and proving he understood the issues like Agriculture in depth. In fact, Franken still has shown nothing in this area when comparing him to Coleman at the same points in their term.
Another issue: If you have read my blog regarding the LGA system I have supported reductions in it. Ideally, I would scrap the current process all together. I have never been popular with special interest groups loyal to cities or many of my elected counterparts. However, there is a group of us working within the system and the reductions in LGA treat the City of Minneapolis just like the city with a population of a few hundred residents. We also treat that same small rural city, with one part-time employee, to do a job just like the big cities by keeping pace with all the unfunded mandates and paperwork that are way out of control. It is becoming an impossible task which means a loss of local control and losing that control to a state agency.
A number of small city mayors have tried to meet with the candidates for Governor at different times during this legislative session. The two candidates that met outstate representatives every time were Seifert & Kelliher. Seifert went, as far as, to offer the same LGA cuts as the Governor but in a way that makes sense given the size of cities. Emmer was never able to meet with groups of Mayors from rural MN that I am aware of, even, the small conservative groups that are trying to reform local governments. Emmer, continued to try and make an issue out of the Seifert amendment on LGA without even hearing why it was proposed in the fashion it was.
The purose of my article can be summed up this way. We know that Emmer is a conservative. We know after the Meek's pick that Emmer is conservative. The pick of Meeks shows nothing about Emmer that we didn't already know and for Emmer out here he has a problem.
Seifert's pick showed something much different and gives us a multi-dimensional view of what a Seifert administration will look like. Again, a small city perspective fee and tax free. Full disclosure I am a Seifert supporter, but that is because he has been responsive to groups around this state, like small city mayors, long before he ever started running for Governor.
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