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Dear Neighbor,
I hope I'm more than just the fellow on
East 21st Avenue
who makes those snow sculptures every winter. That was a happy accident
that started 15 years ago when my 7 years old daughter asked me to make a
snow dinosaur.
Today I’m running for the State Legislature. This
is not an accident. I’ve had a yen for public service since my youth. I
ran for the legislature twice, prematurely it seems, back in the
Seventies. I always thought I was the most reasonable person I knew and I
thought reason was an important part of public service. In the last few
years I haven’t seen as much of it in our politicians as I would have
liked. The two political parties have become far too partisan. Look where
it’s left the State of
Minnesota
- facing a $1.6 billion dollar deficit.
I finally did win public office in 1995 when I was
elected to the Duluth School Board. Like the State today, the
School District
then was $5.5 million in debt. It’s been a rocky road and we still have
tough decisions to make but today we have a $10 million reserve, a stable
administration, educational choice, and rising test scores.
Yes, it’s been a rocky six years. Our Board spent
two years divided against itself. We nearly had a strike in 1998. We had
white hot public meetings in 2001 about potential school closings with
thousands of people in our audience. Throughout this turmoil I’ve tried
to recall Hemingway’s definition of courage – “grace under
pressure.” Fortunately this hasn’t been so hard because everyone who
has contacted me about our schools has had the best interest of our
students at heart.
I think, No, let me rephrase that, I know, that many people had reservations about the snow sculptor
when he was first elected. I’ve worked hard to prove myself and, if
I’m not mistaken, developed a reputation as one of the most sensible
members of the Board. I’m now ready to take my skills to the state
legislature where, as I’ve said, partisanship and
big egos reign supreme. My interest in the legislature couldn’t come at
a more critical moment for
Duluth
and northeastern
Minnesota
. Our legislative influence has not only been diminished by population
losses but by the death or retirement of three legislative titans. Without
someone in the majority party we could be up a creek without a paddle.
I’d like to be that paddle.
I joined the Republican Party out of family loyalty
thirty years ago. I did it right after Watergate when the reputation of
the GOP had been blackened by Richard Nixon and ran for the legislature as
a Republican. No one can seriously call me an opportunist. Neither can I
be called a right wing ideologue. I’ve always been a moderate and
centrist. In fact, my moderation hasn’t sat well with the increasingly
conservative folks who now control our party in
Duluth
. Although I’m perhaps the best known and most experienced Republican
elected official in
Duluth
I was defeated for the Republican endorsement by an unknown and untested
newcomer who simply took more conservative positions than I did. Being
rejected by my party has been a bitter experience but I’m an optimist.
When life gives you lemons you should make lemonade.
I have a wonderful opportunity to show just what kind
of a Republican I am. I’m a moderate fiscal conservative ( I won’t
spend money I don’t have) and a social liberal/moderate (I don’t want
the government telling me or you
how to live our lives) I understand that Government isn’t the answer to
every problem but it should help
its citizens to stand on their own two feet. Until 9/11 there was a lot of
cheap criticism of “government” as though it was a kind of cancer.
Some of us forgot that ours is a government “of the people, by the
people, and for the people.” Furthermore, many Americans have fought and
died “so that that government shall not perish from the earth.”
That’s what my hero Abraham Lincoln said after
Gettysburg
. Sorry, sometimes I can’t help letting my background as a teacher sneak
out.
I need you help. Unless I can survive this primary
election on Tuesday, September 10th I will not be on the
general election ballot in November.
Minnesota
has an open primary. Every
eligible voter can choose which party to vote in at the Primary. I ask you
to vote in the Republican primary. It’s your right and I’ll bet most
of you would prefer to choose from the best possible candidates in
November’s general election. By coincidence, my primary race for House
seat 7A is the only serious contest for any political party in this
year’s primary.
If you are interested in doing just a bit more than
voting for me to help me out I’d appreciate it. Attached is a list and
an envelope to my campaign committee. Please consider filling it out and
sending it to us. One of those
things is to “lend” my campaign a small contribution. I say lend
because
Minnesota
wants candidate to abide by strict spending limits. To do this the state
refunds small contributions to legislators up to $50 per person ($100 per
couple). If you send in a contribution my campaign will send you the forms
(they are very simple) and an envelope to make sure the state returns your
donation (or loan) to my campaign.
I’ve told my family that this is my last
“hurrah” as a candidate. If I don’t win this election I’ll finally
give the voters a rest (I’ve got nine elections under my belt) and
retire from public office after my school board term ends in 2004. I will
have no regrets. It’s been wonderful. I’d just like to keep it that
way a little longer and
St. Paul
really needs someone to help it find compromise
Harry
Prepared
and paid for by the Welty Volunteer Committee, Jim Gustafson & Mary
Cameron Co-Chairs,
PO Box 3613
Duluth
,
MN
55803
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