I believe that 1998 will be the breakthrough year for the Reform Party in Minnesota, and for the people of Minnesota as well. This year, for the first time in almost half a century, we have a chance to break the grip of the DFL and the Republican Parties on government in this state, and turn it back to people who support fiscal responsibility, common sense, and citizen agendas instead of special interest agendas. That is what we can do together.
I have no illusions that my Secretary of State race will be your or anyone else's top priority. We are all counting on Jesse to lead the fight. But my job today is to tell you that a Reform team is needed to capture media attention and the public's imagination, and that aggressive campaigns and strong showings up and down the ticket is how you gather a following and build a party. Politics is not a one man show--it is a long haul commitment by many people over years. That's how Reagan built his revolution; its how the DFL got so powerful in this state.
But you ask, who cares about Secretary of State. Someone told me it was appointed by the President. Well, yes. But that's a different Secretary of State and I'm not bucking for Madeleine Albright's job.
The Minnesota Secretary of State is a very important office for us Reformers. It is the Chief Election Officer of the State. Jesse says we need a non-Democrat or Republican as Governor to have a separation of power between the legislative and executive branch. Its just as important with Secretary of State. That office can be used to promote electoral reforms that will allow alternative parties like ours to have a chance of breaking though the two party monopoly, otherwise it will be used by a Democrat or Republican to reinforce the walls against reform.
We know that voter turnout in our elections is low, certainly compared to other Western democracies. The two big parties tell us it is because everyone is happy with how they are being governed--that their abstentions imply assent. Or else they don't vote because it is too hard to register, and too hard to vote. Do you believe either of those lies? Are the non-voters you talk to singing the praises of politicians? Or is it too hard to show your drivers license and register at the polls on election day? Of course not!
People don't vote because they don't think its worth the effort, given the minuscule effect it usually has. Most of us live in one party districts where the choice is decided by a small number of party activists in March. The voters in November are just handed a rubber stamp.
What has the current Secretary of State done? She set up a commission of mostly Democrats and Republicans to discuss whether to change the primary dates or precinct caucus rules or other inside baseball matters.
If I'm elected I will promote real reforms, reforms that will empower voters. Like the Instant Runoff Ballot, that will let voters rank their choices for an office 1,2,3. So you can vote for a third party candidate and not worry about wasting your vote. And I'll investigate other Fair Share Voting reforms to increase the diversity of perspectives heard in our legislative bodies. I'm talking about methods used in most other democracies, and some that were used in this country before the RepuboCrats ran them out so they could keep their monopoly.
I will use the issue of fair share voting in my campaign to educate the public on how the deck is stacked against reform, and why--if we want change--we must elect people without commitments to the RepuboCrats and their respective special interests. It is the perfect issue and the perfect office for political reform.
I need your help to wage a successful campaign for Secretary of State. I will commit most of my time for the next five months to it. I will travel to county fairs and parades all over the state. I will fax up a storm of press releases and try to get invited to as many meetings and coffees as possible. I am excited by this fight and want to work with you, with our other candidates, and with all reform minded people in Minnesota who want to make a difference.
Please give me your endorsement and join me in this fight.
115 Hennepin Ave., Minnepolis, MN 55401 (612) 333-5181
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