Comments on: Its Official: AFSCME endorses Bonoff and Tinklenberg

By: Demure One

Demure One — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 03:05:28 +0000

C’mon Hovland participated in an Edina environmental forum back in August of 2006 — - even then he was a powerful speaker on the reality of global warming. This isn’t anything new for him. He stepped up long ago - promoted the Edina Dialog events - the kick off one featured Will Steger - that was back in January of 2007. Planning for that took months.
But back to the stadium issue - I forgot to thank Chris for bringing up that referendum…many people think the stadium issue is meaningless in the Western suburbs…clearly it isn’t.

By: rm

rm — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:07:19 +0000

Hovlands progressive positions time exactly with rumors of Ramstads retirement. DO, you are welcome to read that link as to when such rumours started appearing and they coincide directly with Hovlands “environmentalism”. No magic wand needed

By: Demure One

Demure One — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:11:15 +0000

Hovland has been taking progressive positions for several years now as a Republican, while Bonhoff has been making conservative votes for her brief tenure in office as a Democrat. Which would you rather have - somebody who realizes he isn’t a Republican and is a Democrat. Or somebody who has yet to clue into the fact that she would make a better Republican?

By: Demure One

Demure One — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:08:22 +0000

Wow - thanks for the comparison there Chris… Let’s see Hoveland 10 years in public service v.s. Bonhoff’s one year….er uh two. You really think you can compare Bonhoff’s vote FOR the stadium with a mayor being asked to put a referendum on the ballot about the matter? Are you nuts? Do you know what is involved in a referendum? How many Minnesota mayors would expose their communities to this? How many did?
Ford Bell a whiny quitter? What is it with you and your faction of the DFL - rip apart the candidate who best represents your party’s platform so you can send an Amy Klobuchar type to Washington - a senator who votes to further erode habeas corpus, continues to support Iraq, and promotes investment in ethanol more than investment in conservation. Like it wasn’t obvious Amy would take these positions — I didn’t vote for Amy, I won’t vote for Terry. The DFL is so programmed to attrite. At the sign of a potential winner all of these elected DFLers jump on the band wagon - issues? votes? positions? The ability to stand up and represent the people - that is never part of the agenda.

By: Nitro

Nitro — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:01:34 +0000

Thank you for representing your minority so well “big”.

By: Big Kahuna

Big Kahuna — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:00:20 +0000

Ramstad was in trouble for voting with the democrats for so long. He had the choice of retirement or possibly not get the GOP nomination the next time around.

I am glad to have been a part of pushing him out. He was no conservative.

By: rm

rm — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:11:56 +0000

Dont be so sure SPS about Ramstads retirement being such a shock. The following is a link to “Prognosis Progressive” blog dated April 05, 2007 discussing Ramstads retirement.

“Should retirement rumors for Rep. Ramstad prove to be true, members of the 3rd CD DFL should abandon Wilde for the pitch perfect Ford Bell. ”

http://72.14.205.104/search?q=cache:ufoDgXKp1z4J:prognosisprogress.blogspot.com/2007/04/wilde-cant-raise-funds.html Ramstad retirement rumor&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us

And what a surprise thats about the same time Hovland and Edina start having progressive thoughts…so Hovland did really not need a magic wand…..he just had a hint of what was coming….

By: st paul sage

st paul sage — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:23:19 +0000

i really like “another chris’” post. it provides evidence and is thoughtful. as for ramstad’s retirement, it came as a complete shock to everyone - local analysts and national political observers as well.

By: rm

rm — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 13:31:24 +0000

Yes when you start discovering your progressiveness 4 months before a long rumored retirement of your local congressman, it does smell of here i come lately opportunism.

By: Another Chris

Another Chris — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:53:08 +0000

This kind of reminds me of the Ford Bell v.s. Amy Klobuchar race.

Be careful with your comparisons. If I read you correctly, you’re comparing Bonoff with the 20-point winner on Election Day and Hovland with the whiny quitter.

look closely at Bonoff’s voting record and ask yourself isn’t she more of a moderate Republican

Hovland actually was a moderate Republican until a month ago. I’m glad he’s on the side of light now, but glass houses and all that…

Seriously, that big break to Pohlad - courtesy of a regressive sales tax…how do people justify that?

Ask Jim Hovland, who also supported the stadium deal and opposed an attempt to put even a non-binding referendum on the matter on Edina’s ballot in 2006. Check the February 17, 2006 minutes of the Edina city council meeting. Again, glass houses…

Look at the candidates backgrounds, their educations

Okay.

Hovland’s education: B.A. from the University of North Dakota, and a law degree from the University of Colorado.

Bonoff’s education: B.A. in psychology and sociology from Clark University in Massachusetts.

Madia’s education: B.A. from the University of Minnesota, law degree from New York University.

Hovland’s professional career: 27 years as a practicing attorney with Krause and Rollins; Edina City Council member 1997-present; Edina Mayor 2001-present.

Bonoff’s professional career: 20 years in business; marketing promotions for Tonka Toys; VP/General Manager for computer software division of Navarre; VP of marketing for three divisions of Navarre; State Senator from SD 43, 2006-present.

Madia’s professional career: U.S. Marine, tour of duty in Iraq, 2005-06; attorney with Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi, 2006-present.

Hovland’s civic engagement: member of Ducks Unlimited and the local Rotary Club.

Bonoff’s civic engagement: president of Hopkins-Minnetonka Babe Ruth Baseball League, co-chair of the Hopkins Legislative Action Coalition, member of the Minnetonka Planning Commission.

Madia’s civic engagement: tutor for low-income children, volunteer for an organization providing services for developmentally disabled children.

Hovland’s electoral record: three wins as a Republican in heavily Republican Edina.

Bonoff’s electoral record: two wins as a DFLer in a heavily Republican Senate District.

Madia’s electoral record: student body president at the University of Minnesota.

Look, they’re all good people, they’ve all given back to their communities, their personal histories in the 3rd CD all go a long way back, and their political views are all very similar, based on their campaign pitches, websites, and interviews.

It’s gonna be a long trip to the April 12th CD convention if everyone is gonna be this over-the-top about their candidates.