Research on the Rest of the Ballot

In many ways, the lessor races on the ballot can be more important, yet it is really hard to have good information. So with permission, I am reprinting this note from Sharon Sudman.

I just got my Absentee Ballot in the mail, pretty intimidating! Besides 7 candidates for president, 5 for Senate and the usual House races (which for SD64 I assume you already have decided how you're voting on, Obama, Franken, McCollum, and Paymar are the DFL-endorsed candidates in case you need to refresh on that); although not all races are contested, there are eight Conservation District Supervisor candidates, four Supreme Court candidates, seven Court of Appeals candidates, and four 2nd District Court judge candidates. It took me about four hours to research them, four hours I'm sure you don't have. So allow me to give you my choices, my reasons, and following that, links to web sites with more information as I could find it, on each candidate. Not all candidates had easily accessible web sites so not all candidates have an equal amount of info available here. These opinions are purely that, the opinion of an active DFLer who's taken some, but not an inordinate, amount of time to research the candidates.

Here's your cheat sheet:

• Conservation:
  • Bogue
    Humphrey
  • Behrens (running unopposed and not much info)
  • Anderson (not Tingelstad)
  • Gildea (Hedlund is OK, but rather political)
  • Stoneburner (opponent is unqualified)

• There are several more unopposed judicial seats I won't mention

• Orenstein (his opponent is OK though)

• The rest 2nd District Court candidates are running unopposed

Here's my rationale for contested races:

Soil and water conservation district 2
DAVID BOGUE, NICK QUADE, TOM TUFT

This was fairly easy, Bogue is the only one online. Points for doing his homework, I pick Bogue. Although I have heard good things about the others, I can't find it online.

Soil and water conservation district 3
JILL ELIZABETH WILKINSON, MARA MAGNUSON HUMPHREY, PAUL SAWYER, GREG COPELAND

Another easy one, I pick Humphrey, points for picking up the DFL endorsement. Sawyer looks ok, but we need to vote for ONE only so as to defeat Wilkinson (who defeated the previous DFL-endorsed Dist 2 Supervisor AND was endorsed by Karl Rove-loving blog fraterslibertas.com). Copeland is the controversial suspended and dismissed city manager for Maplewood so we'll dismiss him as well for now.

Supreme Court Assoc. Justice 3
TIM TINGELSTAD, PAUL H. ANDERSON

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT RACE Anderson is a traditional moderate nonpartisan judge appointed by Carlson, is an Arne Carlson Republican and his seat has been targeted by the MCCL because he's not pro-life enough, Tingelstad has a lot of unbelievable God-related comments on the constitution on his site and has no apparent qualifications.

Supreme Court Assoc. Justice 4
DEBORAH HEDLUND, LORIE SKJERVEN GILDEA

Hedlund is already a judge, great specs, but her bio includes a few right-wing catch-phrases. Gildea was appointed by Pawlenty and there has been some discussion if she's qualified for the position, but she seems fairly moderate, people we respect say she is a fair and helpful judge and is community oriented. This is a tough one, we hoped Jill Clark would win in the primary. The worst thing is that Hedlund is politicizing the race and that's what we are trying to prevent – the negative impact of this election on future judicial races.

Court of Appeals Judge 16
TERRI J. STONEBURNER incumbent

MN Courts link

DAN GRIFFITH

Hard to tell here, but Griffith is starting to look like a perennial candidate, someone who because he can't get appointed to be a judge because he's not qualified, runs against someone who isn't yet opposed, and Stoneburner looks pretty solid, people say she is wonderful and a very good judge.

Bohr looks good from a humanist perspective, but Orenstein has been endorsed by a number of experienced DFLers that I respect. He is the most qualified, has good judgment and is described by local lawyers as great in the courtroom. Used to have Paymar's seat in the House. Bohr is nice, she's run the children's law center for the last several years but doesn't seem to have actual courtroom experience, which can be very helpful – being in a courtroom of a judge who doesn't know all the ropes can be a negative experience.

______________________________________________
Here is all the information I considered both in links and verbatim:
(1) CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR
All conservation district candidate profiles are at:
Ramsey Profiles

David Bogue from his blog:

Candidate for Ramsey Conservation District Board of Supervisors DISTRICT 2
B.S., Natural Resources & Environmental Studies, University of MN; professional experience consulting with government agencies, nonprofits, research institutions, and private landowners involved with habitat restoration and water quality, Volunteerism – MN DNR Adopt-A-River, Presbyterian Church of the Way Environmental group, Nature Conservancy, parent volunteer.

About Me

I believe that water quality is our most urgent resource issue. Runoff of surface contaminants, such as fertilizers and motor oil, to our lakes and streams is increasing. Recharge of our aquifers is decreasing because of increased impervious surfaces from development, such as roofs and parking lots. Furthermore, Ramsey County's ground water is threatened by more than 30,000 abandoned wells, which can provide a "straight shot" for contamination to reach our aquifers. The solution to protecting our water is to work cooperatively with other agencies and with Ramsey County citizens to ensure the safety of our drinking water.

Posted by David Bogue
(David Bogue blog)

CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 2 PROFILE

Candidate DAVID BOGUE
1. What strengths would you bring to the SWCD Board?
Relationship building, problem solving, creative thinking, integrity and a strong work ethic are among the strengths I'd bring to the board.
2. Tell us about your past experience with conservation issues that make you qualified to be an SWCD Supervisor.
My professional experience is working with landowners, government agencies, and nonprofits that are involved with habitat restoration and improving water quality. I'm a University of Minnesota graduate in Natural Resources ad Environmental Studies.
3. What is your motivation for being an SWCD Supervisor?
My motivation is to use my education and experiences to serve the citizens of Ramsey County.
4. What do you feel is the most effective approach to protecting our natural resources: voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners or use of government regulation?
Voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners is the most effective approach! The foundation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts across the Nation is building cooperative partnerships with landowners.
5. What conservation ideas or changes would you implement to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources in your district?
Runoff of surface contaminants, such as fertilizers and motor oil, to our lakes and streams is increasing. Recharge of our aquifers is decreasing because of increased impervious surfaces from development, such as roofs and parking lots. Furthermore, Ramsey County's ground water is threatened by more than 30,000 abandoned wells, which can provide a "straight shot" for contamination to reach our aquifers. The solution to protecting our water is to work cooperatively with other agencies and with Ramsey County citizens to ensure the safety of our drinking water. As such, I'd like to see more citizens aware of and empowered to protect their watershed.
(conservation district candidate profiles)

Other district 2 Candidates Nick Quade and Tom Tuft did not post profiles on the County site and further information was not obviously available online.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
RAMSEY
Candidate CONSERVATION DISTRICT SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 3

Greg Copeland was the controversial and ultimately suspended city manager of Maplewood. The council's new majority had argued Copeland lacked professional qualifications for the job and was installed by acrimonious Maplewood Mayor Diana Longrie to further her political agenda. After he was dismissed the Star Tribune quoted a council member talking about Copeland's replacement: "In many ways, we're not just hiring a city manager but rebuilding the city staff, because so many people left during that time," Rossbach said.

GREG COPELAND

1. What strengths would you bring to the SWCD Board?
I am offering my leadership skills and hands-on knowledge of city, county and state government, as well as my ability to motivate and involve citizens in the governance of their community, to leverage public and private resources to take new initiatives to clean up our lakes. I propose the Ramsey Conservation District take action to create The Save Our Lakes Campaign to focus public attention on the degradation of our surface waters and the need for citizen participation to develop a strategic plan to improve the water quality of our lakes.
2. Tell us about your past experience with conservation issues that make you qualified to be an SWCD Supervisor.
I worked as a volunteer with my neighborhood, Payne-Phalen District Council, to lead a battle clean up a 27 acre Garbage Transfer Station that operated without the proper state permit. This involved working with the St. Paul City Council, Ramsey County Environmental Health, Ramsey- Washington County Solid Waste Board, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the Legislature, the Attorney General's Office and Ramsey County District Court. I was a member of the Board of Directors the St. Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium for six years, where I chaired its Public Policy Committee for several years. While Maplewood City Manager I worked with the Mayor and City Council to: 1] develop a model Conservation Easement Program to provide permanent protection of the city's Open Spaces and Parks, 2]adopt a new more restrictive city Tree protection ordinance, 3]establish funding for the city's first Environmental Planner, 4]up grade a citizens task force to a full City Commission on the Environment and Natural Resources and 5]initiated planning for a new Wetlands Protection Ordinance.
3. What is your motivation for being an SWCD Supervisor?
There is a need to provide leadership to focus attention on the challenges we face as a community, as a county, in order to accomplish the restoration of our lakes as the high quality surface water resources we want them to become in the future. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and help build the partnerships through The Save Our Lakes Campaign with citizens, property owners, leaders of watershed districts, cities, Ramsey County and state government, to develop innovative and cost effective methods of improving the water quality of our lakes.
4. What do you feel is the most effective approach to protecting our natural resources: voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners or use of government regulation?
Educated motivated citizens and responsible property owners will, I believe, act out of enlightened self interest to Save Our Lakes. No one, lake front property owner or citizens in general, want a lake so choked with aquatic weeds, filled with excessive algae and slime or contaminated by mercury that we can't boat, swim or eat the fish. Saving Our Lakes is up to all of us acting to comply with the myriad of existing laws and regulations, but that is not enough. Together, as individuals acting on a cooperative basis with our neighbors, having engaged upon a shared vision with our public and private partners to bring resources to the table, we can implement best management practices need to clean up our lakes.
5. What conservation ideas or changes would you implement to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources in your district?
The Save Our Lakes Campaign I have proposed elsewhere in this questionnaire is my primary idea for improvement of Ramsey County's natural resources. The Save Our Lakes Campaign offers the Ramsey Conservation District two long term opportunities; 1] development of a program to build citizen participation, and 2] achieving its prime institutional goal of protecting and improving surface water quality.
(conservation district candidate profiles)

RAMSEY SOIL AND WATER SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 3
JILL ELIZABETH WILKINSON

She defeated the DFL-endorsed Marjorie Ebensteiner last time around. Interesting endorsement at fraterslibertas .
which is an anti-Democrat blog, note the anti-Obama ads.
Quote from the site: When we ask ourselves WWKRTUTE*, the clear answer is Jill Elizabeth Wilkinson for Ramsey County District 3 Soil and Water Conservation Supervisor. *Who Would Karl Rove Tell Us to Endorse
One opponent says she missed 71% of meetings in the second half of 2007. I think the main goal is to defeat her and it's too bad there are 3 challengers.

JILL ELIZABETH WILKINSON

1. What strengths would you bring to the SWCD Board?
I am a current Supervisor and have gained much knowledge and a better understanding of the problems my county faces with regard to soil and water conservation. I am fiscally responsible and have a background in small business management.
2. Tell us about your past experience with conservation issues that make you qualified to be an SWCD Supervisor.
I am an avid angler and hunter and my family ran a business that catered to sportsmen and women for over 50 years and the experiences have taught me how precious our natural resources truly are. I am a current member of the National Wild Turkey Federation.
3. What is your motivation for being an SWCD Supervisor?
To protect and conserve the soil and water of Ramsey county in a fiscally responsible manner.
4. What do you feel is the most effective approach to protecting our natural resources: voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners or use of government regulation?
I feel that voluntary adaptation of best management practices by landowners is the most effective approach. If people feel involved and that they are making a difference they will be more motivated and more open to change.
5. What conservation ideas or changes would you implement to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources in your district?
I would like our district to continue to partner with watershed districts to educated citizens about best management practices and I would promote voluntary implementation of best management practices.
(Ramsey Profiles)

RAMSEY
Candidate SOIL AND WATER SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 3

I don't know if this is the same person, but there is a Mara Humphrey who is a registered lobbyist for MN Credit Union Network, 555 Wabasha St, N, Ste 200 St Paul, MN 55102 (so not all lobbyists are bad)

MARA MAGNUSON HUMPHREY – DFL ENDORSED

1. What strengths would you bring to the SWCD Board?
I have a passion for the outdoors and I would bring my experience with the legislative process representing various efforts and groups at the State Capitol to the board. I would also bring the ability to work with local organizations to coordinate projects that will help to protect the environment. As a member of the Ramsey County Capital Improvement Program Advisory Committee, I have insight into local government capital needs and budgeting.
2. Tell us about your past experience with conservation issues that make you qualified to be an SWCD Supervisor.
During my service as president of the area homeowners association, I worked to decrease the amount of chemical use on our lawns and protected green space for the neighborhood to use. As a member of Ramsey County's capital budgeting advisory group, I am familiar with park, environmental and recreational projects needs in the county. As a founding member of the Friends of Lake Phalen organization, I am involved with issues related to park improvement and preservation in the area.
3. What is your motivation for being an SWCD Supervisor?
I want to ensure that our natural resources are protected for the next generation to enjoy. Ramsey County needs to have a comprehensive strategy in place to improve both water and soil quality. This area needs a Conservation District Supervisor who will work with community, local and state officials to ensure that we are all working together to protect water quality, preserve soil resources and improve the urban and suburban environment. It is also important that we leverage available resources to achieve these goals and to make sure that Ramsey County receives its’ fair share of state and regional funding
4. What do you feel is the most effective approach to protecting our natural resources: voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners or use of government regulation?
I believe that best management practices by landowners are an important component to protecting our natural resources. Encouraging landowners and developers to adopt best management processes is a first step. Landowners need to be provided with the tools and resources to help protect water and soil quality. However, there is also a role for government regulation to ensure that overall water quality goals can be met and particularly sensitive areas are protected. Necessary regulations can be developed and refined through collaboration with local watershed districts and municipal zoning authorities.
5. What conservation ideas or changes would you implement to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources in your district?
There are a number of issues facing Ramsey County and its communities. Saint Paul is a built community which presents unique challenges. We have opportunities to improve water quality every time a site is redeveloped in Saint Paul and in Ramsey County. The SWCD can be a partner with municipalities, redevelopment authorities and developers to meet community goals to improve water quality. We can provide expert advice and match private investments where appropriate. I would like to see increased resources directed toward the restoration of native vegetation and proper storm water management. It is also critical that attention is paid to the clean-up and remediation of several sites where environmental contamination is occurring, by partnering with redevelopment authorities.
(Ramsey Profiles)

RAMSEY Candidate SOIL AND WATER SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 3
Paul Sawyer

I am proud to say that I am a life-long and third generation resident of Saint Paul's Eastside where I graduated from Harding High School in 2004. After high school, I attended Hamline University where I studied environmental and energy policy from every angle--economics to sociology to ecology and natural history. This past spring I graduated summa cum laude from Hamline with degrees in Political Science-Public Service and Music Performance. I will use the knowledge and strengths that I gained from attending Hamline to make a positive impact on our water resources.
Growing up, I had the pleasure of getting to see all parts of Minnesota, getting to swim and fish in lakes all over the state. But some of the best experiences I had were at Lake Phalen or White Bear Lake, and simply growing up within view of the Mississippi River. These resources are an important part of my life, and I am committed to protecting them so that all residents of Ramsey County and all Minnesotans can continue safely using and enjoying them for decades to come.
It distresses me that our waters are as polluted as they are and that they could get even worse. But, I have hope. I have seen what can be accomplished with a little coordinated effort to protect the resources we love. I have gladly volunteered much of my time with Friends of the Mississippi River actively participating in their restoration efforts around the Twin Cities. Seeing the successes of these projects convinces me that we can take techniques and efforts that have been proven to work and use them to improve the quality of water in Ramsey County.
The Issues Storm Water and Runoff
The water that runs off of our roofs and lawns and into the street is carried to our lakes and the Mississippi River through the storm sewers. This water leaves the storm sewers untreated. As a result, runoff is one of the biggest sources of pollution for the bodies of water where we swim, fish, and boat. The conservation district can do much more to limit the amount of runoff that reaches our waters and I will make it a priority to address this issue using methods which have been proven successful.
Responsible Use of Money
At a time when property taxes are crippling the residents of Ramsey County, the conservation district needs to learn how to do more with the same amount of money. I will accomplish this in part by changing first-come-first-served district programs to programs which serve areas which are of highest priority for water quality and pollution. This will reduce more pollution and produce higher water quality with the same amount of money. I also will help to make the conservation district more competitive to receive state funding so that more can be done without costing Ramsey County taxpayers more.
Responsible Representation
Incumbent Jill Wilkinson has missed more meetings than any other board member every full year since she was elected. This includes missing 71% of meetings in the second half of 2007. It is impossible to represent your constituents, not to mention improve water quality, if you're not there. Not only will I make it a priority to attend every meeting, but I will take an active role in representing Ramsey County and improving the bodies of water that we all love.
The Political System
All candidates and elected officials, from city council members of a small town to the president of the United States, have the responsibility to ensure that the ways we elect our leaders are fair, reliable, and as representative of the voters as possible. All elected officials must ensure that the voices of the people are heard first and loudest over those of lobbyists and special interests.
(Ramsey Profiles)

PAUL SAWYER

1. What strengths would you bring to the SWCD Board?
I have many strengths which will make me an effective conservation district supervisor. I have much experience working in legislative and policymaking environments. I am comfortable working closely with a team to finish long and detailed projects—even if I may disagree with some of the members. Finally, I am well educated in issues facing the soil and water resources facing Ramsey County, and I am constantly talking with district staff, scientists, and elected officials knowledgeable about those issues to continue learning more to develop very nuanced views so that I am prepared to make effective policy and implement practices which are proven to work.
2. Tell us about your past experience with conservation issues that make you qualified to be an SWCD Supervisor.
I have extensively studied environmental policy from every angle, including economics, ecology, and sociology. I have specifically done policy research in the area of water quality and water pollution. I also have participated in and experienced firsthand some of the most successful ecological restoration projects around the Twin Cities by extensively volunteering with Friends of the Mississippi River where I currently hold a leadership role.
3. What is your motivation for being an SWCD Supervisor?
In addition to my experience working with environmental issues, I also have a great passion for them. Living in Saint Paul my entire life I have grown up along the Mississippi River and have enjoyed lakes all over Minnesota. These resources are an important part of my life, and I am committed to protecting them so that all Minnesotans can continue safely using them for decades to come. Being a young person, I also have a sense of urgency about these issues, because I will have to live with the conservation decisions made today for the next fifty or sixty years. As more and more waters in this state turn up polluted it is time to make a permanent mark and implement policies which will really turn the tide on pollution and water quality. Our resources are too valuable to ignore any longer.
4. What do you feel is the most effective approach to protecting our natural resources: voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners or use of government regulation?
Minimal regulations to prevent the most damaging practices must be implemented by the watershed districts. However, the most success in protecting natural resources on the local level will come from the conservation districts providing assistance and resources to individual landowners so that they can implement BMPs themselves.
5. What conservation ideas or changes would you implement to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources in your district?
With Ramsey County being a uniquely urban county, our natural resources are in the form of the river and lakes where we swim and fish. The greatest way that these waters can be kept safe and usable for decades to come is by implementing practices which aggressively target runoff and storm water to minimize the amount of water that is entering the storm sewers—and thus our bodies of water—and to decrease the pollutants in the water that makes it to the storm sewers.
District 3 candidate Greg Copeland did not post a SWCD candidate profile
(Paul Sawyer home page)

RAMSEY CONSERVATION SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 5
MARGARET A. BEHRENS

1. What strengths would you bring to the SWCD Board?
I have a lifetime of experience in community service along with proven leadership skills. My passion for the preservation and protection and repair of our aligning environment drives me to work on resoling the issues and not just writing regulations or guidelines for the citizens to be penalized. I believe that government has a great responsibility in protecting us all and they are failing and are ignoring their responsibilities at citizens and at great environmental expense. I will demand answers and results to all of the issues.
2. Tell us about your past experience with conservation issues that make you qualified to be an SWCD Supervisor.
For years, I have watched with great concern, my neighborhood and extended community being contaminated and severely damaged by toxic chemical and other biological contaminates. Our waterways, lakes and streams have become greatly impaired. Our waters have been damaged so severely that they have various warnings issued on them. Many of the cities within the fifth district have very serious environmental issues that need to be immediately addressed and corrected. We need to take action. These issues are severe and should have been addressed and they should have been corrected before they became so severe.
3. What is your motivation for being an SWCD Supervisor?
I have watched our environment become so severely damaged that our environmental habitats began to die. I have worked on environmental issues, including litigation for over 25 years. I have been a passionate citizen representative. I will continue to work tirelessly to help provide the citizens with the answers and the results that we all deserve. After years of unresolved issues with various agencies. I knew that I needed to approach these issues on a new forum. As I decided this, I was approached be several people to apply for a position on the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission that had recently been made into a commission. After I applied to the commission and I was interviewed by the city council. I was appointed as a Commissioner on the City of Maplewood’s very first Environmental & Natural Resources Commission. There have been numerous requests for me to become an elected official so I would be able to represent our communities and so I will have a more respected voice and the authority to go along with it. I have filed for election to become a Supervisor for District 5 so our communities will have the voice and the respect that we all deserve.
4. What do you feel is the most effective approach to protecting our natural resources: voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners or use of government regulation?
We must produce and implement educational resources in all community opportunities. There are already too many governmental regulations that are demanding accountability on behalf of the citizens and not on the responsible party of government. Citizens pay taxes and have rights through the Minnesota State and Federal Constitutions regarding their property rights. I will work to protect the rights of the citizens and the protection of the rights. I encourage education and proper property management to help utilize any of the best management practices that landowners may want to implement.
5. What conservation ideas or changes would you implement to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources in your district?
The promotion of citizen involvement and education. The concept of community educational events is critical to success of any program with realistic goals and expectations. We need to stop writing and start repairing the damages that are a reality in our environment now. We need to commit to resolve and start it now. It is always too late once the damages are done. However. It is never too late to help heal damages as much as possible and to prevent further damages and new damages in the future.
(Ramsey Profiles)

Conservations district supervisor District 5
MARGARET A. BEHRENS

Has served on the CITY OF MAPLEWOOD ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE COMMISSION so she has experience of some type. Unopposed.
RAMSEY

CONSERVATION DIST SUPERVISOR DISTRICT 5
MARGARET A. BEHRENS

1. What strengths would you bring to the SWCD Board?

I have a lifetime of experience in community service along with proven leadership skills. My passion for the preservation and protection and repair of our aligning environment drives me to work on resoling the issues and not just writing regulations or guidelines for the citizens to be penalized. I believe that government has a great responsibility in protecting us all and they are failing and are ignoring their responsibilities at citizens and at great environmental expense. I will demand answers and results to all of the issues.

2. Tell us about your past experience with conservation issues that make you qualified to be an SWCD Supervisor.

For years, I have watched with great concern, my neighborhood and extended community being contaminated and severely damaged by toxic chemical and other biological contaminates. Our waterways, lakes and streams have become greatly impaired. Our waters have been damaged so severely that they have various warnings issued on them. Many of the cities within the fifth district have very serious environmental issues that need to be immediately addressed and corrected. We need to take action. These issues are severe and should have been addressed and they should have been corrected before they became so severe.

3. What is your motivation for being an SWCD Supervisor?

I have watched our environment become so severely damaged that our environmental habitats began to die. I have worked on environmental issues, including litigation for over 25 years. I have been a passionate citizen representative. I will continue to work tirelessly to help provide the citizens with the answers and the results that we all deserve. After years of unresolved issues with various agencies. I knew that I needed to approach these issues on a new forum. As I decided this, I was approached be several people to apply for a position on the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission that had recently been made into a commission. After I applied to the commission and I was interviewed by the city council. I was appointed as a Commissioner on the City of Maplewood’s very first Environmental & Natural Resources Commission. There have been numerous requests for me to become an elected official so I would be able to represent our communities and so I will have a more respected voice and the authority to go along with it. I have filed for election to become a Supervisor for District 5 so our communities will have the voice and the respect that we all deserve.

4. What do you feel is the most effective approach to protecting our natural resources: voluntary adoption of best management practices by landowners or use of government regulation?

We must produce and implement educational resources in all community opportunities. There are already too many governmental regulations that are demanding accountability on behalf of the citizens and not on the responsible party of government. Citizens pay taxes and have rights through the Minnesota State and Federal Constitutions regarding their property rights. I will work to protect the rights of the citizens and the protection of the rights. I encourage education and proper property management to help utilize any of the best management practices that landowners may want to implement.

5. What conservation ideas or changes would you implement to ensure the sustainability of agriculture and natural resources in your district?

The promotion of citizen involvement and education. The concept of community educational events is critical to success of any program with realistic goals and expectations. We need to stop writing and start repairing the damages that are a reality in our environment now. We need to commit to resolve and start it now. It is always too late once the damages are done. However. It is never too late to help heal damages as much as possible and to prevent further damages and new damages in the future.
(Ramsey Profiles)

SUPREME COURT ASSOC JUSTICE 3
Candidate TIM TINGELSTAD

This candidate has a God-based web site, that I can't fully publish here, but here's a quote, it's pretty off the wall. 'Nuff said.

"Today’s concept of “separation of church and state” does not come from the Constitution, nor does it come from a historically accurate review of American history. This nation was built upon a Godly heritage. Until recent years, this historical truth was embraced by our nation’s leaders, including our highest courts. The United States Supreme Court, in Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States (1892), after thoroughly researching our nations history over the first 200 years, concluded, “These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian Nation.” "
(Highest Hill)

SUPREME COURT ASSOC JUSTICE 3
INCUMBENT PAUL H. ANDERSON

Sitting justice, endorsed by Sandy Keith.
See his web site for much more than the summary below.
"Paul Anderson represents the best qualities of Minnesotans, hard-working, humble, calm, patient and generous..."
-- A.M. "Sandy" Keith

Please join us in supporting Justice Paul Anderson in his campaign for re-election to the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Appointed to the Court in 1994, and elected twice by Minnesota voters, Justice Anderson is a fair and thoughtful voice on Minnesota’s highest court. He believes in the rule of law and passionately supports our legal system.
Justice Anderson is a distinguished public servant. He has reached out to communities all across our state, explaining our court system, inspiring public service, and promoting public confidence in our judicial system.
He represents the best qualities of Minnesotans—Justice Anderson is hard working, humble, patient, and generous.
As a strong advocate for an impartial, nonpartisan judiciary, Justice Anderson will campaign on his qualifications and his record, not political issues. Justice Anderson believes it is critical that we keep partisan politics out of the courtroom.
Please consider Justice Anderson’s background, his public statements and writings, and his list of supporters, contained in this website. Then, please offer your help by signing up as a supporter of Justice Anderson, making a contribution to his campaign, and voting on November 4.
Justice Anderson shines in Bar Association Plebiscite
Over 92% of lawyers polled say Anderson is best suited for the job!
(Paul Anderson blog)

SUPREME COURT ASSOC JUSTICE 4

Candidate DEBORAH HEDLUND
this is a tough one, because Hedlund has a profile that's not particularly progressive on her judicial profile.
Education:
1972 JD University of Minnesota Law School
1969 BS Kansas University

Recent Career:
1986 Judge, Hennepin County District Court
1980 Judge, Hennepin County Municipal Court
1974 Minnetonka City Attorney’s Office
1972 Public Defender, Hennepin County

Elevated to Bench:
Appointed by Governor Al Quie to Municipal Court in 1980.
Became District Court Judge by court merger in 1986.
Elected in 1988, 1994, 2000 and 2006.
Judicial Profile from The Hennepin Lawyer (50:2:07)Deborah Hedlund
Originally published in the November/December 1980 issue.
Author: Helen I. Kelly
Our newest Municipal Court Judge appointed by Governor Quie, Deborah Hedlund, has fulfilled her uncle’s prophesy during her childhood, of a future judicial appointment—"All Deborahs should be judges because the Deborah in the Bible was a judge. So why don’t you grow up and become a judge?"

Deborah Hedlund joined 17 other Municipal Court Judges in Hennepin County on November 5, 1980, when Chief Judge Eugene Minenko presided over her swearing-in ceremony. Her new colleagues on the Municipal and District Court benches joined her family and friends in the celebration. Deborah’s father, Delmer Hedlund, robed his family’s first judge.
Becoming a judge is the most logical step in Deborah’s professional development. Being the first female in various educational endeavors became commonplace in Deborah’s life. While at Minnehaha Academy, she was the first female Senator sent to the National Congresses held for National Forensic League debaters. At the University of Minnesota Law School, from which she graduated in 1972, she excelled in endeavors such as moot court, where, under the direction of Professor Robert Morris, she was the only woman at Regional Moot Court Competitions.
With her strong social conscience, developed through inner-city Minneapolis schooling and a year of teaching in a violence-prone Kansas City, Missouri, high school where "something wild happened every day," Deborah wanted to become a public defender "in order to right all of the wrongs in our society." However, due to a quirk in staffing, Deborah ended up interning as a prosecutor in the Minneapolis City Attorney’s office. With the supervision of a staff attorney, on her first day Deborah had to try, on a moment’s notice, an appealed jury case.
The trial involved cases for charges of simple assault and breach of peace arising out of a University of Minnesota employee strike. The defendants if convicted were to serve a 5-year jail sentence for destruction of draft records. Past Hennepin County Bar President, Judge Ed Parker presided. Despite the shocking, irreverent, profanity-ridden behavior of the pro-se defendants who threw books at Judge Parker and wrestled with the bailiffs, and the "Prosecutor Persecutes Our Heroes" headlines of the Rolling Stone Magazine, Deborah survived. Today Deborah reflects, "How could I help but love litigation after the excitement of that first case?"
Later she had the opportunity to serve as a Minnesota public defender for misdemeanors. After handling more than 400 court cases, she began private practice in Minneapolis.
In 1974, the Kimberly Clark Corporation headquartered in Neenah, Wisconsin, offered her a General Counsel’s position. For this international corporation, Deborah supervised lawyers in 35 countries and Federal litigation which included both criminal and civil matters filed by Federal agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission. Later, in her never-ending quest to build her litigation skills, Deborah joined the Minnetonka City Attorney’s Office. In 1976, she was appointed the City Attorney of Minnetonka. There she advised the City Council, Boards and Commissioners, City Manager and other City department heads. Additionally, she litigated civil matters in Hennepin County District Court and the Minnesota Supreme Court concerning condemnation, zoning and planning, labor relations, municipal liability, licensing, and construction contracts.
A testimonial to her high degree of competence comes from William P. Hise, both a Minnetonka City Councilman and Assistant General Counsel for the Dayton Hudson Corporation.
"For the past three years I have been in a rather unusual position for a lawyer—looking to another lawyer for legal advice. But not once in that three- year period have I been the least bit uncomfortable because Debbie has consistently provided our City Council with excellent counsel and advice. Her appointment by Governor Quie is testimony to her legal competence in the wide variety of areas of the law which touch municipal government. I know all of the Council will miss her good and practical counsel, and I know I will miss her."
Less than two years ago, NBC Nightly News selected Deborah Hedlund as its national example of a successful professional woman who can both raise a family and excel in her profession. After a week’s worth of filming at her Excelsior, Minnesota home, Deborah and her family were viewed by millions.
At that time her family included two children, daughter Lisl who is now 4 l/2 years old and son Jedidiah who is now 3 years old. In May of 1979, another son, 19-month-old Alejandro, was adopted because Deborah in her typical generous manner responded to her parents’ relay radio message from the jungles of Ecuador about a newly born boy who had been abandoned on an air strip, "Send me any stray children you encounter." With her persistence and camping out in the U.S. Immigration Offices, Deborah was successful in getting her new son of Mayan Indian descent in just 2 1/2 months.
Born and raised in Minneapolis and its suburbs, Deborah is one of five children of Delmer and Ruth Hedlund. Her sisters and brothers include Rebecca Jordan who works for Child Protection in the Hennepin County Welfare Department, Police Sergeant Bennhard Hedlund in Blaine, Priscilla Hoppe who set up blood banks all over the world for the Food & Drug Administration, and Cameron Hedlund who has taught physical education and manages a boarding stable in Mound, Minnesota.
If she has free time in her busy schedule, Deborah likes to play tennis. She is also adept at other outdoor activities such as snow and water skiing. Recently, with her daughter, Deborah began riding horses for the first time since she was 19 years old.
Judge Hedlund looks forward to continuing her "love of litigation" from the other side of the bench. "My most exciting experiences have been in the Hennepin Courts. I have a very active interest in being involved in helping it be one of the finest court systems in the United States."
With Deborah’s record of achievements, there is no doubt that she will contribute significantly to the Hennepin County judicial system. Congratulations Judge Hedlund!
(HCBA)

SUPREME COURT ASSOC JUSTICE 4
Candidate Supreme Court Justice Lorie Gildea incumbent, appointed by Rep governor Pawlenty

About Justice Gildea

Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea (MN)

Current Office: Justice of the Supreme Court

Background Information
Education:
JD, Georgetown University Law Center, 1986
BA, University of Minnesota, Morris, 1983.

Professional Experience:
Associate Justice, Minnesota State Supreme Court, 2006-present
Appointed, Minnesota State Supreme Court, January 2006
Judge, Fourth Judicial District, Hennepin County, 2005-2006
Prosecutor, Hennepin County Attorney's Office, 2004-2005
Associate General Counsel, University of Minnesota, 1993-2004
Attorney, Private Practice, 1986-1993.

Political Experience:
none

Organizations:
Board of Directors, YWCA of Minneapolis, 2000-2003
Advisory Board, MINNCORR Industries, 2000-2002
Hennepin County Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association.

Caucuses/Non-Legislative Committees:
Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure, 2004-2006
Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission, 2001-2004.
(Votesmartr)

MN COURT OF APPEALS JUDGE 16
Judge Terri J. Stoneburner

The above link is a list of activities, a vitae, that appears to show Stoneburner is not an innovator, but probably fair from the progressive viewpoint. Here is the text:

Education

J.D. 1975, University of Washington School of Law

* University of Washington School of Law
* Director, Legal Aid to State Prisoners
* Research Assistant to Professor Ralph Johnson
* Law Women’s Caucus

B.A. 1967, Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana

* Graduated cum laude
* Major: French
* Junior year at University of Geneva, Switzerland

Employment

Judge, Minnesota Court of Appeals, April 28, 2000 - present

* Appointed by Governor Jesse Ventura March 8, 2000
* Elected to six-year term in 2002

Judge of District Court, April 1990 – April 28, 2000

* Fifth Judicial District, chambered in New Ulm
* Assistant Chief Judge of the Fifth Judicial District, July 1, 1997 – April 28, 2000

Farrish, Johnson, Maschka Attorneys at Law, Mankato, 1980 – 1990

* Partner from 1984
* Certified Civil Trial Specialist by National Board of Trial Advocacy and MSBA

Adjunct Faculty, Mankato State University

* Political Science and Women Studies
o Taught four-credit classes in Legal Research/Legal Materials in alternate years 1981 – 1986; Legal Rights of Women, two credits, 1980 – 1984

Staff Attorney, State of Alaska Commission for Human Rights, November 1977 – March 1979

Volunteer Attorney, VISTA, October 1976 – October 1977

* Assigned to Alaska Commission for Human Rights as staff attorney

Volunteer, United States Peace Corps, October 1968 – December 1970

* Burkina Faso, West Africa
* Infant health program, well-digging program and school building Projects

Community Service

* United Way Budget Committee, Mankato, 1987 – 1990
* YWCA Board of Trustees, Mankato, 1988 – 1990
* League of Women Voters, New Ulm, 1991 – April 2000
o Board of Directors 1996 – 1999
* American Association of University Women, New Ulm, 1992 – April 2000
* Brown County Judicial Advisory Council on Families, 1995 – April 2000
* Brown County Teen Court Advisory Board, 1997 – April 2000
* MSBA Habitat for Humanity House worker, 2001, 2002

Organizations

* Minnesota Bar Association, 1980 – present
* Minnesota Women Lawyers, 1980 – present
* Minnesota District Judges Association, 1990 - present
* Judicial Standards Board, appointed by Governor Pawlenty, July 2005.

Professional Development

* MSBA Judicial Merit Selection Committee and Professionalism Committee, 1987 - 1988
* President, Sixth District Bar Association, 1989 - 1990
* Minnesota State Bar Foundation Board of Directors, 1988 - 1993
* Supreme Court Board of Continuing Legal Education, 1988 - 1994
* Supreme Court Uniform Local Rules Task Force, 1991
* Chair, Supreme Court Conciliation Court Advisory Committee, 1992 - 1993
* Supreme Court TCIS Development Board, 1992 - 1996
* Technology Planning Committee, 1997
* Supreme Court Alternate Dispute Resolution Board, 1995 - 1999
* Chair, MDJA Judicial Evaluation Committee, 1995 - 1998
* Chair, Joint Committee on Judicial Evaluation, 1995 - 1998
* Sentence to Service Advisory Council, 1995 - 1998
* Supreme Court Open Hearings in Juvenile Protection Matters Advisory Board, 1998 - 2001
* Conference of Chief Judges, 1997 - 2000
* CCJ Committee for Peer Support/Stress Reduction, 1999- present
* Children’s Justice Initiative, 2001- present
* Co-Chair Minnesota Legal Services Planning Commission (Co-recipient of SMRLS 21st Century Leadership Award, 2004)

Interests

Reading, travel (have back-packed around the world twice); hiking; canoeing; cross-country skiing; quilting; biking; "do-it-yourself" projects; at home and at the cabin.
(MN Courts)

A Court of Appeals seat is contested

We now have a contested judicial race for a seat on the Court of Appeals. Dan Griffith, who has run for a judicial seat unsuccessfully on two prior occasions, has filed a challenge against incumbent Judge Terri Stoneburner.
Griffith, an International Falls attorney, previously ran against (now retired) Court of Appeals Judge R.A. "Jim" Randall in 2004 and Court of Appeals Judge Christopher Dietzen in 2006.
(Minesota Lawyer)

One of the reasons that I used full quotes, is that information has a way of disappearing or changing on the internet -editor