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| Round up the usual suspects. |
Of course they're suspect. They're Republicans.
While I might miss a name or two of interest perhaps to Ramsey folks, below are a few of the listed names and a comment or two, guessing or recalling as best I can, and going down the list in order.
Andy Aplikowski, delegate, blogs. If consistent with past publishing, supports Romney, and Wilfare [rabid Vikings fan, but liked Arden Hills so that public money might be spent making his travel on roads easier].
____ Bendtsen - a few, and I have heard the name as activist in local Republican affairs. I don't know any of them, (don't care to).
Andre Champagne, delegate, ran a few half-hearted lackluster campaigns for City Council. I backed him last cycle, against Colin McGlone. Works for the county sheriff, but despite being dependent on taxpayer money for a paycheck, probably an anti-tax maven.
Don Huizenga, the soreheads' choice against Jim Abeler of their own party after Abeler was one of six breaking rank re Pawlenty's overridden veto, years back. A roofer, as I recall. At a guess, for Santorum and against Wilfare (unless there's a roofing contract he might have a shot at).
Matthew Look, delegate, former Ramsey Councilmember, present county board member. Up for reelection because of redistricting. Based upon his yen for local socialism, buying the Town Center land as city property so the city could compete with private sector developers, favoring further spending on Northstar, and one of the driving members to get Landform its contract with City of Ramsey so that city spending of taxpayer dollars on Darren Lazan's behalf and on subsidizing stuff such as Flaherty's landlord dreams could be brought about; given all that love of spending public money, my guess is he'd love Wilfare as part of a modus operandi pattern. Santorum would be my guess, but probably no strong favorites unless one were to buy signs. Did signs a few years back for a judicial candidate if I recall correctly. That candidate lost to Lorie Gildea because Gildea was less an ideologue, and relatively more mainstream. Really. Spouse Brenda Look came in second of four in the recent special election for the balance of Dave Jeffrey's Ward 4 seat on Ramsey's council. Brenda is not a delegate nor an alternate.
Harry and Jennifer Niska, delegates. Harry was a one-time treasurer on a Mike Jungbauer campaign. Jennifer was an Emmer campaign insider. Harry is a lawyer, and at U.Minn law school was a Federalist Society associate/advocate, and in some form of Christian Lawyers - Law Students organization. Santorum. I'd bet money on that. Ran for a Ward 1 Ramsey council seat, losing to David Elvig. Probably against Wilfare, (unless his law firm has a stake in which case he'd do the right thing and recuse himself from Wilfare considerations).
Kathy Tingelstad, delegate, currently an Anoka County lobbyist to the legislature. Former legislator. Well known to most Ramsey residents. Was one of the six who voted with the DFL'ers to override the Pawlenty veto. Got the lobbying job after that, when not seeking reelection. Respected as better than you'd expect for a Republican, by some whose opinion I value. Seems to be a genuinely good person and reasonably independent in her thoughts. At a guess, a Romney supporter, and careful on the Wilfare question vs. other possibler spending priorities.
Jason Tossey, delegate. Police executive, and law enforcement officer outside of CD 6, and senior enough to appear to not draw shift duty. Listed right after Tingelstad, and also one of the thinking ones, having opposed Flaherty free subsidies while being on the Ramsey City Council, consistently and as a matter of principle. At a guess, Ron Paul will get at least some respect. Active in law enforcement union affairs, but that likely would not lead to embracing Wilfare to create union construction jobs. Close to libertarian in his views as best as I know, but within the GOP tent and not looking in any separate Libertarian Party direction.
Colin McGlone, Alternate A-36, down the list which is where I would put him. Landform "I want a salesman" tub-thumper, pro-socializing the Town Center land, loves giving Flaherty free parking at taxpayer expense (Santa Clause did not create that grant money pool), loves extending credit to Flaherty - so with that record how could the man in any consistent way not love Wilfare? Gingrich is my guess. He seem a Gingrich drill-here-and-now knee-jerk type. Would not take offense at Gingrich's past. I favored Andre Champagne last cycle but McGlone won, will be up for reelection, Ward 2 Ramsey Council seat. I think I will be redistricted into Ward 2, whereas last time I did not have even the chance to vote between him and Champagne. Runs some kind of hauling contractor business. Has/had a contract to haul with City of Ramsey while on council. Opinionated to a fault.
(Bob Ramsey not a GOP delegate or alternate this time, my recollection was he previously had been last election cycle)
Thomas Towberman, Alternate A-57. One of four Ward 4 candidates in the Ramsey special election, trailed Strommen and Look in voting. If I had to apply a label, it would be Neocon. I would guess against Wilfare, and for Gingrich.
__________________________
Of the batch, I would really like to know where each is, on the question of gambling expansion. I see that as a divisive question among Republicans.
I also would like to know whether an endorsement vote was taken, and whether Weaver or Paulsen was chosen.
Any reader with helpful knowledge is asked to leave a comment. Any reader knowing if any of my guesses are wrong is asked to leave a comment. Civil comments on point should end up posted. Off-point anonymous stupid stuff, not so. That is why I was forced to moderate comments.
__________UPDATE__________
GOP SD 31 will meet end of this month, this link.
GOP CD 6, Friday the Thirteenth meeting, this link.
The March 31 convention will (or is expected to be) where the SD 31 endorsement vote is taken, Benson vs. Jungbauer. Perhaps the GOP does not endorse that way. As noted, in SD 35 GOP deliberations, was Weaver or Paulsen blessed and sprinkled with holy water, or whatever their procedures are?
__________UPDATE___________
As best as I understand things at present, Branden Petersen got the SD 35 endorsement, not Martha Weaver, and with the district sending on 36 delegates to the next level 15 of the elected delegates are probable Ron Paul supporters, although at conventions where multiple ballots are experienced there is a lot of persuasion and horse-trading. If that happens my guess would be the first to shift would be the Gingrich backers. Bending with the wind the way Newt himself would.
I have been told Petersen won endorsement on the first ballot.
If any on the alternate list end up replacing a chosen delegate or two, the commitments may realign accordingly.
With part of SD35 in CD 3, there will be 6 delegates sent there with 3 likely Ron Paul supporters among them. This is from outside the tent, so expect possible error, but still, Ron Paul is to be reckoned with among Minnesota's GOP, if these numbers are real and mirror statewide sentiment.
I understand some prepared "slates" of delegates were listed and passed around, and if that had any effect on ultimate voting, I was not there and will not guess.
Again, any reader with better information is asked to supplement or correct things.
I think I correctly pegged a Santorum delegate or three in my speculation above, but the Wilfare and gambling questions are likely to be wait-and-see hot issues at the next GOP caucus/convention level.
_________FURTHER UPDATE_________
Hypotheticals are always speculative, but if Michelle Benson wins a first ballot SD 31 endorsement, should Andy Westberberg start looking over his shoulder? As with Look, redistricting puts the seat Westerberg holds on the county board in play this cycle.
Reader thoughts? Am I guessing about the wrong county board district and a particular residence in East Bethel? Help me.