Today, [Nov. 15, 2016,] former Representative Ryan Winkler registered a campaign committee to run for Minnesota Attorney General in 2018. He released the following statement:
Minnesotans need a strong advocate in the Attorney General’s office who will fight for justice, oppose special privilege, and expand opportunity for everyone. Attorney General Lori Swanson has been such an advocate, and as a result many Minnesotans are encouraging her to pursue higher office. I am filing this campaign committee not to challenge Attorney General Swanson, but only to be prepared to lead in the event she decides not to seek re-election.
In the months ahead, I will be transitioning back to living in Minnesota full time. Spending time away from my Minnesota friends, family and colleagues has strengthened my resolve to work for the values we share. [...]
As Attorney General, I want to help make Minnesota a community of justice: a place where everyone has opportunity, where a decent living is the reward for hard work, where success is earned fairly, and where the broad interests of the people are represented in their government. The powerful and privileged have all the resources they need in our justice system. As Attorney General I will be an advocate dedicated solely to the people of Minnesota.
Ryan Winkler was born and raised in Bemidji, Minnesota, and served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015. During his time in the legislature, he established the 35W bridge victims compensation fund; worked with a coalition of faith, labor and non-profit groups to raise Minnesota’s minimum wage; and led his party’s efforts to expose the undisclosed funding of Minnesota elections. Since 2004, Winkler has worked in business as in-house counsel for Minnesota technology companies, and he founded the Minnesota practice chapter of the American Constitution Society in 2002. He is a graduate of the Bemidji public schools, Harvard College, and the University of Minnesota Law School.
[italics added] As a public school educated child and youth, Winkler is expected to stand strongly for public education free of intrusion and decently funded and aimed; a stance others, in fairness, should hold. Perhaps it should be a litmus test; public money for public schools.
Contact:
Ryan Winkler
612-991-4498
info@ryanwinkler.com
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A record to run on.