DFL Senate District 55 to Host
Candidate Forum For Maplewood
Municipal Elections On July 30

The Democratic Farmer Labor (DFL) Party encompassing Senate District 55 will host a City of Maplewood Municipal Election Candidate Forum on Thursday, July 30, 6-8 pm, at the Ramsey County Library, 3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood.

All candidates who have filed for Maplewood City Council or Mayor are invited to attend the Candidate Forum to answer questions and give a brief statement on why they are running for public office.

Afterwards, the party will consider resolutions of support for candidates who identify with DFL values, issues and platforms.

The public is invited to attend the Candidate Forum. There is no charge to attend. DFL Senate District 55 is open to DFLers who reside within the district, which includes the cities of Maplewood, North St. Paul and Oakdale.

DFL Senate District 55 organizes DFL Precinct Caucuses bi-annually in conjunction with federal, state and county elections. In recent years, the party has also been involved in local elections, including municipal and school board races within Senate District 55.

For more information regarding DFL Senate District 55, please contact Pat Williamson, Senate 55
Chair at willi056@umn.edu

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Our Senate District always endorsed candidates for the state legislature, but up until recently, never for local races.   Party members and candidates were extremely reluctant to use a party endorsement for a non-partisan race.   This all changed when a polarizing mayor was elected due to low voter among progressives in a September primary four years ago.

Progressives vowed to take back the City of Maplewood, and change the composition on the City Council.  We held a first time endorsing convention for City Council candidates.   Candidates used the endorsement to tap into the state DFL data base and party activists.   Both progressive candidates that our party supported were overwhlmingly elected in both the primary and general election in all 16 city precincts.

Our Senate District also passed two Resolution of Supports for progressive candidates in the North St. Paul Mayor's race and Independent School District 622 School Board.   Because time was a factor in both elections, our Senate District did not have time to organize a convention, but passed a support resolution for both candidates at a regularly scheduled meetings.   Again, both candidates used the state data base to identify DFL voters in their districts and ran strong grass roots campaigns.

Parties need candidates and visa versa, even for non-partisan races.  Candidates who are elected to town boards, city council, county commissions or school boards could be tomorrows legislators or state officials.  Parties need to grow and cultivate candidates and supporting candidates for office on a local level can groom candidates for the future, helping to insure a progressive legacy.   

In DFL Senate District 55's case, utilizing endorsements and support resolutions have helped elect four progressives in two years.   For this year's municipal elections, we already have four announced candidates for mayor and seven city council candidates.   All candidates who file by July 21 will be invited to our Senate District's July 30 Candidate Forum (see separate posting).   

We've seen more interest in municipal and local elections and more interest in candidates and issues as a result of our Senate District's actions.   If you want to elect progressives to fill seats in your government, get involved with your local political party on the Senate District level and ask for their support!