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They came from all over to ask questions of Franken
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They represented local government and federal retirees, big and small businesses, Minneapolis and rural Sherburne County. A blogger and a Republican candidate for governor were there. And all had questions for Sen. Al Franken, who they knew wouldn’t be there.
They came to … let’s see, if it’s Thursday afternoon, this must be the Elk River City Hall. They came to ask Franken about health care, the Northstar commuter rail line, social services, global warming. Nobody asked whether the new senator had inside information about Brett Favre’s shoulder — although maybe that will come up by the time Franken’s staff makes the last of its 66 visits to communities from Albert Lea to Thief River Falls.
The senator’s staff has billed this whirlwind tour as one that’s “bringing his office to you.” Three teams of two staffers each are crisscrossing the state, often making three two-hour stops each day.
On Thursday, Charlie Poster and Jessi Held began their third day of canvassing in St. Cloud, listening to the concerns of citizens, business folks and government officials. By 1 p.m., they were in Elk River. At 4 p.m., it was Buffalo.
This is the sort of thing they heard:
“I just came to remind the senator that a little less than 57 percent of the people did not vote for him,” said Dennis Chuba, of Elk River, a part owner of a small home construction-repair business. “I did vote for [Republican Norm] Coleman, but I want the new senator to get a fair shake. But I also want him to know we’re looking for fair representation in both climate-change bills.”
Health care reform was a key issue for Steve Murphy, of Hewitt Resources, a human resource consulting and outsourcing company with a branch in Minneapolis. Same for Chuba.
“We’re a small business forced to select health care for employees,” he said. “We’re construction people. What do we know about health care or insurance companies?”
Eric Zaetsch, a blogger from Ramsey who says he sees little hope for the GOP and is frustrated by the DFL, also wanted to talk to Franken’s staff about health care.
“They’ve got one shot at fixing it,” he said. “If they screw this up, we’ve got to live with it.”
Poster and Held seemed able to live with suggestions and criticism alike. The more, the better.
“In St. Cloud, we had a large group waiting for us,” Held said. “It was nice. The time goes by quickly.”
At the Elk River City Hall, there rarely were more than a dozen people at any time in the conference room with the staff. But the citizens’ passion made up for their numbers.
Several members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, led by Vice President Frank Blake, made an informal we’d-like-to-get-to-know-you presentation.
Luci Botzek, Sherburne County deputy administrator, wanted to discuss funding for an extension of the Northstar line from Big Lake to St. Cloud. (The 40-mile line, from Minneapolis to Big Lake, is scheduled to open in November.)
And Botzek made a pitch for Elk River to be the future site of a veterans-service clinic. Ramsey also wants the clinic, but Botzek reminded listeners that Elk River was the original destination when it was first discussed by Veterans Administration staff years ago.
Michael Jungbauer, the Republic state senator from East Bethel who recently announced his candidacy for governor, also was among those visiting Franken’s staff.
“I just wanted to meet the staff,” Jungbauer said. “We all want what’s best for Minnesota. It doesn’t matter which side of the fence you’re on.”
Paul Levy • 612-673-4419
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