Reporting And Writing Class Fall 2010: State and Local Candidates Want Students to be Aware of Who They Are

and Why Students at Bemidji State University Should Vote for Them

By Casey Dainsberg (STORY #1)

It’s not always easy to know who is running in local and state elections, much less what they stand for. Still, most candidates want you to know what they stand for, and what they can do for you if they’re elected. Following are some of the state and local electoral candidates who will be vying for your vote on November 2.

DFLer Mary Olson has been State Senator of District 4 for the last four years. In a telephone interview Sen. Olson said she would like to see the development of a scientific research facility that allows a hands-on environment for children and young adults to develop interest in the sciences. She also envisions a “multicultural component” that would welcome all ethnicities to work together.

John Carlson is Sen. Olson’s Republican opponent. According to his campaign website, Carlson is a Bemidji State alumni and adjunct professor in the Business Department. When asked by e-mail how he will help students at Bemidji State he replied, “It disturbs me that tuition continues to rise.” His proposal upon reaching office would be to put a “two-year freeze in tuition rates,” so that MNSCU schools learn to “do more with less.”

Richard Lehmann is currently the mayor of Bemidji and running as the Republican candidate for State Rep. for House District 4A. Also a Bemidji State University alumnus, Mayor Lehmann has been mayor of Bemidji for ten years. In an interview with Lehmann, he said that if elected to the Minnesota House, he hopes to use his experience as mayor to: “create an environment that encourages job growth” by putting an emphasis on education and families.

John Persell is the Democratic candidate running for re-election for Minnesota State Representative for House district 4A. According to his campaign website, Persell believes it is important to “champion Minnesota’s education system, including adequate funding for all education levels—early childhood, K-12, and higher education.”

Bemidji’s mayoral race has been whittled down to two candidates. Ron Johnson, currently a council member representing Bemidji’s Third Ward; and Dave Larson, a local Bemidji small-business owner. According to an article in the Bemidji Pioneer, Larson points to his experience as a small business owner, who has “worked with budgets and personal issues,” as qualifying him for mayor. According to the same article, both candidates have been active members of the community and have participated in several different committees.

Also closely contested is the run for Beltrami County Sheriff. Phil Hodapp is the current Beltrami County Sheriff and is serving his first term. Since taking office, Sheriff Hodapp has worked very hard at advancing technology and the image of the law enforcement departments he oversees. In a phone interview Sheriff Hodapp said he envisions a “progressive department” that other agencies can look to as a “leader in the field.” Sheriff Hodapp feels it is important for the students at Bemidji State to feel safe, and they work very closely with Bemidji State to ensure just that.

Also running for Sheriff in Beltrami County is lifetime resident Bill Cross. In an e-mail Cross pointed to his knowledge of the area and county as basis for why he should be elected saying “I learned through hard work and dedication how to best serve the people of Beltrami County. Getting to know the needs of the great citizens of Beltrami County has taken me a lifetime in local Law Enforcement.” In response to a question regarding why students at Bemidji State should vote for him, Cross replied “Voting for me helps bring common sense, respectfulness and the understanding of diversity back into law enforcement.”

Another election to watch is the race for Ninth District Judge, Seat Sixteen. The incumbent is Paul Benshoof who is being opposed by Darrel Carter. According to his campaign website, Judge Benshoof began practicing law in the Bemidji area immediately after law school, eventually being appointed to the Bench in Beltrami in 1997 where he has been serving ever since. Carter is an experienced lawyer who has been practicing law in Minnesota for the last twenty-three years. His campaign website lists his Admitted Jurisdictions, which include: Minnesota and Arizona Bars, Supreme Court of the United States, the District of Minnesota, as well as the District of Arizona.

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