SD59 DFL Special Senate Election Endorsement Scheduled for Day after Primary, Dec. 7
From SD59 DFL Chair Harrison Nelson:
TO: DFL Senate District 59 Central Committee
As you probably already know, SD 59 Senator Larry Pogemiller resigned last Friday after many years of dedicated service and exemplary leadership. Senator Pogemiller was appointed by Governor Dayton to serve as the Director of the Office of Higher Education and we give him our full support.
Subsequently, the Governor and Secretary of State set the date for the Primary Election for Tuesday, December 6, 2011 and the General Election for Tuesday January 10, 2012. Because of this very short timeline, it was clear that there wasn’t ample time to schedule a Central Committee Meeting to decide whether or not we should call an Endorsing Convention. Most DFL Candidates want to know what the process will be to win the DFL Endorsement before they decide whether or not they will run.
Since the filing deadline is this Wednesday at 5 PM, the only way potential candidates can know “what our Endorsement Process will be” is for the SD 59 Chair to (gather qualified advice from within and outside the district and then) decide what Endorsement Process is in the best interests of our District.
Therefore, my decision is that the best option for our Senate District is to schedule the SD 59 DFL endorsement of our next SD 59 Senator by our Central Committee for Wednesday, December 7, 2011, one day after the Primary Election. This process and timeline is similar to the one used successfully by SD 66 earlier this year when their extraordinary Senator, Ellen Anderson, was similarly appointed to a position by the Governor. I have also authorized the development of a high profile, live-streamed, Candidate Forum to take place prior to the Primary and be hosted by SD 59 DFL. You will be notified about the details of the Candidate Forum as they are confirmed. A status report about the Candidate Forum will take place at our next scheduled SD 59 DFL Central Committee Meeting on Monday, November 14, 2011.
I did not make this decision lightly. I consulted knowledgeable DFL leaders both within and outside of our district prior to making this decision. I also researched the endorsement timelines and election outcomes of several recent DFL Special Elections at the Senate District level as I considered what was in the best interests of our own district. I firmly believe that due to the time constraints surrounding this Special Election and other key factors the hosting of a Candidate Forum and engaging the voters directly is the most fair, open, and inclusive way for the SD 59 DFL to ensure that we endorse the best candidate for our district on Wednesday, December 7, 2011.
Two final points:
1. Ours is a very strong DFL District, so our DFL will retain this Senate seat. Our challenge is to assist all of our DFL Candidates to get their message out to the Voters of SD 59, so the Voters can make an informed decision on December 6, 2011.
2. The main purpose of a democratic endorsement is to narrow the field to unify Democrats behind an endorsed candidate going into a Primary or General Election. This process works best when candidates seeking the endorsement have the opportunity to abide by the endorsement—to agree not to run against the endorsed candidate. Due to the compressed time schedule for the Primary Election, all eligible candidates seeking DFL endorsement will be on the primary ballot and will not be able to have their names removed even if they wish to abide by a party endorsement.
I realize some members of our Senate District may be surprised and even upset with this decision. If you have questions, please contact me at 612-378-5377.
Thanks for all you do for the DFL!
Harrison Nelson
Chair, SD 59 DFL
Stonewall DFL Endorses Mohamud Noor for SD59 Special Election
Stonewall DFL (SDFL), the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally caucus of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, is proud to announce the endorsement of Mohamud Noor in the Senate District 59 Special Election.
“Stonewall DFL endorsed Mohamud Noor because his message of equal opportunity resonated with our members. Noor not only speaks to the cause of equality, he acts upon it. Noor has been reaching out in the Somali community, educating his fellow citizens about the real motivations behind the 2012 anti-Marriage Amendment and explaining why LGBT citizens and newer Americans must work together to defend the rights of and protections for all families,” said David DeGrio a resident of Senate District 59 and the Chair of Stonewall DFL.
“Mohamud Noor’s combination of policy experience on the Council of Black Minnesotans, his professional expertise as to how state services are best delivered to improve the lives of children and families, his commitment to a high-quality public education system, and his proven ability to build cross-cultural coalitions makes him the right choice to represent my friends and neighbors in SD59,” DeGrio continued.
Mohamud Noor, is 33 years old and lives in Northeast Minneapolis with his wife, Farhiya Del, and their three children. Noor has worked at the Minnesota Department of Health and Hennepin County Families Division, was appointed to the Council on Black Minnesotans, and served on the boards of the Confederation of Somali Community and The Children’s Theater Company.
Stonewall DFL, with more than 4,000 members state-wide, is a political organization that works for a safe and equitable Minnesota by working to elect LGBT and allied Democrats to office in Minnesota and within the DFL. Stonewall DFL offers advice to candidates and campaigns about LGBT outreach and endorses candidates for local, state and federal DFL candidates. In 2011 100% of Stonewall DFL endorsed candidates have won their respective elections in St Paul municipal elections and several legislative special elections.
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For more information please contact:
David DeGrio (Stonewall DFL)
Nimco Ahmed (Campaign)
Kendal Killian (Campaign)