David Dill was a diehard mining advocate. Following his death, though, the DFL doesn’t want to hold an endorsing convention, most likely to avoid a fight between the pro-mining parts of the Iron Range DFL and the anti-mining progressives. Paul Fish, the DFL chairman of the district, issued a statement on why they chose not to hold an endorsing convention, saying “The residents of House District 3A lost a true champion with the passing of Rep. David Dill. The voters of 3A deserve the opportunity to select the DFL candidate who best represents their interests. Therefore, a DFL endorsing convention for the 3A seat will not be held. Participation in the September 29th primary is encouraged.”
What’s interesting about that decision is that Bill Hansen, “a favorite of many progressive party activists, was also widely favored to win the endorsement.” This throws everything up in the air. Is Fish trying to hide Mr. Hansen’s anti-mining credentials? What’s known is that Rob Ecklund has a major endorsement from US Steel. While I don’t know the district that well, I’d have to think that the candidate with a major endorsement like that should be the favorite.
One of the things I would be looking for very carefully is to see if the DFL doesn’t secretly push their “favorite” in ways inappropriate (not that the DFL understands the word) for a local party committee.
Nothing stops them from endorsing AND a primary. What are they trying to pull?
Tom Bakk is an idiot. A turncoat. Sure, off point a bit, but I wanted to get the thought off my chest.
J. Ewing - Misunderstand what word? “Favorite,” or “push?”
The range knows very well about what Hansen is about and his environmental activist history. In the middle part of 3A he has as much love as Becky Rom.(Sarcasm)
A straight forward answer where he stands. Background information on where environmental activist Bill Hansen turned candidate Bill Hansen in 3A stands.
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2250&dat=20040705&id=j8RkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pIYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3389,2736959&hl=en
House candidates to debate in Ely this Thursday at 7 p.m. at VCC
http://elyecho.com/articles/2015/09/11/house-candidates-debate-ely-thursday-7-pm-vcc
Thanks for that information. I’d appreciate it if you could return & comment on Thursday’s debate.
I’m not sure I can make it. You can listen to the debate on WELY Radio and that is online as well. Hope that helps.
Thanks. That helps quite a bit, actually.
If you missed it, here is the video online, streaming via Ely TV.
Ely TV Show Detail: District 3A DFL forum primary Video:
Show ID 1013 Streaming
Event Date: 9/18/2015
Length: 01:34:29
http://70.100.64.202/cablecast/public/Show.aspx?ChannelID=1&ShowID=1013
Polymet comments appears to run from 1:06:30 to around 1:14:30. in the above video.
Thanks for that information. I’ll check it out this am.