20B DFL Endorsing Convention
Tuesday evening, May 1st, I was again endorsed by my local DFL endorsing convention. DFLHD 20B, to run for the Minnesota House. My challenger was Mick McGuire who ran
against Glen Grunhagen in 2010, but was redistricted into the same district. Mick was a good challenger and made me work harder. As is usually the case the candidate who can muster the most delegates to attend the convention is the one who prevails.
To start us off the Veterans present were called forward to lead us in the pledge:
After the convention unanimously endorsed Kevin Dahle for the Senate seat and Ryan Wolf for the 20A House seat they moved to my endorsement. I was blessed to have 67 delegates turn out on my behalf even thought the convention was in Montgomery and the weather reports were threatening. I sincerely want to thank all those delegates who were there for me. I also want to thank Mick for running good and vigorous campaign against me. I wish things had been different and we could both be running for a seat in the house.
I had five speakers on my behalf who seconded my nomination and all gave strong speeches. 
Among them were Barbara Helling, one of my Ed. Psych. Professors at St. Olaf, and Cliff Martin, a Northfield student and National delegate to Dem. Convention Both pictured here. We had only ten minutes total to make our case and I wouldn’t have wanted to cut anything they said but that left me with less time to give my speech, so ended up having to cut it down on the fly. I only gave about half the speech I wanted to. So here it is uncut, hope you enjoy it:
Thank you all for being here on the first day of May to take this important step in taking back the Minnesota House. It is a pleasure to be here with you.
I want to thank all those who spoke on my behalf and thank them for their kind words.
On this warm spring day I am reminded of my father who passed away 44 years ago. He was the man I have admired most in my life. A day does not go by that I do not think of him. I do not mean to disregard my mother who some of you know as she also influenced me. But my father was remarkable.
He was small of stature but had a huge heart. He was a scoutmaster in Northfield and occasionally one of his former scouts will stop me on the street and tell me how much he meant to him. I owe to my father a respect for nature and the environment and a true sense of the value of relationships.
I also owe to him a foundation of wisdom shaped by suffering. My father was sick most of his life but greeted every day with a smile.
To this day I remember some of the things he told me. They weren’t original ideas but the way he lived them, and explained them to me continues to make sense and inspire me. Sometimes I wonder if our world has completely turned upside down since his death.
“You get what you pay for.” Was something he said to me. He was suspicious of trying to create anything let alone a society or an economy on the cheap. He would be surprised that we now believe the highest virtue is the cheapest price.
“If you own something you must care for it no one else will.” That goes for the planet as well as your home, your community and your state
“Faith can guide you but it shouldn’t blind you to the needs or beliefs of others.”
“Comfort the afflicted” and it seems we do far too little of that.
“If you believe in something put your best work into it, it will not happen with out your considered effort.”
“Treasure those who walk this life with you everyone has something to offer.” And he meant everyone, something he reminded me of when we would visit residents at the Faribault State institutions.
“Service to others is a high calling and is best done for the joy of doing it.”
And finally, “If you assume the worst of people that is what you get. Instead look for the best in each person and encourage it.”
These are some of the words that have guided me in my life, in my teaching and in my service in the legislature. For me politics is a higher calling – as it is service to others.
You have entrusted me with this service several times in the past I hope I have earned your trust and I hope you will stand with me as we fight to take back our legislature to create jobs, protect our environment and build an economy that works for everyone.
Rice County DFL Convention
The last day of March, Rice County DFL delegates gathered at the Northfield Middle School to debate, deliberate and elect officers and delegates. They also listened to candidates offer speeches. Congressman Tim Walz gave a rousing speech that had delegates on their feet. Most of the county is now represented by Rep. Walz in the First District, and it used to be that way prior to the 2002 redistricting. I for one would be proud to be represented by this veteran who also served his community as a teacher and coach. But Northfield remains in the Second Congressional District.
A fellow Northfielder, Patrick Ganey has thrown his hat in the ring for that office, hoping to win the DFL endorsement to run against Congressman John Klein. I am seeking the endorsement of House District 20B DFLers in a convention that will happen May 1st in Montgomery. But many of the delegates in attendance at the Rice County convention are also delegates to that convention. Following is the message I delivered to them to win their support:
Powerful forces are working against us — they’re working against you and they’re working against me. It is the powerful and not so invisible hand of corporate America. With scare tactics, they’ve weakened the power of unions. Through the courts, they established their rights as faux persons, their money as speech and finally the insistence that they can say anything they please. This enables them to seize control of state legislatures and governorships across the country.
Their goal, no matter what they say to the contrary, is to destroy our middle class economy. They learned how to seize pensions through bankruptcy and hostile buyouts. Now they are setting their sights on the benefits and pensions
of state workers and teachers. They shut down plants and shipped jobs overseas to free themselves of regulations and responsibilities to their workers. In the 1990s for example U.S. multinational corporations shed 2.9 million employees and hired 2.7 foreign workers. Right now in Minnesota and North Dakota at Crystal sugar they lock out union workers and refuse to negotiate and won’t accept agreement on even the original terms they offered.They push their agenda through their political arm ALEC, the American
Legislative Exchange Council. They blame government and taxes for every evil while at the same time demanding bailouts and payments at every turn of the economy. Their political and economic power increases every day.When Pawlenty was Governor he raided every account, took money from schools, technical colleges, every licensing board, every agency so that he would not have to raise taxes on his wealthy friends or be blamed for destroying our infrastructure. He almost came to his senses when the 35w bridge fell into the Mississippi. But then, after a stiff talking to from his buddies, he insisted he would only raise transportation revenue if he got a tax cut for the wealthy. He wanted a direct transfer of public wealth into the private hands of his friends and was willing to hold our safety hostage to get it done. Only a veto over ride by the legislature changed that.
In the same way, corporate bosses like the Koch brothers want to destroy
government, undermine its power, and steal its public wealth so that it
can no longer enforce the principles of a society that has the ability to create a middle class and protect our democracy. You can’t have a democracy without a middle class!Have you seen my little booklet “The Middle Class Amendment”? In it, I put myself on record to return our state and our country to the principles that made us great. I believe we must invest in our people. I believe each and every one of us deserves an opportunity to make his or her life better and contribute in the best way they can to our common good. But if we continue down the path we are going, we will lose these ideals and, worse yet, the chance to get them back.
Last week I was in Washington DC and I walked up and down the Mall visiting the various memorials to the fallen soldiers and the great leaders. I was moved by the inspiring quotes and studied the enduring stone and bronze statues. The symbols of our democracy seem secure and long lasting but across the mall in the Capitol and on the steps of the supreme court you wonder if men and women working there have forgotten that government should serve the people.
You may remember Northwest Airlines CEO Richard Anderson resigned in
2004 to take another lucrative job, with a major health insurance company. He left a company that was headed for bankruptcy and eventual sale to Delta. In spite of Northwest’s troubles, however, Mr. Anderson, like other top executives at Northwest, was covered by three generous company pensions. Anderson cashed his in for a lump-sum payment of $3,028,700. Northwest’s workers had a much harder landing. Half of their jobs were eliminated outright. The survivors saw their traditional guaranteed pensions morph into 401(k) plans funded at what amounted to $85-a-month for every year they worked. At that rate, Anderson’s 14 years with the airline would have resulted in a contribution of $1,190 per month toward a decidedly more modest retirement.Christine, a flight attendant I know, stayed with Delta. In the transition,
Christine lost her union, most of her pension, had her wages cut, and lost seniority standing. She supported her dwindling income with a job as a waitress at a posh country club. Approaching 65, Christine was hoping her pension would provide an acceptable retirement. Instead, it provides her $200 a month and no health insurance. The waitress job helped for a while, but then came the recession and that income dwindled as well. Christine was at a loss for what she might do. She wonders, “What has this country come to?”“What has this country come to?” I’m sure I’m not alone in being troubled by Christine’s question. For the past several years, I’ve been trying to come to terms with the changes we need in our political system to make sure our society and economy can work for all of us.
- This is why I carried the Minnesota Health Plan in the Minnesota House
that would make sure every citizen had access to quality affordable health care.- It’s why I introduced legislation to promote the development of renewable energy that would create jobs and make it possible for home-owners and schools to be able to afford to make use of solar and wind energy.
- It’s why my first bill the governor signed was to reinstate funding for
early childhood and after school programs. Early childhood education,
experts tell us, brings us the greatest return on our investment- It is why I stood up to powerful utility lobbyists to push through legislation to protect homeowners from unfair compensation for land used for power and pipelines. I worked with Sen. Dahle to get bi-partisan support and it passed with strong votes in both the House and Senate.
- It is why I introduced legislation protecting homeowners from foreclosure and why I want to go back to the legislature and make sure that government works for everyone.
-This is why I am running for endorsement for the Minnesota House — why
it is imperative for those of us who believe in democracy to once again be put in charge of it. I want to join Governor Dayton in making Minnesota better for all of us. Let no one forget: “We all do better when we all do better!I still have a campaign committee and am well on my way to raising the funds needed to run a winning campaign. But last year taught all of us a bitter lesson. They can spend all the money they want to elect the candidates they choose. They did it to me, no, TO US, in the last election, and they can do it again.
Only organized people can beat organized money. Yes, let’s raise enough to fight back. But let’s do what money can’t do. Let’s stand up and fight back!
I would be honored to have your endorsement. You can count on me to represent each and every one of you – every single day I am in office. But I can only win if I can count on you. So, I ask you: if you can stand – stand with me, if you can talk – talk to your neighbors, if you can walk – walk with me, and let’s take back our state government.
We Need You Lit Drop Saturday! And Vote November 2nd, 2010!
Oct 26, 2010 Campaign
Hi folks! We hope you are well.~ David continues to work very hard this campaign season. If you have any comments or concerns please e-mail him at david@davidbly.com. In addition, if you’d like to learn more, please see David’s issue page.
Mark your calendars!~ It’s almost time to vote…November 2nd is almost here. If you need a ride to the polls please call 507-581-1119 or 507-645-8328.
There’s still one more chance to help!~ We’re lit dropping this next Saturday, October 30th, 2010. Here’s the details, and if you can help, we THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts.
LIT DROP DETAILS ===>
Saturday, October 30th, between the hours of 10AM and 6PM (please come at your convenience).
To pick up literature, please choose from one of the following two sites:
StO students and other volunteers– Please call Holly at 507-581-1119 to get a heads up beforehand. Pick up lit at 920 W Second Street, Northfield. Routes are on the west side of Hwy 3 (StO side of Hwy 3) and are ready to go. Sign in, grab a refreshment, a list, and head out. You won’t be knocking on the door but just placing literature at the door. After you are done walking your route please return the list to 920 W. Second Street. THANKS A MILLION! YOU ARE GREAT!
Carleton students and other volunteers– Please call Holly at 507-581-1119 to get a heads up beforehand. Pick up lit at 1512 Lia Drive, Northfield. Routes are on the east side of Hwy 3 (Carleton side of Hwy 3) and are ready to go. Sign in, grab a refreshment, a list, and head out. You won’t be knocking on the door but just placing literature at the door. After you are done walking your route please return the list to 1512 Lia Drive. THANKS A MILLION! YOU ARE GREAT!
Tags: 2010, David Bly Campaign, Lit Drop
