On Thursday evening, St. Olaf College Democrats heard from Mayoral candidates Betsey Buckheit and Lee Lansing as well as County Commissioner Kathleen Doran-Norton and City Council candidates Clarice Grabau and Victor Summa. They all did a fine job talking about the important part college students play in enhancing the life of the Northfield community.
I brought up the end of the evening and talked about what shaped my political thinking and what convinced me to run for office. Before I began, remembering my own first run for office, city council, back in 1974, I thanked all the other candidates for running for office and pointed out to the students that many times the politicians who really have the most affect on our daily lives are these local politicians and it takes courage to run for office knowing that you can’t please everyone and sometimes the people who may most angry with you could be your neighbors and friends. . .
I talked about 1968 as the formative year for me. A time of loss of heroes and a divided country troubled over a war that divided sentiments and Americans at their core, including the deaths of
Martin Luther King,
Robert Kennedy and my own father. I talked about the problems we have faced as a state the past five years and the need to be honest about the challenges we face. You’ve heard it all here before!