2010 Endorsed Candidates

GOVERNOR
Tom Emmer
Minnesota families have felt the impact of a struggling economy. We live in a world where spending beyond our means is not an option. We balance our budgets by cutting expenses to pay for essential needs. Food on the table. Clothes for our kids. The roof over our head. State government must do the same. The state has a major budget deficit and the need for a long-term solution can be found in one place: spending. We must reduce the size of our bloated government. This will naturally reduce government spending. Continue reading...

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Annette Meeks
Meeks is currently President of the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, a non-profit educational organization that actively advocates the principles of individual freedom, personal responsibility, economic freedom, and limited government. Prior to founding the Freedom Foundation, Meeks spent nine years at the Center of the American Experiment as Director of Government Affairs and Public Programs and President/CEO. While at the Center of the American Experiment, Meeks spearheaded the Minnesota Policy Blueprint, a comprehensive review of all aspects of the executive branch of Minnesota state government based on conservative and free-market tests. Continue reading...

SECRETARY OF STATE
Dan Severson
Dan currently serves as the Republican Minority Whip in the MN House of Representatives. Elected as part of the leadership team, the Whips responsibility is to help generate vision for the direction the caucus is going and work to ensure that each member is part of the team. As part of an overall success for 2009 session, the Republican Caucus worked to bring meaningful reform ideas, shrink the size of government and promote sustainable economic solutions that can make Minnesota prosperous again. Dan's other caucus positions of leadership include Minority lead on Housing Public Health Finance committee and past Vice Chair on Government Operations and Veteran Affairs. Continue reading...

STATE AUDITOR
Pat Anderson
An independent, fiscally conservative reform-minded State Auditor is essential to making the kind of public sector reforms required to address structural problems in the way state and local governments interact. Supporting my candidacy is choosing reform. Real reform requires vision, leadership, trust and the will to get the job accomplished. And while others may talk about reform, I have actually accomplished it in state government as State Auditor and as the Commissioner of the Department of Employee Relations, a position I eliminated when I merged the essential services of DOER into other departments and eliminated the rest. I am probably the only commissioner in Minnesota history to sign her own layoff papers. Continue reading...

ATTORNEY GENERAL
Chris Barden
Trust in government is at an all time low - 80% of voters say they do not trust the government. Our current AG is an incumbent who owes her office to a 40 year political machine. Voters are not happy with incumbents from either party. I am seeking to restore trust to the AG's office by fairly and sensibly representing all Minnesotans, including the poor and needy as well as large employers and businesses. I also intend to restore morale to the office by reforming the troubled work environment that has apparently led to so many complaints, allegations, resignations and firings in the current AG's office. Continue reading...

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MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT
Tim Tingelstad
I am committed to preserving the people's constitutional right to choose their judges through meaningful, contested, non-partisan judicial elections. I believe that justice is served when judges fear God and love the people, and as a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, I will be impartial to the parties, while partial to the original intent of the Constitution. The hearts of our judges are critical because, "A good man brings forth good out of the good stored in his heart. An evil man brings forth evil out of the evil stored in his heart. For it is out of the overflow of the heart that the tongue speaks." (Luke 6:45) If we want the decisions of our judges to be good, then we must pray that the hearts of our judges are turned toward God. Continue reading...

MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT
Greg Wersal
Minnesota has a problem. The problem is MONEY. We are facing huge deficits. School funding is a large part of the state budget. In many states, when the funding has been cut for public education, the teacher unions and the school districts sue and get court orders forcing the state to increase funding for education. The judges we elect to the Minnesota Supreme Court will most likely be facing this issue. The Minnesota Constitution Art. 13, Sec. 1 states, "The legislature shall make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as will secure a thorough and efficient system of public schools throughout the state." If we elect a Governor or legislators who oppose increases in state funding for education, we should expect the teachers unions and school districts to do what they have done in state after state -- try to use the courts to force the state to increase school funding. Continue reading...

MINNESOTA COURT OF APPEALS
Dan Griffith
I believe judges need to be accountable to the people. Minnesota's judges were always supposed to be elected (MN Const. Art VI Sec. 7). However, the election process was basically a rubber stamp for the incumbent because the judicial election rules prevented voters from knowing much about their judges or any challengers. As a result judges were really only accountable to themselves and therefore if they acted poorly or if the "power" went to their heads there really wasn't anything you could do about it. I started my education in my hometown of International Falls, MN graduating from Falls High School in 1980 and then later the local community college (Rainy River Community College). I took two years off from school to work and serve as a Senate Page for two complete sessions. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota (1988) with a double concentration in History and a minor in South Asian Studies. I was fortunate to find a job with the Department of Human Services after college and worked there while attending law school at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, MN. I was admitted to the bar in May 1993 and reported for Basic Combat Training in June 1993 at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. [Excerpt by Dan Griffith.]

CONGRESS: Congressional District 7
Lee Byberg We are living in an extra-ordinary time where America is at a cross-road. To ensure continuation of the American Experience of liberty and progress, we must recommit ourselves to limited government, free enterprise and individual responsibility. In all of this, we must also recognize that economic success is tied to a people with moral principles. Having lived with people deprived of liberty in other countries, my intellect and spirit is forged to champion the American Experience to a new generation of Minnesotans.
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STATE LEGISLATURE: Senate District 10
Gretchen Hoffman Gretchen's main job has been that of wife and mother. Gretchen believes it is our moral obligation that, for our kids and grandkids, we must leave this state and country better than we found it. Out of control government spending has endangered that future for our kids. Many in our government have forgotten about the personal responsibility needed for success and that more government programs encourage dependence, which is the polar opposite of what is needed to restore our state and country to greatness.
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STATE LEGISLATURE: House District 10A
Bud Nornes Bud Nornes is husband to wife, Joyce, and father to three children. He attended Brown Institute of Broadcasting, and then want on to own and broadcast on KJJK AM/FM Radio. Nornes has served as a Representative of the Minnesota State House of Representatives since 1996. Bud is on the following committees: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division, Energy Finance and Policy Division, Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, and K-12 Education Policy and Oversight.
Continue reading, and see Bud's Voting Record

STATE LEGISLATURE: House District 10B
Mark Murdock Mark Murdock is married to Pat and has two children, Adam and Nicholas. He was born in Oregon, but has resided in Minnesota most of his life. Mark attended Southwest State College. He is the owner of ACE Hardware in Perham, Minnesota. He has served as a Representative since 2008. Mark is on the following committees: Commerce and Labor, Game, Fish and Forestry Division, K-12 Education Policy and Oversight, and Subcommittee on Labor and Consumer Protection.
Continue reading, and see Mark's Voting Record