Daily Reformer: Candidates at Farmfest

Good morning, Reformers. 

A crew of Reformers is at Farmfest in Redwood County today. Look for our coverage of the forums featuring candidates for governor and U.S. Senate. 

Mike Lindell said Monday that he was stepping down as MyPillow CEO to focus on the race for governor. GOP Chair Alex Plechash continues to try to undercut Lindell, this time asking DFL Secretary of State Steve Simon for guidance on Lindell’s eligibility given the issue of Lindell’s residency. (The Minnesota Constitution requires residency for a year before election.) As Michael Brodkorb pointed out Monday, the GOP chair’s own convention credentials committee allowed Lindell to compete at the convention in May, so why are they raising these questions only now? All this might wind up helping the pillow mogul motormouth after his recent self-inflicted immigration amnesty gaffe.

Tea leaves: Michigan Democratic Senate primary goes to Dr. Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive former public health official, over U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, a moderate. Definitely closer than you’d have expected given the triumphalism of El-Sayed supporters the past week. Coverage from our colleagues in Michigan. 

We generally don’t cover city issues, which is why we’ve not reported on the mess at St. Paul City Hall, but I’m glad Rochelle Olson has provided some much-needed perspective on the allegations of sexual harassment against Mayor Kaohly Her by city police. (Police being famously demure when it comes to saucy jokes and other HR issues — eyeroll indicating irony.) As Olson writes, the police department has reason to take aim at Her, who inherited a budget deficit she’s trying to solve: “The mayor’s been busy digging into the crannies of city finances, including the Police Department budget, which will not be spared.”

On the other side of the ledger, Her’s administration is clearing the first of three encampments today. A recent emergency meeting with the St. Paul legislative delegation — given her recent time in the Legislature, you’d think this would be a Her asset — went off the rails, with a tape leaked to Axios. 

Back to Farmfest, U.S. Rep. Pete “my boss is a Chilean mining giant” Stauber defended his colleague U.S. Tom Emmer from criticism by saying he’s “fighting for his life.” Hmm. Emmer has had foot surgeries this year that required him to be in a wheelchair but there’s no sign he’s fighting for his life, Jake Sherman reports after talking to Emmer.

To the Reformer: 

Madi McVan came upon this New York Times story from 1992 about Duluth’s domestic violence program. The Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas — which I learned this morning is a Duluth nickname — pioneered mandatory arrests for domestic violence cases. 

“But the arrest policy alone is not what makes Duluth's perhaps the most imitated intervention program in the country. Its purpose is to make every agent of the justice system — police, prosecutors, probation officers, judges — deliver the same message: domestic violence is a crime that a community will not tolerate. The program's centerpiece is D.A.I.P., which acts as a constant, heckling monitor of all the organizations. The project … also runs batterers' groups and supervises custody visits between batterers and their children.”

Younger readers may not realize that domestic violence was often considered a private family matter. Similarly, drunk driving was not taken seriously until the 1980s, thanks to the incredible work of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. 

This should remind us that progress is possible, and to inspire us to remember that Minnesota has often been at the forefront of innovative, collaborative, bipartisan policymaking that has made a difference in people’s lives.

As for 1992, here’s a fun live version of “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” though the album “Nevermind” came out in 1991. “Chronic” was released in 1992, and here’s “Nuthin’ but a ‘G Thang.’”

Have a great day all! JPC