OWATONNA — Between “Twittergate,” famous party bigwigs and Franni Franken’s pie, the race for Senate District 26 has been anything but typical, even for a special election.
State elections in District 26 are often a sleepy affair, with well-known incumbents sliding into victory with little contention. Not so this time around. The campaign trail has been on fire — candidates had just one month to make their case — and tense, even ugly at times.
Following six-term Republican Sen. Dick Day’s December resignation, the race to fill his seat is split three ways: Democratic-Farmer-Labor Candidate Jason Engbrecht, Republican Mike Parry and Independence Party Candidate Roy Srp.
And their differences do not end with party affiliation. Engbrecht is a scientist and professor at St. Olaf College. He holds a Ph.D. in Atomic Physics and studies “fundamental interactions of matter” when he is not sitting on the Faribault school board.
Srp is a railroad man and a three-term mayor in Waseca who turned his name into a campaign slogan, “No vowels, no nonsense.” He frequently points out that he has made a living “cleaning up train wrecks.”
Then there is Parry, a businessman and former city council member from Waseca whose name appeared on the national radar during the first controversy in the bid for St. Paul — the incident referred to in some circles as “Twittergate.”
The race took a heated turn early when Parry came under fire for some messages that he allegedly posted on his Twitter account — messages that have since been “scrubbed.” In one, he allegedly referred to President Barack Obama as a “power hungry arrogant black man” and in another, he linked Democrats with pedophiles.
The posts were brought to light by bloggers at the Minnesota Progressive Project, a liberal site that posted screenshots of two posts that have allegedly been removed from Parry’s Twitter feed.
In the hubbub that followed, the DFL called for an apology while nationally known Web site The Huffington Post seized on the story. Conservative bloggers were quick to strike back. A Web site called Minnesota Democrats Exposed took aim at Engbrecht, sending someone with a camcorder to all of his public appearances. The site used the footage to put forward what Engbrecht called “gross, misleading statements” about his attendance and actions on the Faribault school board. On the Republican end, Parry’s critics have also charged that he was frequently missed at Waseca council meetings as well.
The blog-wars added to what Srp described an “air of incivility” in this race. As a third-party candidate, Srp stayed out of much of the Web-based melee, but he said that the campaign trail has changed drastically since his last run for state government in 1996.
“It is so much more intense, not that I have a problem with that, but I am really surprised by how it has changed,” Srp said.
For his part, Srp frequently criticized partisan bickering between the DFL and GOP.
“My two opponents don’t have a clue as to what’s going to happen to them in the next week. I do. It happened to me. As we go into the homestretch, the DFL is going to be saying that Mike Parry is a liar — his tweets and all that other stuff — you mark my words and watch,” Srp said at a forum on Jan. 14. “As a matter of fact, Mike Parry wanted to develop Maplewood Park in Waseca and 1,500 signatures came in saying don’t do that. I want those 1,500 people to vote for me because he wanted to do that and after that happened he turned around and said ‘No, I just wanted to bring attention to Maplewood Park.’ That was a lie. He wanted to develop it.”
Srp went onto say that the GOP would not spare Engbrecht either.
“The Republican Party is going to say that Jason is a baby killer — isn’t that something, a Senate district race and we’re going to do that. And they will,” Srp said. “That’s what’s going on and that’s what the problem is.”
But faceless bloggers were not the only ones to hit the trail on their respective candidates behalf. All three candidates got an unusual amount of support from their parties — monetary and otherwise.
Unlike most state candidates, all the candidates got endorsements from famous party leaders. U.S. Senator Al Franken hit the pavement in Owatonna for Engbrecht, with an apple pie from his wife in tow for the campaign volunteer who knocked on the most doors. Engbrecht also got considerable support from labor: The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations announced they would back his bid for Senate.
In the week that followed, a spate of Republican VIPs took up Parry’s cause. Gov. Tim Pawlenty appeared at the Owatonna Country Club on his behalf and others gave their endorsement: Departing Sen. Dick Day and U.S. Congressional Representatives Michele Bachmann and John Kline, who both issued endorsements for Parry’s bid.
Srp had some IP dignitaties in his corner as well — former U.S. Congressman Tim Penny, former U.S. Sen. Dean Barkley, publisher Tom Horner, former Republican Minnesota House Speaker Rod Searl and Joe Repya, a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Army.
With just two days left, the candidates are hitting the trail harder than ever, they said. All will be out door-knocking till the bitter end, and volunteers have been tapped to make campaign cold calls. Parry said his only regret was that he didn’t have more time to campaign.
“I wish it had been a little longer — I would have been agreeable to more debates,” Parry said. “I wish I would have had more time to shake more hands. I truly do.”
All sides are hoping that campaigning during this race will add up to high voter turnout — perhaps the most challenging aspect of a special election.
Minnesota’s last special election in 2008 yielded little voter turnout. Of 50,161 registered voters only 12,323 people (25 percent) showed up at the polls for the special election for the Senate in District 25, an area that encompasses parts of Rice, Sibley, Scott and Le Sueur counties. By contrast, the general election in 2008 saw 77.5 percent voter turnout statewide.
The special election is on Tuesday. Anyone who is not presently registered can vote if a registered voter in their precinct can vouch for them or if they can present two billing statements with proof of current residency.
By: atlascollapsed on 1/24/10
I hit the blogs both left and right, including the ones pictured in the photo's. While the info many of them profess usually holds a tiny bit of truth they all spin things to a certain degree.
If anyone wants a good laugh I recomend going back and forth between far left and far right blogs. Takes you right back to those good old second grade arguments we all had that usually ended up with "I know you are but what am I?" or the time tested "Liar,Liar, pants on fire!"
By: O.Tool on 1/24/10
Could not agree more, ac. Where you're amused, I end up just more frustrated with what political debate has become.
The name-calling is bad enough. What also drives me nuts is the inability to ever acknowledge that the "other side" may have done something good. If either party were to discover a sure-fire, no-cost cure for cancer tomorrow, the other no doubt would degrade this because it's somehow more expensive to keep these patients alive.
By: TheMole on 1/24/10
Just think, only 3 years until a new President. Campaigning will probably start soon...ugh!!
By: pookah on 1/24/10
Obama is gone... Unless he has a complete about-face, he's not going to be re-elected. I'll bet a ham sandwich on that one.
By: uffda on 1/24/10
I wonder if anyone has looked into the financial background of the candidates for this race...such as tax filings, both personal and business in ALL the states they've previously worked & lived in???? If anybody has known the candiate personally or thru business...(the one that has been recently all "a twitter")...way too much ego and blather to be the candidate to serve this district. Somebody needs to scrutinize the background and history a little closer!! I am a (R) but know first hand from past experience that "twitter bug" is NOT the right candidate. With the current President...this county's screwed up worse than it ever has been...don't let your choice, on a more local level, of somebody who couldn't explain his outbursts, tiraids and immaturity with "Twittergate" pour salt into already gaping wounds.
By: atlascollapsed on 1/24/10
Will you be getting that sandwich from Tattoo dave?
By: pookah on 1/24/10
and we have proof that you are a Republican because... oh, that's right, we don't have any proof. Name please...
ac - that's funny! =)
By: pookah on 1/24/10
You want to know what's just sick. I always thought the liberal media was bad, but you can't even mention the word Emmer at minnesotademocratsexposed.com because the minute you defend the guy and rationalize with Marty Siefert's supporters, they blackball you.
Obviously, there's a problem within the Republican party in terms of a schism that just keep growing rather than retreating.
One story contained Emmer's Steering Committee list, which David Thul is on. One blogger basically called it out, called it a weak list, and he's a Seifert supporter. So I went in (on my third username because I'm wondering why bloggers are blackballed for supporting Emmer), and very nicely said the list contained every single chair and vice-chair from different counties throughout the state, all organized by district, PlUS Pat Anderson and their supporters lean Emmer.
So what does the blog admin do? Gets rid of that comment.
I know I can be brutal, I get that. However, this all started with the same blogger calling Tom Emmer a Jesse Ventura type. I defended Emmer since I met him and had a one hour real conversation with him. I saw nothing that said Jesse Ventura. This guy goes nuts (I guess I was looking in the mirror at that point), and I come back and call him one name - RINO. OOOOO, sticks and stones, wow!
So I defend Thul (who's not weak), the other chairs, and basically state Marty isn't one I would support. Blackballed.
Reality Check - Have at it. I'm serious, here's the site, sign up - minnesotademocratsexposed.com. Go get 'em.
By: RealityCheck on 1/24/10
Thanks. It may shock you to learn that I've only ever been to two other blog sights regarding the democrats, one time each, and I made no comments. Preaching to the choir is a bigger waste of time than it is here. : )
The political discussion on all sides needs to get back to the issues, without name calling. I've been guilty of it when someone opens both barrels and really says something ignorant and some people make it very easy. I pledge to do my best not to from here out.
By: uffda on 1/24/10
pookah...good luck!!! LOL That's some rage & hate you're filled with!!
By: pookah on 1/24/10
Again, where's the rage? WOW! LOL! If your ability to persuade is based upon this, GL to you too!!
It just creeped me out that a site you would think supports open debate like that one, well, I'm sure it doens't anymore, would go ahead and decide it doesn't want to debate and through its actions (or inactions) support ONE candidate, when the other has plenty of support behind him and its growing.
WOW!!! I'm just floored... Oh, that's right, I guess we can label it rage or whatever it is uffda wants to call it.
What's your name again? Oh... that's right, heeheehee, you can't put it out there because you are too scared to do it.
LOL!
By: Thuljunior on 1/24/10
There is plenty of garbage available on the internet on either side of the political aisle. Unfortunately, most of 'Twittergate' was not well understood or reported on by the media.
The best rule of thumb is what O Tool mentioned-people who resort to name calling and over-hyped rhetoric are usually the least trustworthy sources of information.
By: pookah on 1/24/10
O.Tool never mentioned anything here. Actually RC did.
By: waryofparry on 1/24/10
uffda - I think you hit the nail on the head, there! Someone should check out "Twitters" past financial dealings. There much to talk about there!
By: Thuljunior on 1/24/10
O Tool was first but you are right, RC expanded.
By: pookah on 1/24/10
Anything to take a good man down, that's how I see it. Well, good luck and God bless!
By: pookah on 1/24/10
No David, I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you. RC was ahead of O.Tool in that regard. I've watched this forum all day since that travesty happened at that stupid blog spot.
Hey - anyone want to call me out on the use of the word, stupid, go right ahead. The Virginia MN Dem used it in a story run today at the Star Tribune - He called ALL OF US STUPID for believing it takes a tax increase to balance a budget.
God we are sooooo stupid.
By: pookah on 1/25/10
I meant - he called us stupid for NOT believing it takes a tax increase to balance the budget. I'm sooooo stupid.
By: secretsquirrel on 1/25/10
I really need to spend more time reading politics.... Sorry pookah but when you mentioned "Emmer" I thought you were referring to an old knock knock joke: Knock knock! Who's there? Emmer! Emmer who? Emmer some mighty nice er, eyebrows you have there!
What's next? Emmergate? Oh wait, that sounds like... oh never mind.
By: waryofparry on 1/25/10
IMPORTANT FYI - As a former Waseca City Councilmember, I have worked with both Roy Srp and Mike Parry. I am a life-long Republican. This election my husband and I will NOT be supporting the Republican candidate for a number of reasons; some of which were stated in an article that you can search out on the Waseca County News site and the Owatonna People's Press, "Those Who Served with Parry and Srp..."
I was recently contacted by a Waseca resident regarding Mike Parry doorknocking at their home. This person said that Mike Parry mentioned me by name and that I was working for the democrats. (Funny, huh!) This person made somewhat of a joke of it by saying that maybe Mike was afraid of little old me. Well, whether he is or not, this is just ANOTHER reason why I can not trust Mike Parry to be my representative in St. Paul.
By: RealityCheck on 1/25/10
I appreciate waryofparry's honesty here. While I'd like to think that Mr. Engbrecht will beat Mr. Parry and Mr. Srp, I think you will see plenty of Democrats changing their stripes out of frustration with President Obama, thus making it quite the toss up for tomorrow. While I am voting for him, I won't be surprised if Engbrecht loses. Rome didn't burn, nor was it built, in a day though (ha ha), and people need to be patient with the economic recovery process. With all the instant relief going to Haiti and all the money we burn in the Middle East, I can see how a person can get impatient. I do support the Haitian relief though because we never should have let it get that bad before the earthquake. Ben Bernenke should hit really the road though. So should Adrian Peterson. Woulda sat his butt down at the half if I had been the coach.
By: Thuljunior on 1/25/10
What a tough call with AP, RC. Hard to bench one of the best running backs in the league, but hard to let him keep dropping the ball.
In the end, only because Chester Taylor is so good, I have to agree with you that they should have benched him.
By: commonsense28 on 1/26/10
A vote for Engbrecht is a vote for higher taxes. Enough said! He even admitted it. I want MY money. Enough goes to government already. I'm tired of shelling it out.
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