Public cynicism about gutter politics just got more ammunition in Aitkin and Crow Wing Counties.
In the Oct. 24 Dispatch, a letter from Stephen Sundquist of Hill City called for a write-in campaign in the House District 10B contest for David Strand. That’s me.
Sundquist, a Democrat, opposes DFL nominee Joe Radinovich because “he agrees with almost everything Republican Dale Lueck, had to say.” Also, he cites my Aitkin Age articles in opposition to Tom Emmer containing all the principles that make Sundquist a Democrat. He will write my name on his ballot and encourages all true Democrats to do the same.
Only none of what Sundquist says is true.
Stephen Sundquist is a 24-year-old University of Minnesota graduate who lives in Minnetonka. He also had a job, field director of the Minnesota House Republican Campaign Committee. He lost that job the day after his letter was published and the state DFL office filed a complaint with the Office of Administrative Hearings.
Obviously this was a brazen plot to play with the minds of Democrat voters in Aitkin and Crow Wing counties.
The voters in District 10B should not let GOP operatives get away with their deception. Send Joe Radinovich to St. Paul by voting for him and telling your neighbors to do the same.
While Joe has run a clean, above board campaign, the same cannot be said of his opponents. The evidence is this fake letter and the storm of ugly full color flyers attacking Joe that voters are getting by mail from Republican sources.
Just one final question. In firing Sundquist the state GOP said they do not condone this behavior. If that’s true, why didn’t the District 10 Republicans who worked with Sundquist blow the whistle on him?
David Strand
Aitkin
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Comments (12)
Add commentStephen Sundquist epitomized dirty politics
Good question, David. Stephen Sundquist epitomized dirty politics when he wrote a factitious letter pretending to be a Democrat from Hill City. It should have been very easy for people from Lueck's campaign who worked with him to reveal this. And I'm curious. Has the Dispatch stopped the practice of calling first time letter writers to confirm that they are who they say they are?
Joe Radinovich should feel very proud of his honest and above board campaign. He's the kind of man we need in St. Paul
Was this Sundquist's only dirty trick?
Just had another thought.
Sundquist was working on Lueck's campaign in 10B for quite some time before he was outed for forging a letter encouraging Democrats to write in David Strand's name instead of voting for Joe Radinovich. Do we know if Sundquist committed other fraudulent actions before getting caught? Do we have any reassurance that this was a one time fraud, or could there be many other actions taken to undercut a fair election in 10B?
Call me paranoid if you wish, but this was such a flagrant act of dishonesty. I'm not sure I can trust anything in Mr. Lueck's campaign after this.
Wow!
I am kind of new to all this politics stuff, but if that were true? That Dale Lueck did not have any knowledge of someone working so close to him, doing those unethical things. Why would we want someone like Dale Lueck running the House of Representatives? Is that what he will say about all important issues?? " I didnt know anything about it?!" Is that what all his years and maturity have taught him? When the tough questions get asked just say " Gee, I dont know." It sounds like he keeps a better eye on his cows than he did Sundquist. Terrible! It is a shame. Republicans are worried about Voter I.D. and it jeoparding the integrity of our system. I think they would be better advised to keep Dale Lueck out of St. Paul. I am sure he has many more Sundquists out in the pasture. Vote Joe Radinovich. He will keep it clean. He will keep it honest and he will make you proud!
Heres what's intriguing.
David Strand's letter doesn't get posted when written. Responses to his letter don't make the list of open forum comments or most commented topics. How does one open a conversation regarding the shady operations against Joe Radinovich? Is there any body out there who can answer these concerns?
Address your concerns to Keith Hansen
the Brainerd Dispatch's Joseph Goebbels wannabe.
Read all about it...Lincoln...GOP...
Republicans are coming unhinged
Losing an election?
Sundquist - did he really write it?
I wonder if this young man just signed his name to this letter after the Dale Lueck campaign asked him to. The truth will come out.
Meanwhile, there is no question about who to vote for: Joe
Radinovich
The panic is in Obama's
camp. He won't attempt to get Congress to even postpone the election untill his New York fraithfull have power for the voting machines. Guess why. one reason is he'll try to tie his loss up in court and refuse to step down. The other is he wants the election over before the WHOLE TRUTH is public about Libya and he is exposed. This Lying tyrant is going down just like he should! His little henchmen and union reps will follow.
WOW!
To FnB, what does this have to do with Dale Lueck and his sneaky tactics?? You are out of touch with reality. Oh, I think there is panic. Panic at Dale Lueck's house, thus all the negative ads that EVERYONE is so tired of. Voters will go with a refreshing change! Joe Radinovich!!!
you puzzle me
fnb, you puzzle me. Sometimes you enter these conversations with reason and wit. Then other times you resort to name-calling and really caustic comments. And you obviously haven't kept up with the amount of detail now available about the 4 Americans (2 government and 2 independent contractors) who were killed in Benghazi.
And as an observer asks, how does this fit with our conversation regarding dirty tricks in local races?
fyi, Strand's letter came in before the deadline, but didn't get on the web site until later.