An impressive forum

I would like to personally thank everyone that attended the Election Law and Voting Rights forum on Feb. 2 at Central Lakes College. I was deeply moved and impressed by the fantastic number of people who took the time out of their busy schedules to learn more about voter rights, one of the most important elements of our American Republic. It was indeed an honor to be asked to moderate this event.

It made me feel proud and happy to know so many people take our voting right seriously, as all of us should.

A special thank you also goes to Don Ryan,Crow Wing County attorney, Deb Erickson, Crow Wing County Deputy Auditor/Treasurer for sponsoring such an important event, to our esteemed panelists, Mary Kiffmeyer, state representative (and former secretary of state), Pam Hoope, legal director at the Minnesota Disability Law Center, Chuck Samuelson, executive director at ACLU of Minnesota, Clare Wilson, voter outreach representative for the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, and Dan McGrath, executive director of Minnesota Majority.

Thank you to the Brainerd Dispatch and Lakeland News for coverage of the event and to Dave Henschke, media specialist for Lakes Media Collaborative for filming the event to be re-broadcast on the Public Access Channel.

I hope this forum will, in a small way, contribute to keeping the state of Minnesota a leader when it comes to voter turnout.

Chris Kellett

Brainerd