Redistricting put Sen. Paul Gazelka in District 10 as the only incumbent state senator. I thought he’d run for re-election there, especially since it’s now leaning more Republican than before. Besides, he’s represented Crow Wing County for nearly two bienniums (four years); first as a state representative and now as state senator. His constituents were counting on him to run again and continue as their state senator.
Instead he’s abandoning them and moving here where he’s a complete stranger to a large part of the district. He claims he wants to continue representing Morrison County. But he’s moving into Cass County, the northern part of the district, which is only a few miles from his current residence. Why? Probably because the new District 9 leans more Republican than the new District 10 and Gazelka figures he’d have an easier time getting elected here. Does this sound self-serving to you?
Gazelka didn’t have to abandon his home district for us. He represented Morrison County for less than two years (almost a biennium). That doesn’t entitle him to receive our endorsement or to be elected our senator. He’s trying to make his decision sound helpful to us; but only wants an easy election for himself.
He claims many people were uncertain how to proceed after redistricting. That certainly wasn’t us! We had two active party people considering the race. Then Gazelka called and asked them not to challenge him so they stepped aside.
Now, we do have a local candidate: Ron Kresha, a 15-year resident of Little Falls. He’s a business owner and entrepreneur who’s been a teacher and company president. He’s very active in the community and knows how to create jobs and attract new businesses. He’s exactly what we need: a qualified District 9 resident, not a carpetbagger/outsider.
Clara Kedrowski
Little Falls
Comments (8)
Add commentoh clara...
your politics are really disappointing. you are still holding onto koering's past. even kresha admits he has helped koering, you are really stretching things here. it's clear that there are just bad feelings from long ago that you and those in the koering camp, including wenzel et al can't let go of.
i just want to ask one thing, try to keep it classy, ok? you claim gazelka doesn't respect the process because he's moving. well, what do you do? over the years how many people have you and your gang publicly smeared just because you are a pro life democrat who is pretending to be a republican? how is that respecting the process? you are not.
mr wenzel, clara, kresha and koering...we do not need chicago style politics in morrison county or in any county in minnesota. you're a very disappointing and disgruntled group of people.
dont-tread
I for one disagree with your theory of Chicago style politics. This race isn't about Koering, it is about two good candidates both wanting to represent Senate 9. We should all be thankful that these men want to serve our area. As a party we need to come together behind the endorsed candidate. Until then lets not be judgmental. Take the time to get to know both Gazelka and Kresha they are both fine men trying to serve our district.
thanks, mngop...
i know all of the previously mentioned company well and the history therein. you may not be aware of who and what is behind the upcoming arguments and previous lte's, but i am. i know very well who and what they are up to and they do not have honorable intentions, particularly kresha.
i agree with you on whomever is endorsed is who we need to stand behind. but the ways in which they are trying to manipulate the endorsement should not be tolerated.
i for one am ashamed at and disappointed in what this little group is doing. they have been slamming and smearing good people for years and i am tired of it, and i am tired of their chicago-thug-style of hurting people.
I DO KNOW ALL THE ABOVE
I DO KNOW ALL THE ABOVE MENTIONED. I would consider them all friends and I would consider Gazelka the same. However, this is an open seat. Gazelka made a decision to move and run here. Good for him. Mr. Kresha lives here and decided to run for an open seat. You claim that this is Chicago style politics. I believe both sides are passion for there candidate. I'm pretty sure that Wenzel, Kedrowski, and Koering didn't sit around a table and decide hey lets put Ron Kresha in the race he knows whats best for district 9. However if you would like to smear Kresha's good name by accusing him of political thuggery go ahead your just showing your true colors. Unfortunately that reflects on Gazelka and his whole campaign. Not sure that is what Paul Gazelka would want.
i don't think he would either
and you make a good point. but i cannot support your defense of clara, wenzel, koering and kresha's intentions. i don't believe they are honorable. that is my only point.
i'm not trying to smear anyone's name, but when a name is lent to someone, and that someone has earned a very bad reputation, then..................
i already agreed with you that whomever the endorsed candidate is, is who we'd need to stand behind.
What is the difference in positions between these two candidates
Dont-tread and mngop, can you explain briefly, what are the substantive differences between the positions on issues of Paul Gazelka and Ron Kresha? Your comments regarding this letter are a little too "inside baseball" for the relative outsider.
My main concern about Sen. Gazelka is that he, along with many of his newer colleagues in St. Paul, appears to support governing-by-amendment, rather than doing the tough work of legislating. Does Mr. Kresha have a different view? Does Mr. Kresha share Sen. Gazelka's seeming priorities for said amendments (and so-called social legislation), or is he more in the tradition of Republicans "of old" (small gov't Republicans, who took care of the dollars-and-cents/sense issues about which many Minnesotans care)?
Get to know Ron Kresha
I have known Ron for many years and if you have any questions about his positions or motivations, I would suggest giving him a call or send an email.
I think that you will find him to be a very down to earth man with the simple goals of:
1. small government
2. protecting and preserving our civil liberties
3. economic prosperity by removing the barriers created by frivolous legislation
even if you disagree with him you won't be disappointed with the conversation...
those 3 pieces of rhetoric...
thanks, littlefalls...for those. Name me one Republican candidate and legislator who doesn't stand for smaller govt, protecting liberties, and removing govt barriers.
if those subjects are so important to you, how does the gop candidate you so oppose not stand for those things also? now...let me ask you how that candidate has not already been doing those things?
and Bubba...that's exactly my point. i don't see any differences between one candidate and the next, i can tell you the differences because i know them both personally, but my opinion would be biased.
all i will say is that i see krisha taking credit for doing things that in my personal opinion, not fact, my opinion is i don't believe he has any idea how to do. but, hey, the things he's saying are good sound bites for a website. and that is why i don't think he, koering, wenzel and kedrowski have honorable intentions.
as i said, we have to respect the endorsing process, but koering has told me himself that he will do anything he can to unseat gazelka because he was bitter about losing in the primary in '10.and krisha has said he has helped koering campaign...you connect your own dots on that one.