Crow Wing County DFLers hear Oberstar, other candidates

Crow Wing County DFLers heard Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., discuss the positive effects of the federal stimulus funding Saturday at their county convention, party officials said. The longtime congressman urged DFLers to re-elect Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, and Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton.

Other guests who addressed the convention were DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez; Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson; Ward; Doty; Meg Bye, a candidate for House District 4B; Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL-Virginia, a gubernatorial candidate; and Senate District 12 candidates Terry Sluss and Taylor Stevenson. Messages and greetings were delivered on behalf of other candidates.

The convention elected the following slate of candidates to serve as Crow Wing County DFL directors for 2010-2012: Tom Besnett, Yvonne Leiser, Gwen Besnett, Liz Wheeler, Wayne Fleischhacker, Eric Norquist, Bob Nesheim, Mary Jo Cody, Ruth Ann Gottwaldt, Roger Lynn, Kathy Meyer and Bob Passi. Five officers were elected for a 2009-2011 term last year.

Norquist was elected to the DFL State Central Committee. Crow Wing County Chair Marcia Ferris and Associate Chair Don Samuelson are also members of the State Central Committee.

Thirteen delegates and 13 alternates were elected to be delegates at the state DFL convention April 23-24 and the Eighth District convention on May 1-2.

Twenty-six resolutions were voted on and moved forward to the state convention.

The Senate District 12 endorsing convention will be March 6 at the Fort Ripley Steakhouse.

Saturday's county convention was conducted at the Brainerd High School cafeteria.