Koering: Election was stolen from Coleman
REACTION
The Minnesota Supreme Court's ruling in favor of U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken brought mixed reactions from area's party faithful.
The strongest reaction came from Sen. Paul Koering, R-Fort Ripley, who said before Coleman's concession of the race that he believed the contest was stolen. Koering's comments after the concession focused more on the one-term senator's attributes.
"In listening to his comments, Sen. Coleman continues to be a very eloquent person," Koering said. "He's looking out for the best interests of Minnesota. I think, in my mind, he made the right decision. It's time."
Even before Coleman's news conference Koering said it was time for the St. Paul politician to call it quits.
"Well, I think there has to be a point when you call it quits and say, 'You know, I think the election is over.' I personally have some concerns of voter irregularities. I believe in my heart there were votes that were not counted that would have gone Coleman's way."
Brainerd resident Tim Quintana straightened his Al Franken campaign sign on his yard Tuesday after the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Minnesota Democrat after a long recount fight for Minnesota's U.S. Senate seat. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls» Purchase reprints of this photo.
He said before Coleman's comments that his advice to the Republican would have been to concede. Koering said it would be preferable for Republicans to gear up for the next election cycle rather than spend millions of dollars on an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
His belief the election was stolen was based on what he has read in newspapers, on discussions with people and on his own knowledge of elections.
"I believe the election was stolen away from him (Coleman)," Koering said. "I feel there was some fraud going on. I think there were (Coleman) votes that were probably not counted."
He remains unconvinced by the election rulings of the special judicial panel that looked at the Senate recount and the Minnesota Supreme Court.
"I think they got it wrong," he said.
Marcia Ferris, Crow Wing County DFL chair, said before Coleman's news conference that she hoped Coleman wouldn't appeal the state Supreme Court decision.
"I think the majority of Minnesotans feel this has gone on too long," she said. "Minnesota needs two senators in place in Washington at this time."
She said Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, was in town recently and spoke of how Minnesota has one of the best election systems.
"There's never going to be a perfect election," she said. "I agree with Mark Ritchie that everybody did the best they could. He kept saying 'it was a close race.'"
Crow Wing County Republican Party Chair Doug Kern, contacted before Coleman's concession, expressed hope the one-term Republican senator would continue his appeal. Kern said absentee votes were not handled in a consistent matter.
"It should be the same standards statewide," he said.
Rep. John Ward, DFL-Brainerd, said the governor and secretary of state should sign Franken's election certificate.
"In my opinion, I think the process clearly was handled correctly and with a lot of observation," he said. "I think it was handled exactly the way it should have been. Far be it from Rep. John Ward to say that the process was not done correctly."
One Franken supporter, Tim Quintana of Brainerd, resurrected a Franken campaign sign from his garage and placed two American flags near the sign in front of his home on 28th Street after Coleman's concession speech Tuesday.
"I was quite ecstatic," he said of his initial reaction to the news. "I went to my wife and said, 'We got the decision.'"
Although he never met Franken, Quintana said he did some foot work for the candidate and made hand signs for him.
"I tried to galvanize the local left," he said.
Quintana was appreciative of the outgoing senator's comments.
"He was extremely gracious," he said. "It was actually the nicest concession speech I've ever heard."
MIKE O'ROURKE may be reached at mike.orourke@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5860.