EdAction
Maple River Education Coalition PAC
105 Peavey Rd, St 116 
Chaska, MN  55318 
952-361-4931
http://www.EdAction.org
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September, 2000 

Bachmann wins Primary in SD 56!

In a landslide primary win against a 28-year incumbent, Michele Bachmann -  mother, tax attorney and public speaker - won the primary and, thus, the official nomination of the Republican Party for the Minnesota Senate seat in Senate District 56.

Bachmann conducted a grassroots campaign with the theme "Voice of the People." Her opponent, Senator Gary Laidig of Stillwater, brought in heavy hitters, among them former Governor and staunch defender of the Profile of Learning Arne Carlson, former state Senator and 1998 gubernatorial candidate Joanne Benson, the AFSCME union, the Sierra Club, Chairman of the Governor's Workforce Development Council and more. Many of the political insiders are individuals who in one way or another represent architects and defenders of the Profile of Learning/School-to-Work system that is being imposed upon the citizens of this state.

Bachmann clearly and unapologetically voiced her opposition to the Profile of Learning, her support for high academic achievement, lower taxes and listening to the citizens of her district. Bachmann became a candidate on April 1, 2000, when she attended a political convention and was drafted on the spot by the delegates present who determined that 28 years in the Senate was long enough for Senator Laidig.

The Republican Party stood by the endorsed candidate, while the Senate Republican Caucus, headed by Senator Dick Day of Owatonna, spent thousands of dollars in support of the incumbent. In a letter to the citizens of Senate District 56, Senator Day sang Senator Laidig's praises, while a corresponding letter from Party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner supported Bachmann as the endorsed candidate and called on Senator Day to stop the smear attacks he was launching against Bachmann.

The GOP Newsline writes:

"Michele is an incredibly hard-working candidate. She's exceptional well-versed on the issues, and she's built a campaign that many incumbents would envy. Every parade has at least 75 volunteers walking with her, handing out stickers and literature. Yes, 75. Bachmann is a one-woman dynamo, and she's caught up a good chunk of the district in her enthusiasm. She seems to have mastered most of the campaign fundamentals, including fundraising, volunteer organization, and smart strategy." (GOP newsline, 9/5/00)

In an odd last-minute twist, the Laidig campaign sent out a Get-Out-The-Vote mailing that quoted Bachmann's own words and mocked her supporters. In large letters he quoted Bachmann as describing the Profile of Learning: "a government-mandated, intrusive tool used to centralize the economy, control education and control career opportunities. Michele Bachmann, Stillwater Gazette column, Aug. 18, 2000" A picture showed a student writing a repetitious assignment on a blackboard that stated over and over again: "a government-mandated tool to centralize the economy" The mailer accused Bachmann of associating with the Maple River Education Coalition and accused her of wanting "to control our schools from the State Senate." He asked the voters what they thought? The voters answered his question with a deafening show of support for Bachmann!

What Senator Laidig, Senator Day, the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, Senator Pogemiller, Senator Moe, Rep. Betty Folliard, Rep. Matt Entenza, Commissioner Jax and Gov. Ventura have been unable to come to grips with is that the grassroots education groups, such as MrEdCo and many, many other groups, are the voters. We are the taxpayers. We are the moms and dads. The people of Minnesota do not want the Profile of Learning. What part of that message don't they understand?

This victory means that Bachmann is now running in the November general election in an open Senate seat against DFL Party candidate, Ted Thompson, and an Independence Party candidate, Lyno Sullivan. Undoubtedly this will be a spirited campaign as well.

EdAction - 105 Peavey Rd, Ste 116, Chaska, MN  55318 
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