Precinct caucuses find Minnesotans ready to act

Minnesotan’s turned out in record numbers for last week’s precinct caucuses, hoping to initiate political change at the grassroots level. The AP reported that more than 35,000 people across the state showed up at the caucuses, three times the turnout of the 2000 elections. Jason Stone of Diamond Lake reported that the Ward 11 Precinct 8 meeting at Hale School had “over 200 attendees with lots of energy.” Other precincts experienced similarly large and boisterous turnouts.

Carolyn E. Carr from Ward 12 of the Hiawatha neighborhood in Longfellow reports, “Last night at the caucus for Ward 12 precinct 2, more than 180 people attended - all of us mashed into a science classroom at Roosevelt. A 4-fold increase over the last turnout for our precinct, I’m told. All 47 delegate spots were filled with just the right number of volunteers. Most folks stayed until at least 8:30 pm., and about 20 resolutions were introduced and passed, including several on labor, education, environmental protection, and public health issues, and all 5 of the Peace in the Precincts resolutions (www.peaceintheprecincts.org). Long lines of people filled the halls for other precincts, too... Yup, people are looking forward to sending that pink slip to the White House.”

Doug Walter of Nokomis East was equally impressed by his precinct caucus experience, “Last night’s DFL 12-6 caucus drew 81 people, of which at least half were first timers. 79 ballots were cast for the presidential race, and all 30 delegate seats and all calls to volunteer were answered. Despite the overheated, standing-room-only space, the majority of the group was still hearing resolutions at 9:20 when I had to leave.

Representative Jean Wagenius gave an emotional, from-the-heart talk about the upcoming house race, and Senator Wes Skoglund hit home with a frank discussion of deficits and spending levels by the current administration. Wes said he hadn’t seen this many people at the caucuses since the 60’s. The group’s attitude was definitely upbeat but mission-serious, as in “Let’s Rock and Roll!”

This was, I’m embarrassed to admit, my first caucus since Nixon’s re-election bid—the last time I was this disgusted with our elected leaders.”

Scott Persons of Ward 10, Lyndale neighborhood summed up the night best. “Tonight proved to me what a uniter George Bush really is, everybody was ready to write his pink slip early.”