Archive for category On the Campaign Trail

TEAM HOUSLEY NEEDS YOU!

Apr 17

Posted by admin in On the Campaign Trail | No Comments

When : Thursday, April 22, 2010

Time: 7:00 – 8:30

Where: Croatian Hall

445 2^nd Avenue South

South St. Paul, MN 55075

Click here for Directions

I’m not sure if you’re like me, but I get frustrated, angry and disappointed with the way things have been done in our government. I’ve even sunk to feeling helpless, saying, “It’s never going to change.” Or, “Career politicians, they have no idea what’s really happening out here in the real world.” Or, “It is what it is. There’s nothing I can do about it.”

I was wrong. There is something we can do about it, and every person counts! Margaret Mead probably said it better, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

We can make a difference, but we need to do it collectively. We’ll call it Team Housley.

I need you.

I’m running for State Senate in District 57. You don’t need to live in District 57 to help. Collectively means everyone. We need to change the way things are done at the Capitol. Currently there are 46 Democrat Senators and 21 Republican. Our challenge as a state is to flip that number. The current DFL leaning Senate hasn’t been able to get our spending in check, a budget that is balanced, nor do they understand that we’re tired of big government, and we’re sick of being taxed at every turn. We want some common sense in St. Paul, some common sense with real world experience.

Here’s where I come in. But I can’t get there alone. Ask Wayne Gretzky what he could have accomplished without Messier, Coffey, Kurri and Fuhr. Now I may not be a Gretzky, but I am a Housley, and you’re my team.

We’ve got the campaign plan together, and we’re ready to implement. From lawn signs, to letter mailing, from literature dropping to phone banks…we’re set. I just need you.

We’re ready to kick off, this Thursday, April 22, at the Croatian Hall in my hometown of South St. Paul. 7:00 – 8:30. Come find out what you can do to help. From a little to a lot, as your time allows.

Here’s your chance to do something.

Margaret Mead probably said that too.

Let us not forget Mr. Abe Lincoln, who said, a government should be “of the people, by the people….”

That’s you.

When : Thursday, April 22, 2010

Time: 7:00 – 8:30

Where: Croatian Hall

445 2^nd Avenue South

South St. Paul, MN 55075

Croatian_Hall_Map

Click here for Directions

Got the Endorsement!

Feb 28

Posted by admin in Caucus, On the Campaign Trail | 4 Comments

I must say, an Endorsing Convention is quite the experience! If you’ve never been, you must go! It’s a lesson in local politics. It’s at the endorsing convention where delegates get to endorse their candidates for the Senate and the House, and vote their delegates on to the State and Congressional Districts. Saturday Feb. 27th will go down as my first convention, and there are a lot of things I’d do differently next time…most importantly, I’d buy more coffee for the attendees! I’m not sure if “Do you consume mass quantities of java?” will be on the 2010 Census, but it doesn’t really matter, I already have the answer, Republicans like their coffee.

Here’s how the day went:

5:00 a.m. Get ready, load 6’ table, signs, coffee, donuts, cameras & informational pamphlets in car.

7:00 a.m. – Leave home for South St. Paul High School.

7:30 a.m. – Unload car. Drink cup of coffee, and start greeting.

7:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Registrations and the Meet & Greet. I met so many interesting people from Hastings, Cottage Grove, So. St. Paul & the surrounding areas. Got names of volunteers and a couple of photos. (Hint: Want to help? Sign in your yard? Donate?)

Morning Meet & Greet

Signing Up Linda to Volunteer

My new best friends

Then it was time for the meeting in the auditorium – Mind you, the South St. Paul High School auditorium holds a lot of history for me. Being that I graduated from SSP, the auditorium was where this cute redhead asked me out on our first date. I ended up marrying him and it’s been 25 years. Also, the auditorium stage was the site of my last band concert in 1982, I could play a mean flute. And then, directly behind the stage’s curtain, is a basketball court that my dad both played on during his high school years (1951-53), coached on (70s & 80s) and I cheered on. Being back in the auditorium was a little surreal.

At 9:00 the delegates got down to business with an agenda that looked like this:

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

3. INVOCATION

4. GUESTS & SPEAKERS.

5. WELCOME. READING OF CONVENTION CALL.

Motion to dispense with the reading of the call is in order.

6. NOMINATION & ELECTION OF TEMPORARY CHAIR. (JASON FOSSUM)

7. APPROVE CONVENTION AGENDA.

Motion to Adopt is in order.

8. PRELIMINARY CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE REPORT – QUORUM.

13. CHAIR APPOINTMENTS OF THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES:

(A) CREDENTIALS/REGISTRATION COMMITTEE -

(B) RULES/CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE -

(D) ARRANGEMENTS COMMITTEE

(E) CANDIDATE SEARCH COMMITTEE

14. MOTION TO MAKE THE TEMPORARY ORGANIZATION PERMANENT.

Motion is in order for this Convention only.

15. ADOPTION OF RULES COMMITTEE REPORT AND CONVENTION RULES

And then it was my turn…at noon.

19. CANDIDATES’ SPEECH TO THE CONVENTION FLOOR; AND,

Giving Speech on SSP Auditorium Stage

20. ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATE FOR SENATE DISTRICT 57.

I gave my speech, and got endorsed! My stomach could finally settle down.

After I stepped off the stage, the other candidates gave their speeches (House Candidates John Kriesel – D57A& Denny McNamara – D57B) After that, a surprise visit from gubernatorial candidates Marty Seifert and Tom Emmer.

The day ended at 2:00, and I was off to a whole new auditorium…the high school sectional hockey playoff games. My stomach started acting up all over again.

All in all, a great day! Let the campaign begin!

Karin

Endorsing Convention – Saturday Morning at 9:00 a.m.

Feb 26

Posted by admin in Caucus, On the Campaign Trail | No Comments

Come to the Endorsing Convention, this Saturday 2/27 at South St. Paul High School (my alma mater)! The convention starts at 9:00 a.m. Get there early for coffee & donuts at my table. Hope to see you there!

Address – 700 2nd Street North – South St. Paul MN 55075

South St. Paul High School

The Final Minutes of the 2009 Session

Feb 9

Posted by admin in On the Campaign Trail, Senate in Session | No Comments

Can you find your District’s State Senator on the board? Did they vote to push this $2 billion dollar tax bill thru? District 57′s State Senator Katie Sieben did. You might want to ask why. State spending is out of hand….

Don’t Wait Until November To Be Heard

Feb 1

Posted by admin in Caucus, On the Campaign Trail, Questions I Feel Dumb Asking | No Comments

Tonight, February 2, 2010 at 7 PM Minnesotans will gather together in their local schools and government centers to exercise one of our most important rights: the right to organize and express ourselves politically through the precinct caucus system.

What I want to do here at HousleyForSenate.com and over the course of my campaign is educate everyone on the issues, the system & the whole political process. The caucuses are the first step. It’s quite interesting and not that scary once you get the language down.

Okay, I’ll admit it; I’ve never attended a caucus, mainly because I had no idea what it was, what they did there, or if the public was even invited. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been passionate about my political beliefs, but I thought the only place to voice them was on Election Day.

Wrong. The time to speak up is now, at the caucuses.

Not only is the public invited, they’re encouraged!

What is a Caucus?

A caucus is a meeting of members of a political party to coordinate members’ actions, choose group policy, and/or nominate candidates for various offices. It’s that simple. To clarify, you don’t need to be a card-carrying “member” to attend a caucus, anyone can attend any caucus throughout the state.

Each caucus is broken down into precincts (neighborhoods) depending on an exact street address. Where you live determines which precinct you are in. (Click here to find out which precinct you’re in.)

If you like the caucus, and want to become more involved, you can register at the meeting to become a delegate. Anyone who lives in particular precinct can register to become a delegate of that precinct.

What is a Delegate?

Delegates are elected at the caucuses (after you’ve signed in and registered), with the understanding that they will support their particular party’s candidate. When it comes time for a political party to endorse a candidate, it is the delegates that do so. At some caucuses, there will be two or more candidates vying for the one party’s endorsement, and it is the delegates who get to decide who will be “their” candidate. Local delegates can move on and eventually be the endorsing delegates for higher offices such a governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

In my district, District 57, they have decided to have 217 delegates, representing the 37 precincts throughout Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park, South St. Paul, Hastings, Grey Cloud Island, Nininger Twp., Afton, Denmark Twp., Lakeland, and St. Marys Point.

What Happens at Caucuses?

Pass Resolutions to the Republican Party of Minnesota’s Standing Platform
Elect the Chair of the Caucus and the Caucus Secretary
Elect Precinct Leaders
Elect Delegates and Alternates to the Local Republican Conventions
Conduct the Gubernatorial Preference Ballot

Why are caucuses important?

Caucuses are important for all of us to voice our opinions and shape the future of our state and party. When you attend a caucus, you’re able to be part of things at the grassroots level. Also, it’s where the platform of what the party stands for is solidified. For an interesting read, print this year’s Republican platform off, as it will be discussed at the caucuses.

There is a lot more information at the GOP Website: (FYI: GOP is the commonly used designation for the Republican party, dating back to 1875 when it stood for Gallant Old Party, then in 1876 became the Grand Old Party.)

BOTTOM LINE: Caucuses are the best way for you to have your voice heard.

Where is your caucus held?

Click here for the caucuses held throughout the state & your Precinct Finder.

I’ll be stopping by the caucus in my district, District 57 to say hello, meet you & try to answer a few questions. District 57’s caucuses are held at these three locations:

Cottage Grove Middle School
9775 Indian Blvd S
Cottage Grove MN 55016-3651

Hastings High School
200 General Sieben Dr
Hastings MN 55033-2486

Kaposia Education Center
1225 1st Ave S
South Saint Paul MN 55075-3253

What happens after that?

After Tuesday’s caucus, there is an Endorsing Convention, sometime later in the month. This is when all ballots have been tallied and the delegates have made their choice – they then announce who gets their endorsement. These happen on different evenings throughout the month, but for District 57, the endorsing convention is on February 27^th at 9:00 a.m. at the Kaposia Education Center in South St. Paul. (Just happens to be my old stomping grounds.)

See? It’s not as intimidating as it all sounds: caucuses, precincts & delegates…they start to roll off your tongue after awhile.

I really hope you’ll consider attending your local caucus and if you’re in District 57, I expect to see you there!