OTHER TOPICS
Thanks to bike
accident helpers
This letter is addressed to the wonderful people who stopped to assist my husband with my care when I fell off my bike on Friday, Aug. 29, near the High School around 6:45 p.m. We are so grateful for the help and feel even more thankful than we did before that we live in this awesome city!
In this day, not everyone stops to help. A huge thank you to those who stopped and did not care about wiping dirt off my back side or reaching your hand out to mine to help me up, even though mine was covered with blood, and all the other wonderful things you did.
Although I sustained some injuries, I will be fine in no time, thanks to your quick and Good Samaritan care. I wish I could contact each of you who stopped to thank you personally but since I don’t know who you are, I am hoping this will reach you.
One last thing, I was wearing my helmet, thank God. My injuries would have been far worse, who knows what, really, had I not been wearing my helmet. I would strongly suggest, for anyone, any age, that wearing a helmet while biking is never an option. Always put it on. You never know when you just might need it.
Again, thank you very much to all of you. God knows who you are and the good thing you did. May he continue to bless each of you and your families.
Nikki Beauchamp
Eden Prairie

Barking dog
etiquette
There are many dogs in our neighborhood, and the vast majority of them are friendly, well-behaved pets. But there are four (two in the same household) that disturb my “Minnesota morning” walks with their incessant barking – as soon as they catch a tiny glimpse of me until I am out of sight! Though it’s extremely unlikely that I’m in any danger, it certainly is irritating to get this response every single time I come by. The “twin terrors” are in a fenced yard on a corner lot, and they bark furiously like they’re going to take my head off, then run to the other side so they can catch me again as I come around the corner. OK, so if this is the worst problem in my life, I should get one ...
But I have some suggestions: If you have a dog that barks at any and every thing that moves, either train it, keep it confined, muzzle it when it’s outside, or stay with it and control the barking. (And please don’t simply come to the door and holler at Fido – the dog pays no attention whatsoever, and if it’s for my benefit it only adds to the irritation.) Also, it certainly would be courteous to not let dogs outdoors before 7:30 a.m. Our 5:30 “wakeup call” when a neighbor’s dog gets outside and spots his first squirrel of the day means a way-too-short night. Thanks for hearing me out.
C. Johnson
Eden Prairie

Winning is
everything?
Recently I was able to watch some of the soccer tryouts in Eden Prairie – with some amazement and some amusement.
When my children were in high school and were put on a team, they were then on that team in some capacity for the rest of their high school years.
I understand in Eden Prairie, every person has to try out every year. I’m sure that gives the coaches permission to cut and add at will – after all, winning is everything!
I understand the Eden Prairie School District as a whole did not make “adequate yearly progress” under “No Child Left Behind” criteria. Perhaps more emphasis should be applied to academics – good sportsmanship, maybe even learning how to lose with grace and dignity. After all, these are young adults, not yet adults.
To watch all this you would think these young people were trying out for pro teams, where they could be paid millions. But, it’s high school, and every person who wishes to play in a team should be able to do so. But after all, winning is everything!
Alice Johnson
Eden Prairie

Thanks
from PROP
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents and businesses of Eden Prairie and Chanhassen for their support during PROP’s annual School Supply Drive. The drive was very successful in providing backpacks and supplies for over 650 children, grades K-12, in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. Although we did not guarantee backpacks for those qualified children in high school, through generous donations, all students received a backpack. We also had a generous amount of surplus items that we were able to donate directly to the local schools. The generosity and thoughtfulness for local children to start the new school year prepared is overwhelming. Thank you so much!
The mission of PROP is to compassionately provide our neighbors in need with food and financial assistance and to provide support towards self sufficiency.
Anne Harnack
PROP executive director

On energy
independence
Over the years an inept and politically motivated Congress has placed our country in a precarious and untenable position that threatens our very existence as a nation. While the public is concerned with high gas prices, it is energy independence that is the real issue.
Our country is presently being blackmailed by foreign countries with high priced oil. With 700 billion dollars flowing out of our country each year to foreign governments, they will soon be able to bring us financially to our knees or cut off the supply of oil. Energy independence is a national security issue and urgently needs to be the nation’s highest priority. It needs to be addressed now.
Because the Congress has proved to be totally impotent of enacting comprehensive energy independence legislation through the political process, I believe a High Commission should be created and empowered to deal with the issue. This would de-politicize the issue and relieve Congress from the pressure of lobbyists and special interest groups.
The High Commission would be charged with the responsibility and empowered to prepare a comprehensive energy independence policy and implementation plan because no one factor will solve the problem. The commission should be governed by a board of experts who know and understand the sources and uses of energy. They should not have a political agenda.
The commission would establish a policy, a plan and a date for reaching energy independence similar to what President Kennedy did for putting a man on the moon. energy independence should be defined as the date when not a single U.S. dollar is spent on foreign oil. The commission should address both the sources of energy and conservation of the uses of energy.
Some environmental standards may have to be deferred, even with the threat of global warming, because of the current crisis. Because the crisis has developed over 20 years it may take 20 years to resolve the problem. It may require a long-term commitment, which is not characteristic of the American psyche. But, Americans can do anything they set their minds to.
The High Commission might set a 20-year goal of energy independence with a mix of total energy used like:
Nuclear – 50 percent
Natural Gas – 20 percent
Oil – domestic – 8 percent
Oil - imported – 0 percent
Coal – clean – 10 percent
Coal – natural – 2 percent
All other – 10 percent
What results can we expect?
1) An energy supply adequate to drive economic growth.
2) Energy independence with a creditworthy currency.
3) Reduced greenhouse gas by 70 percent without rationing, which should satisfy all of us environmentalists.
Robert W. Lawrenz
Eden Prairie

CITY COUNCIL ELECTION
Supports Case
With these wildly uncertain economic times it would be very beneficial to have Ron Case on our City Council to bring a sound and balanced perspective into the budgeting process of Eden Prairie city government. In addition to his previous experience with cost/benefit decisions at SouthWest Transit and on the Eden Prairie City Council, he has now added a doctorate in leadership.
He specialized in the field of managing workplace and government change – most useful in addressing expectations concerning the competing interests of business and residents during an economic downturn coupled with stagnant or decreasing property values. Ron is the right person at the right time with a long-range vision for all Eden Prairie residents. He thinks before he acts. Just look at the current financial debacle over the donated building for the Art Center. There is a better way and a better person. Please vote for Ron Case on Nov. 4.
Tim Beutell
Eden Prairie

Supports Butcher
Sherry Butcher does what is good for the community. As a member of the City Council, Sherry has the unique position and personality to provide her leadership qualities and experience to make the right decision that will benefit Eden Prairie residents.
My wife Judy and I have lived in the community for over 25 years. I have worked with and appeared before our City Council on many issues and topics.
For 17 years I held various positions on the Eden Prairie Soccer Association and the Soccer Club Board of Directors. These range from president, vice president, coaching director, fields director and coach. Currently I am on the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission. This has given me insight into how the City Council members interact as they deal with tough and often contentious issues.
Your vote for Sherry Butcher will mean you are voting for someone who can represent all the citizens of Eden Prairie in an unencumbered and independent manner. She brings to the City Council three valuable decision-making characteristics in acting on our behalf. Sherry approaches the council business and agendas by willingness to: 1) listen, 2) assess 3) and act.
Sherry has mastered the ability to listen. Perhaps because of her educational background or currently as a director of Continuing Education at a local college, she values gathering the facts. She listens to a broad base of the community and not just the special interest or squeaky wheels on issues. Sherry is known for gathering facts, both qualitative and quantitative.
Second is Sherry’s ability to assess the data. Some issues for the council are black and white; many are gray; others have no right answers but must be dealt with. I have watched as she sorts out both the short-term and long-term impact of her guidance and ultimate vote. She is able to recognize and then evaluate emotionally motivated situations vs. what is fundamentally sound for the city of Eden Prairie.
Third is her ability to act and work with all the other members of the council. Her valuable council experience and independent approach to council matters should not be underestimated. She is our “honest broker” representative on the council. Working with both parties is a critical capability, which over the next four years gives us the unbiased representation vital to our community.
In closing, Sherry’s ability to listen, assess and act is complimented by 12 years experience on the council. She provides us a solid foundation of knowing what it takes to work with her constituents. She can leverage her knowledge of council lessons learned and in the future do what is in the best interest of our community.
Your vote for Sherry will give all of us a solid council member and council voice.
Tom Bierman
Eden Prairie
Editor’s note: Bierman is a member of the city’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission.

Supports Aho
The city of Eden Prairie would be wise to re-elect Brad Aho for another term on our City Council. He made good on his promise to be fiscally responsible and carefully spend our tax dollars. He scrutinized budgets and appropriations by asking hard questions and making hard decisions. He made good on his promise to lead with transparency and integrity. He made good on his promise to “give back to the community” above and beyond the council chambers by serving in many other organizations like the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the ABC Foundation and his church.
I am voting for Brad again because he is really in this for the people of Eden Prairie; not himself. Please join me in re-electing a proven leader who doesn’t twist in the political wind. Brad Aho stands firmly upon sound principles and good governance and will continue to serve our community in ways that will foster growth, stability and promise.
Tom Gasper
Eden Prairie

Supports Case
Eden Prairie needs to re-elect Ron Case to the City Council. We met him two years ago when a developer attempted to clear-cut land that had been earmarked for a trail. We live adjacent to the land, received notice of a hearing and called our local elected officials seeking help. Case returned our call the same day and was at our front door within hours ready and willing to hike through the woods with us to determine whether the developer’s intents were in Eden Prairie’s best interests. He was willing to interrupt his schedule; he was willing to dig in and spend time researching the matter and educating the rest of the council on his findings; and he was willing to stand up to the developer to make sure Eden Prairie’s land was not tampered with. This “roll up your sleeves” approach is what Eden Prairie needs. This responsiveness to a stranger with a problem is what so many officials lack and what any citizen would want.
Case is unfailingly civic-minded and dedicated to service to our community. He serves with passion and a desire to do the right thing. He genuinely loves Eden Prairie and understands our city’s needs, economic and social. Case has been involved in every major issue facing our city for years, including opposition to airport expansion, keeping toll roads out, advocacy of the smoking ban, the innovative fusion of business and historic preservation by helping the city attain the lease of Dunn Bros. The list is endless. He has accomplished all this with one of the lowest tax rates in Hennepin County.
In the years Case has been out of office, we have dropped from the 10th best city to the 40th according to Money Magazine and have made cuts to many of the programs that gave our city its unique character and quality of life. At the national level, many are clamoring for change, but in Eden Prairie we need to return to the focus of previous councils.
Our finances have been “in the black” for years under Case’s leadership with a AAA bond rating. Our taxes were low compared to most of our neighbors and we live in a world class city worthy of national attention with a small-town sense of community. We need to make sure we don’t continue to slash away the amenities that made our city great.
Case’s record has touched every aspect of life in our city from a child playing at a city park to a senior socializing at the Senior Center. He has touched the lives of many of our children as an Oak Point teacher for over 30 years and has lived here as long. He has served Eden Prairie longer than the mayor, current council members or any candidate. If Eden Prairie has been a good place to raise your family and if you value an elected official who will be responsive to your needs, please vote for Case. Visit his Web site at roncase.org.
Ken and Valerie Ross
Eden Prairie

Questions Aho
In Brad Aho’s commentary last week, it seemed as if he was taking credit for past council’s decisions that resulted in our current ranking in U.S. News & World Report. The record clearly shows Aho has been consistently against programs and services that resulted in this ranking.
The Dec. 22, 2006, issue of this newspaper states: “City Council member Brad Aho said he had voted against the budget in the first year of the two-year process. He said there had been proposals to reduce the budget and spending that weren’t implemented. ‘We have to look as a city constantly at the level of service we provide,’ he said.”
2007 was a contentious year in Eden Prairie. As a result of the November 2006 elections, there were now three endorsed Republicans on the council. They wasted little time in moving to cut city services and programs previous councils had built. These programs and services included Teens Alone, Meals on Wheels, Senior Outreach, PROP, YMCA, Storefront, Family and Children’s Services and Family Center Plus. Letters to the editor filled this paper; a grassroots citizens group opposed to the cuts formed and seniors filled the Senior Center in opposition to its proposed sale. Council Member Sherry Butcher and former Council Member Ron Case consistently spoke out and provided leadership in opposition to these cuts.
On Oct. 31, 2007 – approximately two weeks before the final budget vote, this newspaper reported the following: “Aho suggested they have a discussion about each program and if it was worth city funding.”
It’s worth noting at this point Mr. Aho had been on the council for three years; meetings had been held, phone calls had been made, and letters had been written. But Mr. Aho now thought a discussion about these programs should be held?
Finally feeling the fire, in November Mr. Aho ultimately voted to fully fund these programs. However, one month later, Mr. Aho wrote a commentary piece in this newspaper, providing a clear view of his vision on the role of city government. In it, Mr. Aho stated: “Local government plays an important role in the quality of life and delivers essential services such as public safety, public works, parks and planning. However, local governments should supply only those services that the private sector or other governmental agencies cannot and do not provide effectively.”
Clearly, Mr. Aho believes that the programs and services that made Eden Prairie great are on the chopping block. For instance, if Mr. Aho is consistent in his belief in limited government, the city-owned liquor stores that provide a million dollars a year to fund the city’s capital improvements very well could be on the chopping block as it is clearly a business the private sector could and would serve.
I am supporting Sherry Butcher and Ron Case for their leadership and determination to build on the programs and services that have made Eden Prairie a great place to raise a family.
Tommy Johnson
Eden Prairie

Supports Case
Mr. Siering has missed the point [Sept. 18 letter] by questioning Ron Case’s support for the new baseball park. Please check Case’s Web site to understand Ron’s position on this. Talk to Ron for a few minutes and you know that this is a person who values community and loves Eden Prairie.
Ron will bring back consistency and balance to our City Council. If we can support ball parks, hockey rinks and a new Community Center, we should also be willing to support our new art center, social services for our citizens most in need and historic preservation that results in a great gathering spot for our community. Eden Prairie must live within its financial means and Ron will meet this challenge without sacrificing our city’s livability. Let’s make Eden Prairie a great place for all of our residents and put Ron Case back on the City Council in November.
Jeanne Adomaitis
Eden Prairie

HOUSE DISTRICT 42A ELECTION
Ruud responds
Thank you to Bonnie Gasper (former writer of the Right Side of the Prairie column) and Bill Cullen (my 2006 opponent) for their recent letters to the editor about my work on tax relief and family issues; I agree that these are issues of importance to our community. During my two terms in the Minnesota Legislature it has been an honor to represent Eden Prairie taxpayers and families, and I am proud of what we have accomplished.
While hundreds of groups and organizations – many on the political fringe, both right and left – publish ratings and rankings during an election season, the only rating I care about is the one the residents of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka give me for my work at the Capitol on their behalf. That is why over the last four years I listened to you and supported measures to: increase investments in our area schools, including $51 per student in new funding; hold down tuition increases to a 10-year low; create 40,000 new, good-paying jobs; ensure the safety of teen drivers; fix our aging roads and bridges, while at the same time relieving local governments – and therefore property taxpayers – of the burden of financing local road projects; provide health coverage to 37,000 uninsured Minnesota children; protect our air and drinking water; increase funding for nursing homes; and honor our area veterans with the Eden Prairie Veterans Memorial.
Families include taxpayers, and taxpayers are part of families. Families deserve a quality education system; good-paying jobs; affordable health coverage; decent housing; safe roads; and clean air. And Eden Prairie taxpayers deserve a sound return on their investment dollar. I understand the challenge of striking the right balance between our state’s needs and our state’s resources – and then maintaining this balance to produce strong Minnesota families. Thank you for the honor of allowing me to represent your values at the State Capitol.
Rep. Maria Ruud
Minnetonka
Editor’s note: Ruud represents district 42A, which includes Minnetonka and part of Eden Prairie.

Supports May
As we listen to reports about the negotiations going on around the White House cabinet room table, I could not help but think about the negotiations that take place around the kitchen tables of our city every evening. Whether it is the cost of gasoline or a rising mortgage payment or the impact of rising food prices, our citizens are suffering. Recently, for the first time in memory, Minnesota’s unemployment rate became higher than the national average. The recent jobs data tells us that over 6 percent of our friends and neighbors are out of work and I’ll bet three times that many are worried about the security of their job.
It is in this environment that our legislators passed the largest tax on gas in Minnesota’s history. We now pay an average of $7.42 in taxes alone every time we fill our car’s gas tank. This works out to nearly $386 per car per year for our families. Now, we are asked to approve a constitutional amendment permanently adding 3/8 percent sales tax for the arts and environment. I love the arts and the environment, but is this the time to be adding even more taxes on the citizens least able to afford it? My high school economics teacher told me that sales taxes are regressive taxes. This means that they are harder on the poorest members of our community that can least afford it. According to the Taxpayers league, this will raise over 11 billion dollars over the next 10 years.
I am supporting Shari May for Minnesota House of Representatives because her positions are fiscally sound. She is a small business person as well as a wife and mom. She has seen firsthand the costs that have affected our community, from working as a football booster to buying groceries for her family. She will not vote to raise taxes as Rep. Ruud has done over 77 times in the past year. Rep. Ruud loves to talk about taxing the wealthy, but she conveniently forgets that sales taxes and gas taxes hurt the poorest of our community. It is time to take a stand against phantom taxation and replace Rep. Ruud with someone that cares about our families today.
Paul Woolfrey
Minnetonka

Supports Ruud
Minnesotans deserve the skilled leadership of Rep. Maria Ruud, running for re-election in House District 42A. I first met Maria in 2004 after I decided to try to find a common-sense candidate in my district who understood what service to our community actually means. It was then that I was fortunate enough to meet a principled and energetic nurse practitioner and mother of two who was determined to focus our state on the issues that matter most.
And after two house terms, Maria has delivered by reaching across the aisle to end gridlock and get the important work of government done like: cutting taxes on middle-income earners; increasing funding for the education of children; supporting transportation infrastructure and co-authoring legislation to reduce toxic emissions in our environment.
As the director of a nonprofit, I had seen firsthand the devastation faced by families without health insurance. Maria had seen it too in her work serving 1,000 patients each year. She and I shared the perspective that something must be done to address this health crisis. That’s why I was so happy when Maria voted to cover 37,000 uninsured children with health care last year.
Yet more work needs to be done and Maria will continue to set her legislative priorities through the community forums, surveys and town hall meetings that she tirelessly conducts all year round. I urge anyone who wants to improve our community and our state to vote for Maria Ruud on Nov. 4.
Mary Perkins
Minnetonka

Supports Ruud
Rep. Maria Ruud is a person who works across party lines with a broad base of constituents to effect positive change for the benefit of all Minnesotans. She listens to and considers all points of view and makes decisions based on research, facts and personal integrity. She cares deeply about the future of our state and her votes on environmental issues, K-12 and higher education, health care and infrastructure are important in insuring the future competitiveness and economic viability of our state. District 42A would be well served by returning Maria to the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Maureen Henderson
Eden Prairie

HOUSE DISTRICT 42B ELECTION
Supports
Jenifer Loon
School funding has emerged as a “hot topic” for discussion and debate in our state legislative races. In reading articles in this paper and other news sources about new proposals to improve the education our children receive, I am relieved to know that we have an excellent candidate running for office in Eden Prairie who is highly qualified to represent our community on this topic. Jenifer Loon has spent the past 10 years as what can best be described as a “professional volunteer” for our schools, serving in many leadership roles at school sites and for the entire Eden Prairie School District.
Jenifer served as PTO (parent teacher organization) president at Eden Lake Elementary – the school our boys attended. She also chaired the districtwide Curriculum Advisory Committee, which provides critical parent input on curriculum and student achievement issues across the Eden Prairie schools. Jenifer has regularly met with teachers, administrators, School Board members and other concerned parents to discuss school funding issues, and spent time as a private citizen meeting with state legislators to seek better and more equitable funding for our schools. She has volunteered extensively in her daughters’ classrooms – led reading groups, organized parties, chaperoned field trips, organized other parent volunteers to fulfill classroom needs and chaired fundraising committees to provide the “extras” that enrich our kids’ educational experience. And Jenifer continued her volunteer action after she resumed a full-time career when her youngest daughter started school.
Many of us have children in the Eden Prairie public schools, and many more have children who have graduated from this system. However, not many have spent the time and energy advocating for the best quality education for our kids the way Jenifer Loon has done. Jenifer is the candidate our education system needs. She has earned my vote, and she deserves yours, as well.
Bill Miller
Eden Prairie

Supports
Jerry Pitzrick
A number of letter writers have addressed Jerry Pitzrick’s outstanding qualifications to be the next state representative from Minnesota House District 42B. To sum up, those qualifications include:
* a civil engineering degree and years of leading and working with others to get projects done for a major construction company
* years of experience as owner of a consulting business helping clients, including private enterprises and local and federal agencies, to improve their efficiency
* service on the Eden Prairie Planning Commission and the Chamber of Commerce Government Committee, as well as volunteer positions at Pax Christi Catholic Community
* an ability, as one person noted, “to bring together diverse organizations to effectively plan for the future, solve today’s problems, and motivate diverse groups of people to see the benefits of collaboration versus confrontation.”
In my opinion, the last qualification listed is a predictor of the fine representative Jerry will be. Those who have had the opportunity to talk with Jerry during his extensive door-knocking campaign know how much of a people person he is. His friendliness and his interest in listening to other people’s views on issues, along with his intelligence and common sense, will serve him and the citizens of 42B well as he helps buck the trend toward partisan gridlock that has dominated state government for too long. For more about Jerry, visit his Web site at www.jerrypitzrick.com.
Phil Gulstad
Eden Prairie

Supports Pitzrick
I first met Jerry Pitzrick when he came to my door one afternoon this summer with his daughter. We had a great conversation and I was really impressed with his commitment to knock on the doors of each house in Eden Prairie twice before the election. I believe this is the type of leader and politician we need. Someone who actually takes the time to meet with their constituents and listen to what they have to say. I can say from personal experience that this isn’t just talk with Jerry Pitzrick, this is his commitment to us.
Jerry Pitzrick’s opponent says she’s “committed to results.” I have yet to see her at my door to listen to my thoughts. Jerry Pitzrick has proven that he knows how to get results. His successful business career has been built on helping groups of people who are often at odds with each other work together to reach common goals. Doesn’t that sound like what the political process should be? Isn’t that what most of us desperately want from our politicians, rather than hard line positions and “did not, did too” arguments? I think it’s time we elected someone who understands how to get results and will listen to us rather than someone who can only make empty promises. I suggest that voting for Jerry Pitzrick is the perfect antidote to what’s ailing our political process.
Terrae Demmer
Eden Prairie

Questions
Jenifer Loon
I have sat back and watched as Jenifer Loon has letter after letter extolling her virtues for office without comment. I applaud the fact that she is a great mom. I applaud the fact that she is a great volunteer in the public schools. I applaud the fact that she worked for congresspersons in Washington, D.C., and understands how legislation is created. That’s where I draw the line.
It’s time for the other side to be told. Jenifer is out doorknocking and telling people she advocated for small business. Yes, that’s true. She advocated for the Associated Builders and Contractors as a paid lobbyist working to break unions through the advocacy for “merit shops.” She tells everyone she was working in D.C. for congresspersons but doesn’t discuss the last five years where she was a paid lobbyist for the credit collection agencies. She worked hard in D.C. to make sure it was easier for credit collection agencies to harass people about their taxes, easier to collect on student loans, easier to harass our servicemen and women in uniform about unpaid debts.
I guess the bottom line is: who do we want to send to St. Paul to work for us? In this tough economy, do we really want to send someone to St. Paul whose sympathies lie with debt collectors? Do we want a lobbyist who worked to protect credit collection agencies or do we want a small business owner who serves on the Planning Commission who supports other cities in making key decisions about their plans for the future? My vote goes for Jerry Pitzrick.
Craig Poling
Eden Prairie

Third District Congressional Election
Supports Paulsen
I have lived in Eden Prairie for 24 years and have witnessed firsthand Erik Paulsen’s work in the state Legislature. Now, Erik is running for Congress in the Third District. As a businessman himself, Erik brings a proven, solid, fiscally conservative background to the race. We desperately need to elect more businessmen, like him, who have experience working in the real world, and who know we can’t spend our problems away. Minnesota needs to send a voice of fiscal responsibility to Congress and Paulsen is the one.
Richard Anderson
Eden Prairie

Questions Paulsen
Erik Paulsen has raised $107,000 from corporate special interests.
In 2001, Paulsen proposed prohibiting PAC contributions for Minnesota politicians. Discussing the bill in 2001, Paulsen said, “Eliminating PAC contributions will restore integrity to the political process and give citizens the confidence that their voice is more important than special interests groups.” Paulsen added, “We must act to negate the very perception that special interest money controls the way our government is run.” Now, Paulsen’s own campaign committee treasurer, Reid LeBeau, is himself a registered lobbyist. (Sources: State Rep. Erik Paulsen press release, 3/21/01; Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board, Registered Lobbyists, accessed 8/29/08).
The Paulsen campaign is drowning in corporate PAC money. The hypocrisy meter is clearly in the red.
Ashwin Madia has kept his commitment to not accept contributions from corporate PACs.
Ashwin Madia has the courage to change.
Dan Bromelkamp
Maple Grove

Questions Madia
Elected officials are sworn to uphold the law. So how does this relate to the recent slew of recklessness by the Madia campaign and its cohorts?
The wife of Madia’s communications director was caught on tape taking down Erik Paulsen campaign signs. Respected news sources such as the Star Tribune, Fox 9 news, KSTP news and Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) have reported the incident. The KSTP news “Truth Test” recently gave a commercial produced by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee accusing Paulsen of cutting veteran’s benefits to build a golf course as “false and misleading.” It gave the ad a “D.”
Was anyone breaking the law in these two cases?
In the case of stealing signs, the woman wasn’t charged with theft because the signs were returned. I’m sure other alleged thieves would like to have been given the same chance.
In the case of the misleading ad, the first amendment does allow leeway for people to defame public officials, provided they are not published with knowledge of their falsity or reckless disregard for the truth. The commercial wasn’t produced by the Madia campaign, but by the official campaign arm of House Democrats. This lets the Madia campaign itself off the hook, but I’m still not sure the ad meets the above definition.
What it boils down to is this: In one case, the Madia campaign is denying others their right to free speech by stealing campaign signs. In the other, they are allowing those who promote Madia’s candidacy to hide behind the first amendment to spread lies.
Is this the kind of man you want to send to the House of Representatives on behalf of Minnesota? He isn’t just running a dirty campaign; he’s allowing others to skate close to the edge of the law to do so.
So many people tell me they don’t vote the party; they vote for the best candidate. It’s time to ask yourselves, who is the best candidate for this job? A man who allows others to spread untruths about his opponent to gain votes and who tries to deny his opponent’s supporters their right to free speech, or a man who has an impeccable reputation as a state legislator and who has run his campaign with dignity and respect for our laws?
I urge voters to learn more about Erik Paulsen and the good he has done for Minnesota as a state representative and the good he will do if he is privileged to become our next Congressman.
Crystal Kelley
Eden Prairie

Questions Madia
I read Ashwin Madia’s letter about tying the recent roller coaster ride on Wall Street and the financial sector into another worn out cliché about how great Social Security is and must remain under the control of the government. Give me a break. The government caused the mess in the first place.
Every year I read my Social Security statement and every year it states that if taxes are not raised or if benefits not reduced, my payout will be 78 cents on the dollar.
Had I been able to invest all of my and my company’s contributions, I would be sitting on a guaranteed nest egg of $600,000 using a CD ladder averaging a 5 percent return. If half of it had gone into an SP 500 index fund with an average return of 10 percent and half into the CD ladder, I would be looking at $1.5 million, all at the age of 60.
So, let’s see: I can maybe get $312,000 doled out to me by the government over 20 years retiring at 67 and living till 87 (boy, I hope it’s longer) or I can roll all of my $1.5 million into a 100 percent CD ladder paying 5 percent a year giving me a guaranteed income of $75,000 a year? And still have the $1.5 million? And retire at 60? If only …
And don’t give me the line about how the government would guarantee the payments of Social Security (yeah, on the backs of my kids and grandkids) because if the government were still solvent by then, my investments would be as well. And Ashwin, the Bush plan never had a provision to allow 100 percent of a younger worker’s payroll tax to go into a private account (though I would allow it). His proposal allowed for a maximum of 66 percent up to a cap of $1,300 per year. The rest was to be used to guarantee payments for retired as well as soon to retire workers and provide a small payment for the younger worker upon their retirement.
So, once again Ashwin came out of the gate claiming to be a new type of Democrat, but in the end he just tows the same old worn-out party line of big government knows what’s best for you. Me? I am voting Paulsen!
Robert Gorski
Eden Prairie

Election 2008
From a former
Republican
The policies of the GOP are now coming out and it is not pretty, but it has been coming for many years. I have been a lifelong Republican and will not vote for a single Republican candidate in November. The GOP is always harping on the free market until one of their supporters goes under. Then it becomes GOP socialism and the “have mores” get their buyouts and the taxpayer gets stuck with the bill.
The GOP keeps harping on how we need to eliminate the earmarks and everything will be fine. The numbers don’t support that. The total for earmarks is $18 billion which is about six weeks in Iraq. Iraq is one of the biggest earmarks that benefits the GOP “have mores” that run the war profiteering companies. The economy is really the war economy.
I don’t care to pay taxes any more than the next person but the GOP has become the spend and borrow party that doesn’t seem to understand the consequences of that policy. They also seem to have become the party that buries their collective head in the sand and ignores the problems with infrastructure, schools and the economic pain of the middle class. The only war they seem to be able to win is the war on the middle class.
Norm Coleman, Erik Paulsen and the rest of the GOP candidates are trying to scare you into believing that Democrats are big bad liberals that will tax you to death. What they don’t tell you is we are all being taxed to death with collapse of the financial markets, high food and energy prices and general high inflation. The entire war has been funded by debt sold mostly to foreign countries like China. The decline of the dollar and inflation is fueled by this reckless spending. Now we are going to fund the financial bailouts the same way and China will own even more of our country.
Paulsen likes to say that he held the line on spending at the state level but in fact all he did was shift the burden from the state to the local schools, counties and cities. Just a smoke and mirror operation that seems to have fooled many Minnesota citizens. Again on the backs of the middle class.
The war on the middle class has many tentacles like programs not funding public education, eliminating college loan programs. Free Trade agreements that ship jobs to other countries at the expense of our hardworking Americans. Tax and spending programs that run up the national debt so there is no money to fund programs for domestic needs like retraining workers that have lost their jobs to “free trade” agreements. There are hundreds of examples of their rewarding their “have more” friends and hurting the middle class. I for one will no longer accept their programs of fear and I hope the public does by election day.
Gregg Harcus
Eden Prairie

The difference
is respect
What’s the difference between a liberal and a conservative? One word: Respect. Liberals do not respect the choices people make in their everyday lives.
Liberals view their relationship to you as the relationship between an adult and a child. Since they have no respect for decision-making abilities of ordinary citizens, they seek to elect extra-ordinary people (i.e. super-humans) to office to take care of you.
Sarah Palin galvanized the electorate for the same reasons the left hates her. She is an accomplished, but otherwise ordinary American. Leftists hate that. Ordinary people should not be leading our country. They want people who travel extensively, attend elite universities, speak several languages, people with ideas and beliefs that we ordinary Americans have never considered.
Liberals have compassion for us “ordinary Americans.” It’s the same compassion we have for an aging parent with dementia, our pets or young children. We love them and may even lay down our lives for them. But we do not trust them with big decisions.
Democrats view themselves as adults in a world of children. All these children are stumbling through life making all kinds of stupid decisions. These children desperately need adult supervision. Liberals see it as their obligation to care for these “children” using the coercive force of government.
They cannot hide their belief in their superior ability. When Barack Obama says that people in rural areas “cling to guns and religion,” he isn’t intentionally trying to be mocking or cruel. He is just trying to explain to other “adults” why those “children” are behaving (voting) in such an irrational way. He actually thinks he is being understanding and compassionate. He and other leftists honestly cannot understand why anyone would resent such a remark.
Locally, we see the same elitism playing out in our City Council race. Ron Case puts out signs that say “Bring Back Ron Case.” He is asking – no he is begging you: Bring me back -- You need me! Without me, you will just have a city. I will give you “community.” Unless you elect me, national magazines will stop showering Eden Prairie with awards. You cannot possibly do it on your own.
In his 12 years on the council, he voted to raise taxes 10 times. That little tidbit doesn’t get mentioned on his Web site.
Brad Aho, however, promises to let you keep what you earn. He vows to get Eden Prairie out of the coffee shop business. He trusts that you know best how to spend your money. He believes community is not something government creates, but something that you and your neighbors create.
So that is the decision on Nov. 4. If you view yourself as an adult in a world of children, you should vote for Barack Obama and Ron Case. But if you view yourself as an adult in a world of other adults, you need to vote for John McCain and Brad Aho.
As a fellow ordinary American, I plan to vote for John and Brad.
Peter Bozanich
Eden Prairie

To the Dems
To the Dems, to tree huggers, emission exhaust resistors and to the glacier melt protestors: notice. You were once a voice in the wilderness, and by your shouting you got the attention of America. But, you have contributed in a huge way to sending our American companies overseas. Your voice demanded zero emissions, save the trees and the wilderness. Well, you made a dent in your efforts and this is what followed …
We have cleaner air to breathe, healthier buildings to live and work in and hopefully, careful tree cutting. But where do we put the garbage and tech trash? You have ongoing protests saying, don’t send the business and company’s manufacturing to other countries, bring them back home!
The American way is to have free enterprise and independence to develop, manufacture and sell.
Historically, Americans have demanded that we not force union membership and carding of employees or contractors. We must continue this right of employees and contractors to work without requiring union membership.
Unions have done a disservice in our country.
We in America can afford our own products, make and grow them here, if union bosses and heavy-handed union organizations would bug out and quit robbing our people. We could afford health care if the unions would keep out of the health care industry. Shame on unions and their bosses for controlling the union members. Unions rob employees of membership dues and then leave them with nothing when a downturn happens.
Have you heard of the robbing hood?
Unions have controlled the car manufacturing industry far too long! I say, Honda, Nissan, Toyota and others are far better cars, so why do Americans continue to purchase GM, Ford and Chrysler products that nickel and dime (read $100 and $1,000) us to the poor house? American car companies had over 50 years to develop a car with hugely better gas mileage, now they want taxpayers, who keep the country afloat, to pay for their retooling and their employees fattened union wages. I don’t think so. It’s time America wakes up.
I also believe that without the powerful unions governing who can work and teach in the public schools, we could remove ineffective and poor teachers. The union’s guarantees of teaching positions, wages and benefits only allow the bloated teacher’s unions to do more of the same. Wake up America! The bloated teacher’s union does not belong in schools. Free thought and speech has been severely harmed by teacher’s control and union memberships.
There are no easy answers until we are willing to address our lifestyle. If America were to bring back within our borders the manufacturing now being done overseas, will and can you pay the inflated prices, the wages and benefits that unions demand that companies pay their employees?
Who’s in charge of your dollar? What kind of taxes and loss of savings are you willing to forfeit? Giving money to those who do no real legit taxpaying work, is like a robbing hood. The Dems already have the plan for your dollar.
Nancy Arieta
Eden Prairie

Smith-Douglas-More House
Case & Butcher
would support Dunn Bros.
Saturday afternoon I left Dunn Bros. at the Smith-Douglas House heavy hearted. While there I talked to some patrons who are upset about how the city wants to double the rent and basically force Ann out of business. I am distraught and angry that our City Council and mayor have no regard for the fact that this place is not only a local business, run by a woman who is working so hard each day and not even taking a salary, but a great community gathering place for young and old alike. It’s a place where people can linger, drink coffee and enjoy each other’s company. It’s a place where teens can meet with friends and work on homework. It’s a place for musicians, artists, students and retirees. It has a feeling of home because it was a home. Why do they want to take all this away from us?
From what I understand the home was purchased by the city and restored by the city and Dunn Bros. corporation so it could be used as a place for the community and the money is being paid back to the city through a reasonable rent and eventually it will bring in a profit. Why the rush? I love going to Dunn Bros. I can walk there from my home and it feels so small town. The ambiance and feeling of hominess of this place is irreplaceable and what makes Eden Prairie such a great place to live. Also, nearly all the money has already been paid back to the city, so soon the city will be making a profit – why then do they have to be so greedy and try to make it so hard for her to keep the business there and take this lovely coffee shop away from us?
Another fact is that not only is Dunn Bros. paying rent, but also the College Nannies and Tutors are paying rent. Why do our mayor and current City Council want to take this away from us? What did Ann do to make them mad? What’s the difference in supporting this historic site and pouring money into the amphitheater at Staring Lake? What’s the difference in supporting this historic site and building the gazebos at Lake Riley and Purgatory Creek? They complain they put money into this wonderful, homey coffee shop, which is used by the community, but I don’t hear anyone complaining about the money they are pouring into these projects around the city that are also used by the community? I’m not saying we shouldn’t spend money on gazebos and the amphitheater, but why take away another place that is so cherished by residents?
Mayor Young and the current council are being unreasonable in my opinion. I don’t see the difference. Can anyone explain this to me? I say those of us who want to keep Dunn Bros., should vote for Ron Case and Sherry Butcher. They will vote to keep Dunn Bros. intact at the Smith-Douglas house!
Lorinda Fraboni
Eden Prairie