Third District congressional candidates Ashwin Madia and Erik Paulsen now working to strike right balance on policy positions

By John Molene

Eden Prairie residents know Paulsen well, he’s represented them in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 1994. Paulsen served as House Majority leader until the state Republicans lost their House majority in 2006.

 Born and raised in Chanhassen, he went to St. Olaf College in Northfield where he met his future wife, Kelly.

In contrast to Paulsen, Madia has burst upon the scene in a manner not unlike the emergence of Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Madia moved from the 5th Congressional District to the 3rd to launch a bid for the district congressional seat.

Growing up in Plymouth, Madia went to the University of Minnesota where he served as student body president. He earned a law degree from the New York University School of Law and then joined the U.S. Marine Corps. As an attorney in the Corps, Madia first served in Okinawa, Japan, followed by six months in Iraq in 2005 and 2006.

Madia finished active duty with the Marine Corps on July 4, 2006. He returned to Minnesota and began practicing law at Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi, LLP, a law firm in Minneapolis. As an attorney in private practice, Madia represented clients in disputes over intellectual property and other business issues. He also performed free legal work as an advocate for victims of domestic violence and for a victim of torture seeking asylum in the United States.

Madia swept through the Democratic primaries, winning a majority of delegates in the senate district convention, then upsetting Bonoff at the state convention in April.

Neither candidate wants to be pulled off center, and both will attempt to paint the other as too extreme for the district. And Paulsen, though known for conservative votes in the state legislature, has cast himself as a “common sense Republican.”

While Paulsen has a definite voting record to run on – for good and for ill – Madia, who hasn’t served in any political office, will see if his outsider status will generate traction in the third.

It also remains to be seen if Madia will benefit from the political coattails of Obama, who has a healthy lead in Minnesota.

“It is a tougher year to be a Republican,” Paulsen admitted. “I’ll probably be outspent.”

But he isn’t particularly worried about any Obama effect on the congressional race, even if the Illinois Democrat does carry the state’s presidential vote.

“Minnesotans are ticket splitters,” he said.

Political background

Paulsen’s political career began as a staff member for Ramstad. In 1994, Paulsen was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives.

In April, Paulsen ran unopposed to succeed his old boss as the Republican Party nominee for the Third District Congressional seat.

Key laws authored and passed by Paulsen include: education equity funding, Mandarin Chinese language programs in schools, Wildlife Management Area acquisition, an India Center at the University of Minnesota, and the Gift of Life income tax deduction for organ donors. As Minnesota House Majority Leader, Paulsen said he teamed with Gov. Tim Pawlenty to eliminate a $4.5 billion state budget deficit – without raising taxes.

“Ramstad and I are cut from the same cloth,” Paulsen said. “I’m a common-sense Republican and I think people are looking for common sense. Congress is kind of looking broken and I think people are looking for common-sense, results-oriented and good decision-making abilities.

Madia has worked hard to stake out a position as a moderate Democratic, albeit one with Republican roots.

“I was always considered a moderate even when I was younger, someone who believes in fiscal responsibility and social tolerance,” said Madia. He said it’s true he used to be a Republican, but he changed a few years into the Bush administration because of its failure to balance the budget and decision to invade Iraq. He said the Republican party changed dramatically under George W. Bush.

“I’m a moderate Democrat who wants to work with both sides to chart a new direction for our country and get things done,” Madia added.

Experience

The candidates go into the race with vastly different kinds of experience. Paulsen has considerable political chops. On the other side, Madia will score points with many for his military service and voters who want to “throw the bums out.”

“The first difference is on our experience – I’m not a political insider,” Madia said. “I’m a former Marine who’s served in Iraq and now I want to serve my country in Washington. I think we need fresh voices and new ideas in government, not just political insiders. The second main difference is – I think – in the way we view government. In my mind if it’s a good idea, it doesn’t matter who thought of it first. We just need to get it done. I’m a pragmatic and moderate person.”

Paulsen has served in the house since 1994, and gained several leadership positions. He’s also a business analyst for Target Corp.

“Next year is going to be a leadership year,” said Paulsen. “There will be a new president, and a new Congress. And I think people are crazy for leadership.”

On the economy

“People want a new direction for our economy,” Madia said. “They want to restore fiscal responsibility in Washington, invest in our people and invest in a renewable energy strategy that gets off our dependence on foreign oil.”

Paulsen said he believes a strong America has its roots in a strong economy.

“My business experience has taught me the importance of good management, good planning, good decision-making and the value of customer service. I will transfer those lessons to the U.S. Congress.”

“People are very concerned with pocketbook issues, and I think I’ve got a track record focusing on economic issues,” Paulsen said. “I think that plays to my strength.”

On Iraq, the surge and an exit strategy

“I think we need a new direction in Iraq,” Madia said. “We need to craft strategic plans for withdrawal, so that we allow the Iraqis to take more responsibility for their own country.

“I think it’s a good sign that we can transfer more responsibility to the Iraqis. I think the Iraqi security forces are showing more confidence. We ought to encourage that by given them more responsibility.

“I think we do need a time goal to withdraw from Iraq,” Madia said. “But it’s got to respond to considerations on the ground. I think I have a different perspective on Iraq. There I got to work with some of the bravest people I ever met in my life. I got to see bravery not just in words, but in action. I think we need more of that in Washington – not just politicians making speeches, but people working with all sides to get thing done.”

Paulsen said the surge has produced successful results, and that he supports the planned phase down of troops.

“Our venture into Iraq has been badly mishandled,” Paulsen said. “I’m glad that the surge has produced success. I do support the phase down of troops as practical security conditions goes.”

Paulsen, however, rejects politicians dictating a withdrawal schedule from Iraq.

“Part of the problem why we got into this mess was that politicians should have listened to the experts on the ground,” he said. “It’s foolish to think they can dictate an exact timetable, but I do support the phase down of troops.”

Faulty information led the United States to get involved in Iraq in the first place, Paulsen noted.

“The intelligence information was obviously faulty, but it was confirmed by the Israelis, the Germans and others,” Paulsen said. “Had they not had that information, they wouldn’t have the vote to go in.”

On balancing the federal budget

On his Web site, Paulsen notes that, “Congress seems to have forgotten that economic growth is the foundation on which we pay for solutions to other problems. Instead, Congress wants to spend and tax more. Both Republicans and Democrats have done a poor job addressing the federal budget deficit. I will work to reacquaint Congress with the principle of fiscal responsibility.”

Madia agrees that the federal budget needs addressing.

“We’ve got to eliminate pork barrel spending, cut waste, fraud and abuse and get tough on earmarks,” Madia said.  “Second, we need to invest in our people in this country. That means K-12 education, higher education and lifelong education so that we have the most competitive work force in the entire world. Third, we have to make sure everybody plays by the rules – lenders and speculators and foreign companies who don’t have the same government and labor standards that we do – all need to play by the rules so everybody gets a fair shot.”

On the energy crisis and drilling

“We have a different approach on energy,” Paulsen said. “And a big factor on that is innovation and the need to get off the dependence on foreign oil.”

Paulsen favors public-private partnerships that pursue market-based alternatives, from nuclear to solar to wind to other renewables. “With the proper incentives, we can jump-start an entirely new job-creating industry of green innovation and technology for the future,” he said.

While fellow Republican Michele Bachmann returned from a recent trip from Alaska enthusiastic about drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), Paulsen isn’t so sure.

“I have concerns about drilling,” Paulsen said. “... I don’t think we’re going to drill our way into prosperity.”

Madia is against drilling in ANWR.

“We shouldn’t give more land away to oil companies until they drill on the 68 million acres they already have. We can’t drill out of their problem, we’ve got to think our way out of this problem,” Madia added.

“So we need a comprehensive energy strategy in this country that includes wind, solar, biofuels, mass transit, fuel efficient vehicles, geothermal. And additional research into renewable energy. If we chart this new direction in energy policy then we will bring oil prices down, stimulate our economy, and clean up the planet – all at the same time. It’s a win-win-win, but we need the courage to change.”

On the campaign so far

“The momentum continues to go forward,” said Paulsen. “We’re in the parade season, and I really enjoy meeting with people at the parade events.”

“I’ve been struck and honored by how many decent and kind people I’ve met across the Third District,” Madia said. “People are so hopeful for change and a new direction for our country. They give up their time, their energy and even their money to help make change possible. I’ve been very humbled by that, and I’m honored to have their support.

“I’m very optimistic about the future of our country,” Madia added. “And I think we can do so much better than we’ve been doing over the last several years. You need courage to change and chart a new direction for our country and I’m excited to be a part if it.”