League Forums

Philosophically, there is little or no difference between the League of Women Voters and the Democratic Party. Their advocacy for the defeat of the proposed Voter ID amendment in Minnesota, stronger gun controls and conservation, instead of desperately needed domestic energy development, certainly illustrate this point. I’ll be glad to debate that with anyone at anytime.

Given the Carver County LWV attempt to convince senior voters at Westview Acres in Waconia to vote against the proposed Minnesota photo ID amendment, and their mischaracterization of State Rep. Ernie Leidiger’s behavior at that event, it’s obvious that they’re not only philosophically left, but that they’re also quite partisan, in contrast to their claims of non-partisanship.

While much of the business deliberated by county commissioners is not of a partisan nature, some of it certainly is. Consider the relationship of Carver County to the Met Council and the rest of Twin City area. Extension of Southwest Light Rail Transit line into Carver County would ultimately cause Carver County to become one with Hennepin and Ramsey counties, and would be a huge loser financially for taxpayers. Our semi rural way of life would become a thing of the past. I’ll vigorously oppose this! I highly favor passage of the photo ID amendment for Minnesota, while my opponent continues to oppose it. Carver County would certainly have a role in implementing photo ID, should it pass.

While I declined to participate in the LWV forum, I’d refer interested persons to the Sept. 13 editions of this and other local newspapers, which covered in detail a candidate forum conducted on Sept. 6 in Chaska, which I attended along with my opponent.

Further, my opponent and I will attend another candidate forum on Oct. 17 in Victoria, to be sponsored by the Deer Run Homeowners Association.

Tom Workman, Frank Long, Jim Walter and I wholeheartedly agree that candidates should participate in these forums for the benefit of the public. However, citizens will benefit only if the venue is truly nonpartisan.

Vince Beaudette

District 3 Commissioner Candidate