Gun Violence and Constituent Visits: Latz Week in Review
The District 46 legislator provides an update from the Capitol.
Sen. Ron Latz
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Saturday, February 16, 2013
Monday, October 8, 2012
Pose Your Questions to the District 46 Candidates
Two House races and a Senate race will be on the ballot this November.
With the Nov. 6 election fast approaching, Patch wants to give you the chance to pose a question to the District 46 candidates. In the Senate District 46 race, incumbent Sen. Ron Latz (DFL) is taking on Republican challenger Paul Scofield. There are two local House races—in 46A, Democratic incumbent Rep. Ryan Winkler faces Republican John Swanson, and incumbent Rep. Steve Simon (DFL) takes on Republican challenger David Arvidson in 46B. In the comments below, we welcome you to post your questions. If you'd like to just question one particular candidate, please note that. Otherwise, we'll assume all questions are intended for all the candidates. Please keep questions civil and respectful. We'll gather some of the best questions we receive …
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Thursday, September 13, 2012
Dayton Approves $2 Million for SW Light Rail
The project was scored poorly by the Department of Employment and Economic Development but still received some funding Thursday.
Gov. Mark Dayton on Thursday approved $2 million in grant funding for Southwest Light Rail, just days after the project received a low score from the state's economic development department. Dayton approved a total of $47.5 million in grants, with the largest chunk—$25 million—going to a new St. Paul Saints ballpark, the Star Tribune reports. On Tuesday, local leaders criticized the state Department of Employment and Economic Development for giving SW LRT the lowest score among the 37 projects that applied for grant funding. "Someone at DEED should be fired if they think a Saints Ballpark creates more jobs or has a bigger regional impact than a new LRT line," Rep. Ryan Winkler wrote on Twitter. However, the governor had final say over the …
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Mira
11:34 pm on Thursday, September 13, 2012
One of the downsides of the light rail is the associated gentrification. Apartments that are currently affordable for low income families, allowing them to give their children a fine education, thereby positioning themselves to avoid the cycle of poverty, may be out of reach. As you think about the jobs and how higher commercial and residential rents will give the city a greater tax base, give … more ›
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Republicans Endorse Scofield in SD46
The candidate wanted out of the race but ended up winning last month's primary.
Though later than usual, Senate District 46 Republicans on Monday endorsed Paul Scofield in his bid for the state Senate. Scofield was an unusual winner during the Aug. 14 Republican primary—though he had previously endorsed his opponent, Roger Champagne, and said he wanted out of the race, Scofield took 56 percent of the vote. He was only on the ballot because he missed the deadline to withdraw. Instead, he will face two-term Democratic incumbent Sen. Ron Latz in November's general election. Mike Held, the SD 46 Republican coordinator, said this was the first time in memory that an unendorsed candidate won a local primary. A simple motion and a second on Monday night officially gave Scofield the endorsement. Scofield, who lost to Latz in …
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mike savick
12:05 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Same repitition of the Tea Party mantra. Not an original thought to be had. He offers the same cut and paste Koch Brothers' constitutional "Right to Work" (for less) amendment to go around the legislative process. Remember the petroleum billionaire Koch Brothers sponsor the "grass roots " Tea Party. Hint, they also control 70% of the gassoline refining in Minnesota (Koch Refinery is now called … more ›
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Despite Wanting Out, Scofield Wins SD46 Republican Primary
Paul Scofield topped Roger Champagne on Tuesday and will take on Democratic incumbent Sen. Ron Latz in the fall.
Though he didn't really want to, Paul Scofield won the Senate District 46 Republican primary on Tuesday night and will face Democratic incumbent Sen. Ron Latz in November's general election. Scofield took 56 percent of the vote, defeating Roger Champagne by a 544-420 margin. Interestingly, Scofield announced at a July 24 candidates forum that he would actually be supporting Champagne. Scofield said that Champagne—who is retiring from the Minneapolis Fire Department later this year—would have more time for the job, and added that the party should unite behind Champagne. Scofield also said he would have pulled out of the race had he not missed the deadline to do so. Local Republicans urged party members to get behind Champagne. "I guess Paul…
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Andrew McClusky
3:28 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Scofield is a dope, he has run for everything from school board to Senate and now that he finally gets the chance he's been begging for, he turns it down. Weak! more ›
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Local Democrats, Republicans Stress Primary Voting
Both parties have unique situations this election season.
Local Democrats and Republicans are both urging voters to get out for the Aug. 14 primary—and both have unique reasons for doing so. On the Democratic side, incumbent Rep. Keith Ellison has a good chance of once again representing Minnesota's 5th District in Congress. But local party activist Mike Hindin wants to make sure that voters remember he has to get through a primary first. Ellison, in fact, has two Democratic opponents—Gregg Iverson and Gary Boisclair. Boisclair has stirred up controversy by releasing graphic anti-abortion ads, and has been running on a traditionally conservative platform. Some accuse him of launching the primary to exploit a loophole that allows the airing of graphic anti-abortion ads. Boisclair, himself, …
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Latz Led Push for Bridge Collapse Victim Compensation
The local state senator was a sponsor of the bill.
Local legislators Sen. Ron Latz and Rep. Ryan Winkler were the sponsors of bridge collapse victim compensation bills in the Senate and House, respectively. Then-Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed the legislation into law on May 8, 2008, which allocated $37 million to 179 people. Now, five years after the collapse, Latz offered his reflections: The most important reflection is the human loss that endures today mostly for the families who lost loved ones and for those who survived the collapse and will live forever with the physical and psychological impact of it. Second, it is a reminder that failing to adequately fund infrastructure has consequences – when we make budget cuts there are real impacts on services like inspection frequency and repairs…
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Scofield Will Endorse Champagne in Senate District 46 Race
The Republican candidate announced his intentions at a Tuesday night forum.
The Republican primary battle in Senate District 46 doesn't figure to be much of a battle at all. Candidate Paul Scofield announced on Tuesday that he will be endorsing his primary opponent, Roger Champagne. However, because Scofield missed the deadline to withdraw his candidacy, his name will remain on the primary ballot. The announcement came during Scofield's opening statement at a League of Women Voters candidate forum in St. Louis Park, and set the stage for quite the amicable debate. On a number of occasions, Scofield answered questions by saying he supported Champagne's stance. "I think Roger Champagne is a good candidate," Scofield said after the forum. Scofield said he ultimately decided that Champagne—who is retiring from the …
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Thursday, June 28, 2012
Local Politicians, Candidates Take Sides on Obamacare Ruling
Not surprisingly, Republicans disagreed with the decision, while Democrats have applauded it.
Reflecting the liberal-conservative split evident in the Supreme Court's historic health care ruling Thursday, local Democrats applauded the decision while Republicans chided it. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the "individual mandate," the centerpiece of the Affordable Health Care Act that President Barack Obama signed into law last year. Five of the nine justices agreed that the key to the act—the requirement that people either buy health insurance or pay a tax penalty—is a kind of tax, which Congress is allowed to impose using its taxing power, according to the Bloomberg News-operated SCOTUSblog. In a joint statement issued with fellow Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Rep. …
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Monday, June 18, 2012
SLP Stands Against Voter Photo ID
By a unanimous vote, council members said they oppose the amendment question that will be on November's ballot.
This November, Minnesota voters will decide whether photo IDs should be required the next time they go to the polls. Count the five members of the St. Louis Park City Council present at a Monday night meeting among those who will be voting against the proposed constitutional amendment. By a 5-0 vote, the Council passed a resolution that opposes the amendment (see full text below). Jeff Jacobs and Sue Santa were absent Monday. "I think our constitution is really about protecting people, not taking away rights,” councilwoman Julia Ross said. Aggie Leitheiser, president of the St. Louis Park chapter of the League of Women Voters, applauded Council's decision. “Our organization was founded 92 years ago with the vision of fair and open …
Julie M
2:57 pm on Friday, June 22, 2012
It shouldn't be surprising, as the city is in charge of elections, and they have to foot the cost to implement a new system and maintain it years after. We have a pretty forward thinking city to begin with, I can't say I would expect something like this from City Council, but I am not shocked by it either. This amendment would directly affect the city. Why wouldn't the city have something to say … more ›
Pam Rykken
4:41 pm on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Do you believe that Minnesota's constitution should secure rights for all people? Should the constitution be amended when a state statute would do the job? more ›