Posted: 11/27/02

Council candidates file election complaint against FLAG

Jessica Foster
Staff Writer

Controversy continues to stir surrounding the Nov. 5 Forest Lake city election. Six candidates for city council including Rick Ashbach, Judy Bull, Mike Egger, Jim DuFour, Robert Holden Sr. and Marco Swanson are challenging the campaign practices of the remaining candidates Susan Young and Robert Kennedy. Ashbach and Young won council seats in the Nov. 5 election.

In a complaint filed with the Washington County Attorneyís office on November 16, the candidates request an investigation into what they call ìblatant violation of state campaign election law.î

The candidates charge Young and Kennedy accepted in-kind contributions in excess of the $300 limit allowed under state election law from Forest Lake Action Group (F.L.A.G.), headed by Eugene Huerstel.

The candidates also question where the money came from to pay for the signs.

ìWe believe full financial disclosure of the FLAG organization, its income sources and expenses, is pertinent and relevant to an investigation,î the letter reads. ìThe campaign financial report on file for FLAG appears incomplete and does not reflect the activity level witnessed in the communityÖIf a third party actually paid for the signs, or gave FLAG hundreds of dollars in ëloaní to purchase the signs, it should be public record.î

Young was elected to the city council receiving 2304 votes. Kennedy came in third with 2139 votes and failed to win a seat.

When contacted by Forest Lake Times this week, Young said she was not aware of any improprieties nor was she aware of the complaint filed with the county attorneyís office.

She said she became involved with FLAG when they asked her to a meeting. They asked her questions and she asked questions in return.

ìI told them an endorsement from them was as much a liability as it is a benefit,î she said. ìTheyíre a pretty polarized group.î

Young said she agreed to the endorsement on the premise there would be no negative campaigns.

Young said she did not erect her own signs.

ìThey endorsed me and they endorsed me with signs,î she said.

She added she heard on the grapevine the signs were ordered shortly after she filed on the afternoon of the last day.

ìEugene (Huerstel) gave me three signs, one I gave to Pat Kelly and one I gave to a planning commission member. One went in my yard,î Young said.

Young said she spent nothing in the campaign. A $50 check which was given to her was returned with a thank you note, she said.

Jim DuFour who came in fifth receiving 778 votes, said he was contacted by Huerstel and encouraged to step out of the election.

ìAt first he called, he tried to butter me up. He said he would support me but it was too late, they already bought the signs for Kennedy and Young,î DuFour said. ìHe asked me to withdraw, and I thought thatís bull.î

DuFour said the prodding continued at the second city council forum, sponsored by the Lakes Area Business Association. There, DuFour said, the pleading continued by Huerstel and Dennis Kessler.

ìHe (Huerstel) came up to me and said if you get in youíll just be one of the mayorís puppets,î he said. ìSusan and Kennedy were just his pawns.î

Despite the challenges in this election, DuFour said he does plan to run for city council again.

ìWe do need some common sense on the city council,î he said.

While retaining she was unaware of any improprieties, Young said she will take ownership of the fallout.

ìIf FLAG made errors in their campaign and those errors were made by FLAG in my name, then I have to own those mistakes,î Young said.

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