|
Anderson mulls election possibilities |
|
|
|
Wednesday, 27 February 2008 |
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
Will he or won’t he? That’s a question that is following Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson and Republican Party officials in Chisago County these days. It’s a two pronged question.
Will Anderson’s seek a third two-year term as mayor?
Will Anderson file to run in the Sept. 9th primary election for the House 17B contest should he not win the Republican endorsement in that race this spring or summer?
Anderson’s political path took a definite turn earlier this month when he told Republicans gathered at the Wyoming precinct caucus that he would be a candidate for the Republican endorsement in the House 17B race.
What Anderson has yet to say is if he will honor the endorsement process.
Chisago City Mayor Don Taylor, a former Wyoming Township resident prior to annexation, has announced he will also seek the Republican endorsement in the race.
Rep. Jeremy Kalin, DFL-North Branch, is the incumbent.
That decision may be made next month. Chisago County Republicans will meet in North Branch on March 3 to work on party platform issues and elect delegates to the state and congressional district conventions.
The decision on the date for the endorsing convention will be set by the executive committee of the Chisago County Republican Party.
A big decision
Anderson says his decision is a big one.
If he does not win the party endorsement, he must decide if he will buck the party and file for the primary election. Should that happen, Anderson would no longer be in a position to seek a spot on the city ballot for reelection as mayor.
“I’m torn,” Anderson said this week. “There are still things I can do as mayor.”
Anderson stopped short of saying he would honor the endorsement process, however. He says he announced his candidacy on Feb. 5 to provide a party option.
The process
Jim Stein, Lindstrom, chair of the executive committee, said the group will meet on March 5 and it is likely the endorsing convention date will be set at that meeting. Stein says the party has a “wide window” and could push the endorsing date to August, although it is likely the date won’t be extended that late, he said.
The reason, he said, is some in the party have fears of making an endorsement prior to the end of the annexation hearings involving Wyoming, Chisago City and Stacy. An administrative law judge will hear testimony in late March and will have until late June to render a decision.
Stein says the true test of who gets the endorsement in 17B could fall back to the precinct caucus night and which candidate was able to get their backers out. Stein says 332 delegates were elected on Feb.5 and as many as 383 could be seated on March 3 in North Branch.
Anderson said last week he is not convinced the endorsing convention will give him a fair shot. “I don’t believe the process is set up fairly,” he said.
Stein disagrees.
“There is no pre-set agenda,” he said. Stein said he has assured Anderson he “will be treated fairly at the endorsing convention.”
The successful candidate must claim 60 percent of the delegate vote to win the Republican endorsement.
Another party insider who asked not be named predicted Anderson will have an uphill fight but cautioned that the party should not misjudge the Wyoming mayor.
“Many of the party insiders have lined up behind Don Taylor,” the source said. “He’ll (Anderson) have to keep open the possibility of running in the primary. It’s going to be a tough fight for him.”
But the source said Anderson can be a formidable opponent. “People underestimate Anderson at their peril,” the source said.
“They (party officials) know that I am a wildcard,” Anderson offered.
On a related note, Stein also gave assurances that the House Republican Caucus would not be a player in directing or influencing the county endorsing process.
“That would be way out of line,” Stein said.
Anderson also said last week he is keeping a third option open — that of running as an independent party candidate.
No conflict
Anderson also addressed his recent roof-top fund-raiser at Wyoming City Hall to net $35,000 to keep the Forest Lake Teen Center open.
Anderson said his critics have accused him of using the benefit as a publicity maker to promote his political office aspirations.
Not so, he said last week.
“I decided to do the teen center benefit in late October,” Anderson said. “There was no thought of an attempt to run for higher office.”
Anderson said he will continue to work on behalf of the teen center.
“This is a passion for me,” he said about his work for the teen center. “This is not about politics.”
He has also been asked to testify in May before a panel formed by the governor to look at after school activities for youth on a statewide level.
In the meantime, however, Anderson said he will court delegates and weigh options for what he will do once the endorsement has been handed down.
|
