Debra Hilstrom is running for MN Secretary of State

[Eric J in MN]

A campaign email which I received today:

I want to be your Secretary of State.



A Secretary of State is like an umbrella: you ignore it until you need one, and when you need one, you are really glad you have it. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie performed admirable service for our fellow Minnesotans during the Dayton recount in 2010 and the Franken recount in 2008. The state would still be counting ballots if not for Mark Ritchie's fair and balanced leadership.



The Secretary of State should have strong administrative skills, fair enforcement of election laws, and experience regarding business services. Like my opponents, I am qualified to serve as Secretary of State. I am currently an Assistant Anoka County Attorney and Chair of the Judiciary Committee in the House of Representatives.



There are differences in how public officials fulfill their duties in public office. Let me give you my perspective on the Office of Secretary of State:



Rule #1: I Will Define the Office; the Office Will Not Define Me. Some people in this race seem to believe that Citizens United is beyond the purview of the Secretary of State. I disagree. I am adamantly opposed to the Citizens United decision and believe elected officials on both sides of the aisle have done little to lessen the influence of corporate America in the legislature and at the ballot box.



The Corporate Soiree Law. As Secretary of State, I will make it a priority to curtail the influence of corporate America in St. Paul. For over 15 years in Minnesota, corporations and their lobbyists were prohibited from buying gifts or dinners for legislators. I was one of a small minority of legislators to oppose a new law that now allows corporations to spend all the money they want to wine and dine Minnesota legislators -- as long as they wine and dine all the legislators at once. If it is wrong to curry the favor of one legislator, why would it be okay to curry the favor of all legislators at once?



Years ago, legislators would be invited to bashes that were hosted by corporate America. I don't recall one of those exotic soirees being sponsored by a legal aid group, a neighborhood justice coalition, or a head start family. No wonder. They can't afford it. Access to public policymakers should not be greater for those who can afford to entertain the legislature all at once.



I am the only candidate for Secretary of State who voted against this year's Corporate Soiree law. You can be assured that I will use the position of the Secretary of State to argue that clean elections mean getting the influence of corporate America out of elections, both before and after our votes are cast at the ballot box.



And Citizens United? I will use the bully pulpit of the Secretary of State's Office to argue for measures that even Justice Scalia would accept, like: 1) corporations cannot contribute to a candidate without a vote of the shareholders, 2) corporations cannot contribute if they have had a contract with the government, and 3) repeal of the Corporate Soiree law.



Rule #2: I Will Not Let ALEC Influence Our Elections: The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) acts like a subsidiary of the Koch Brothers, who spent an estimated $60 million in 2012 to influence American elections and legislative votes. ALEC-backed legislators, including some in Minnesota, have sponsored legislation to: 1) impose barriers that will suppress voting, 2) make it illegal to videotape corporate feedlots, 3) repeal renewable energy standards, 4) privatize prisons, 5) force government to sell public land to private developers, and 6) enact right-to-work laws. Just last week the New York Times reported the Koch Brothers spent $200 million to defund the healthcare law resulting in a shutdown of our government. ALEC is bad for democracy and bad for Minnesota. As Secretary of State, I will be vocal in making ALEC accountable.



Rule #3: When it Comes to Legislation, I Have the Courage Not to Demand All or Nothing. This year a background check bill designed to curb ownership of guns was introduced in the state legislature. It got a lot of attention but it couldn't get a majority of votes. I was one of the legislators who tried to get a compromise measure enacted that would pass. I believe it would have been enacted but for legislators who would not compromise. The easiest job for an elected official is to take an extreme position and not compromise-the most difficult job is to work with others to make progress for us all.



Rule #4: If You Want To Know Where A Public Official Is Going, Look At Where They Came From. I have worked hard to get tough laws enacted to protect the average citizen, despite strong opposition from corporate lobbyists. For example, I authored legislation:



To require mortgage companies to sit down with homeowners to try to avoid unnecessary foreclosures. I got the bill passed over the strong objections of the banking industry, but it was vetoed by former Governor Pawlenty.
To require companies that buy old debt from credit card companies, banks, and utilities to prove their case in court before getting judgments against people who can't afford attorneys.
To prohibit power companies from passing on the costs spent on lobbyists to ratepayers.



I look forward to meeting you over the next few months to discuss the Secretary of State position and hope to be able to earn your support. Please feel free to contact me by phone at home 763-561-6487 or on my cell at 651-408-4452, by email at [e-mail] or on my website at www.hilstromforsos.com. Thank you for your time.



Sincerely,

Debra

Debra Hilstrom

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. I got the same one. Never heard of her

but I like what she says about Citizens United.

[Bosso 63]

2. I'm backing Steve Simon, my only reservation is that I'm losing him as my Rep.

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/members.asp?id=12280