by Rich Larson
State Senator Rich Draheim said he is gratified to see so many people from the Republican Party declaring their candidacy for governor in 2022.
So far, there are six recognized candidates running for the Republican nomination next year. Senator Paul Gazelka of East Gull Lake recently stepped down from his position as Senate Majority leader and then announced his candidacy. Senator Michelle Benson of Ham Lake is currently the chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee. Former State Senator Dr. Scott Jensen of Chaska, Lexington mayor Mike Murphy, St. Anthony dermatologist Neil Shah, and Kasson electrician Mike Marti round out a field that could still grow.
Senator Draheim said he is very happy that so many people are, as he put it, stepping up and wanting to help Minnesota.
Draheim says he knows three of the candidates, Gazelka, Benson and Jensen, very well from having served in the Senate with them and working alongside them, but doe does not know much about Murphy, Shah and Marti.
He said he has had disagreements with each of his senate colleagues in the past, which shows that each has the ability to think for themselves and none of them necessarily toe a strict party line.
“We’ve had disagreements like any two Senators would on how to do something or maybe not think that something is the best route to go to find a solution. And I think that’s healthy. I think we need to be honest about that more often. Just because you belong to a party doesn’t mean that you believe everything that everybody in that party says.”
Draheim declined to endorse any of the candidates at this early juncture, because he thinks it is important to let the process play out. He said the people should listen to what each candidate has to say and then participate in their local caucuses. That is how the decision on a gubernatorial candidate should be made.
Governor Tim Walz has not yet made an announcement on his plans to run for re-election. The state will vote on the Office of Governor November 8, 2022.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Senator Rich Draheim can be heard here
City wants input on sustainable building policy
The City of Northfield is inviting community members to an informational meeting about the city’s proposed new sustainable building policy.
The meeting will be Thursday, October 7 at 7:00pm in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Those who attend the meeting will hear a presentation by consultants from the Center for Energy and Environment and will then be asked to give input on the new code.
The new building policy will be a function of the city’s climate action plan, which calls for Northfield to run on carbon free electricity by 2030 and be completely carbon free by 2040. City staff and many of the elected officials have held meetings with stakeholder groups and city boards and commissions. The input session during the meeting will be an opportunity for anyone in the community with an interest in the topic to learn about the proposal and offer their viewpoints.
A statement posted to the city website said that Northfield is not alone in this endeavor, and many cities throughout Minnesota are trying to improve public health and environmental sustainability with new building codes.
A new building policy that mandates climate friendly practices will go beyond the existing state code for new construction and redevelopment. It will establish new local minimum sustainability criteria that will most likely target reducing pollution and conserving resources.
The statement went on to say that the policy would be voluntary for developments not seeking financial incentives.
A detailed description of the ideas for the new building policy can be found by clicking here.
First UCC welcomes Rev. Cindy Maddox
And the First UCC Church of Northfield has announced that the Reverend Cindy Maddox will become the church’s new senior minister.
Rev. Maddox comes to Northfield from South Portland, Maine, where she served for the past eight years as senior minister of First Congregational Church of South Portland. Prior to that, she served UCC churches in Danbury, Connecticut and Asheville, North Carolina.
Sam Steinberg, the moderator of First UCC Northfield said the church is happy and excited to have Reverend Maddox lead the congregation, adding that she is a seasoned and creative spiritual leader, as well as a longtime advocate for social justice.
Rev. Maddox received her Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, where she graduated with academic honors and earned the John Owen Smith Award for preaching. Her father was a pastor, and her early years were spent in Ohio, Florida, Alabama and Indiana. As an adult she also lived for a time in Blue Earth, Minnesota.
She follows former senior minister Todd Lippert who now represents Northfield and the surrounding area in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Reverend Maddox will be in the pulpit to give her first sermon this Sunday, October 3. Services begin at 10:30am in person and on Zoom. To access the online service, and for all other information, visit firstucc.org.
Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
