OPINION: Southwest LRT Process is ‘Anti-democratic and Unaccountable’

‘The Freight Rail Re-Route would not survive a vote by the free citizens who would pay for it (with their property values). Nor, I daresay, would the Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project.’

  Editor’s Note: On Saturday, former Senate District 46 candidate Paul Scofield attended a meeting of several neighborhood associations that included discussion of the Southwest Light Rail Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the freight rail issue in St. Louis Park. He submitted this guest column to Patch afterward.   The hazards faced by St. Louis Park and the neighborhoods adjacent to the proposed Freight Rail Re-Route are a consequence of bad decision processes. These decision processes are bad because they are anti-democratic and unaccountable to the citizens impacted. These decisions are being made at the Federal, Regional, County, and City level, with little or no accountability to citizens whose property values are already …

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DFL Sweeps District 46 Seats

Incumbents Latz, Winkler and Simon all won their re-election races.

DFL Sweeps District 46 Seats

Incumbents Latz, Winkler and Simon all won their re-election races.

District 46 incumbents will hold on to their seats for another term. Sen. Ron Latz and Reps. Ryan Winkler and Steve Simon, who are all members of the DFL, easily toppled their Republican challengers in Tuesday’s election. Latz defeated Paul Scofield 67 percent to 33 percent. Winkler beat John Swanson in the House District 46A race 66 percent to 34 percent. In the District 46B race, Simon took 70 percent of the vote compared to David Arvidson's 30 percent. Said Latz: “I’m very excited to be able to go back to the Senate and continue working on the issues and community values." The results were not a surprise. The Senate district leans toward the DFL by a whopping 32 points, according to MinnPost. Democrats have an even larger 36-point …

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AUDIO: District 46 Candidates Discuss Education (Part III)

The candidates discuss intelligent design, school boundary changes and why they deserve your vote.

On Monday, candidates who represent districts within Hopkins Public Schools boundaries gathered for a forum hosted by the school district’s Legislative Action Coalition. Those present included candidates for District 46, which covers the Patch towns of Hopkins, Golden Valley and St. Louis Park. The event offered in-depth discussion on education issues—as well as the candidates’ individual philosophies on governance. Patch is publishing segments of the forum so voters have the information they need on the candidates. Listen to the audio above then check back to hear the candidate’s thoughts on the following issues: Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

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AUDIO: District 46 Candidates Discuss Education (Part II)

The candidates discuss early childhood education, special education, the achievement gap and retiree volunteers.

On Monday, candidates who represent districts within Hopkins Public Schools boundaries gathered for a forum hosted by the school district’s Legislative Action Coalition. Those present included candidates for District 46, which covers the Patch towns of Hopkins, Golden Valley and St. Louis Park. The event offered in-depth discussion on education issues—as well as the candidates’ individual philosophies on governance. Over the next few days, Patch will publish segments of the forum so voters have the information they need on the candidates. Listen to the audio above then check back to hear the candidate’s thoughts on the following issues: Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

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AUDIO: District 46 Candidates Discuss Education (Part I)

Listen to remarks from a candidate forum on school issues that took place Monday.

On Monday, candidates who represent districts within Hopkins Public Schools boundaries gathered for a forum hosted by the school district’s Legislative Action Coalition. Those present included candidates for District 46, which covers the Patch towns of Hopkins, Golden Valley and St. Louis Park. The event offered in-depth discussion on education issues—as well as the candidates’ individual philosophies on governance. Over the next few days, Patch will publish segments of the forum so voters have the information they need on the candidates. Listen to the audio above then check back to hear the candidate’s thoughts on the following issues: Tuesday Wednesday Thursday   Follow us on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our free daily …

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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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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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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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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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