, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
, 
Rock County Democrats and Republicans, along with Minnesotans statewide, gathered for precinct caucuses Feb. 25, one week ahead of this week’s Presidential Nomination Primary.
The Democrats met in the Generations building on East Lincoln Street in Luverne, where 22 people participated.
Rock County Republicans met at the Luverne Elementary School commons, where 25 participated.
Both local parties saw smaller crowds for this year’s caucuses, compared with the 2016 presidential election, which drew more than 100 to cast preferential ballots.
Now Minnesota uses a presidential nominating primary election for voters to select preferences for presidential nominations, eliminating the ballot process at caucuses.
According to Rock County Auditor Treasurer Ashley Kurtz, as of Saturday her office received 654 mail ballots and 36 absentee ballots ahead of the March 3 Minnesota primary.
The Star Herald sent pages to press Tuesday afternoon, so primary results aren’t included in this edition, but they’ll be posted online at www.star-herald.com.
DFL caucus produces 20 resolutions
The DFL caucus participants voted on 20 resolutions, including expanded health care coverage, statewide broadband, equitable public education funding, support for small and mid-sized farmers, sentencing reform and drug policy that prioritizes public health.
Carol Svingen read a letter from Dan Feehan, Mankato, who is seeking the DFL endorsement to Congress in Minnesota’s First Congressional District, currently represented by Republican Jim Hagedorn, Blue Earth.
“I’m running for congress because we need politics that puts people first … by making sure health care is affordable and accessible and high quality for every single person,” Feehan said in the letter.
“We put people first by making sure that our ag economy is strong and our farmers have markets for their crops. We put people first by making sure incomes rise faster than the cost of tri-care, housing, health care and everyday goods for working families. We put people first by making sure regular people don’t have their voices drowned out by corporate special interests.”
He said corporate donations to campaigns are putting the interests of pharmaceuticals, insurance companies and oil corporations ahead of voters.
“I reject this type of politics, which is why I’m refusing all money from corporations and their PACs,” Feehan said, encouraging Rock County DFL members and residents to support his campaign.
Among the DFL caucus participants was Luverne resident Jesse Booker who said he attended Tuesday’s DFL caucus out of a sense of duty.
“We’re in a representative republic and we’re in a unique position in the world to directly determine how we’re governed,” he said. “I think it’s important to be involved in that process.”
Republicans support status quo
There are five presidential candidates still seeking the DFL endorsement, but the Republicans are counting on a Donald Trump re-election, and the Rock County caucus was all about maintaining status quo.
“There are times when he’s said things I wish he wouldn’t say, and there there times when I wished he wouldn’t say anything at all. But at the end of the day, quite frankly, I don’t know any other person who could have accomplished all the things he’s accomplished,” Sen. Bill Weber said about Trump.
“And, you know what? If you have to be politically incorrect, if you have to be rather blunt to get things done … I think we’re starting to see a greater appreciation for what he has accomplished.”
Nick Sjaarda, Beaver Creek Township, also said he’s tolerated poor behavior for preferred outcomes. “We shouldn’t overlook his character flaws,” he said about Trump at the caucus.
But he and his wife, Shawna, are devout Christians who support a Republican president, pro-life policies and conservative Supreme Court justice appointees.
The Sjaardas farm near Beaver Creek and homeschool their children, Jonathon, 14 and Nicole, 12, who attended the caucus with their dad.
“We’re learning,” he said about why they were there. “We talk a lot about Christianity and politics, and we’re here to see where it all starts.”
A table of grownups across the room produced a more traditional response to the question about why people caucus.
“We’ve always caucused,” said Joyce Fluit, Luverne Township. “It’s the beginning of your election process.”
Becky Lorenzen, Magnolia Township, said, “It’s our civic duty.”
Martin Kruger added, “Our freedom depends on it.”
The Rock County Republican convention is March 14 at the Luverne Pizza Ranch. The DFL gathering will be April 18 at the Generations building.
Delegates from Rock County conventions, also serve as delegates to the endorsing convention at the state level for each party.