As another election draws close, once again the DFL, liberals and union-supporters are going to do well in the Northland.
Two legislators, Reps. Mike Jaros, DFL-Duluth, and David Dill, DFL-Crane Lake, are running unopposed and in most other races DFL candidates have only token opposition.
So what are the Republicans and conservatives doing about it? Not much. Former U.S. Sen. Rod Grams is challenging Congressman Jim Oberstar in a spirited campaign, but the odds of victory remain daunting.
Frankly, if they are ever going to compete, this area's conservatives need to take a page from the other side's playbook. It's not enough to talk among each other, even if it is on local talk radio. It's easy to talk. What's difficult is getting people to go to the polls to force a change.
This fall, only one conservative incumbent is on the ballot, the taxpayers' best friend in county government, Dennis Fink. The liberals are focused on removing him from office, and are backing a strong candidate, Frank Jewell. If Fink is to survive, conservatives need to rally behind Fink not only with donations, but with their time to help with literature drops and phone banks.
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However, conservatives need to think longer term. Another election is coming up next year for city council and school board and the Wellstone-inspired political organizing of the Left shows how to win those low-turnout elections. Conservatives need to identify the 15 to 20 percent diehard believers in their cause and then make sure they vote in every primary and general election. They also need to find articulate, well-known candidates. They have to start now.
The fact is that a property tax revolt is brewing locally. AFSCME's demand for a 30 percent pay hike from a nearly broke city of Duluth isn't the only cause, nor are the tax and utility rate hikes needed to solve the $300 million city retiree health care crisis.
The city's levy increases can no longer be hid by the frugality and efficiency of the county or school district. After several years of no increases, St. Louis County is finally being forced to increase its property tax levy. It set a maximum increase earlier this month of 8.42 percent. And now the Duluth public school district is raising its levy 6.8 percent and has an unfunded health care liability of $19 million, requiring an extra set-aside of $1.4 million annually.
The conservatives' time is coming, but only if they get organized.
