I am writing to object to the News Tribune's endorsement of Bruce Ahlgren in Tuesday's primary for state House District 11A (Our View: "Pick Ahlgren and his focus on cooperation," Aug. 3).
I cannot remember when during Ahlgren's 14 years as Cloquet mayor he definitively stood for the people on an issue involving a conflict with a business interest.
Instead of calling for a progressive tax structure, under which more local government aid could be available through higher income taxes on the wealthy, Ahlgren called on the people to pony up more via increases in the local sales tax and other taxes that hit people directly.
Ahlgren has various public salaries and paid benefits in his pocket already. Now he wants more via a state legislative salary and pension. He hasn't had a private-sector job in years; I doubt he has a clue how hard people work to pay him money.
Several years ago, Cloquet built a water tower with a nonunion constructor. When I asked Mayor Ahlgren about it he said there were no union water tower companies anymore. Just one problem: that isn't true. Two Harbors and Duluth built water towers with union contractors; Cloquet could have, too.
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Don't support someone who doesn't support you. Vote for Mike Sundin.
Mike Kuitu
Duluth
The writer is president of the Carlton County Central Labor Body.
