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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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| Members of the McLeod County GOP gathered Saturday for their annual convention, debating issues and hearing from candidates. |
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GOP Senate candidates grilled over issues, views
Rich Glennie
Editor
With the retirement of State Sen. Steve Dille, R-Dassel, at the end of the year, several District 18 Senate candidates have been jostling for position to be his replacement.
The four Republican hopefuls faced off in a rapid-fire forum Saturday during the McLeod County Republican Convention in the Silver Lake Auditorium.
The four - Glencoe Mayor Randy Wilson, former State Rep. Scott Newman of Hutchinson, Dean Mahlstedt of Cokato and Tim Benoit of Hutchinson - all fielded questions from county delegates and all had similar answers, except when it came to the final question: would you follow the endorsing process.
Wilson was the lone exception. He said he had not made up his mind, yet.
I can't answer yes or no,"
Wilson said. "I appreciate and respect what you're doing," he told the delegates. "I believe in the Constitution. Do we ... have the right to run in the primary?"
"Yes, I agree with the caucus system," Newman said, but he added it is anyone's right to run in the primary election. He said he preferred the caucus system because of the participation of the citizens and voters.
Benoit said he supports the endorsing process. He said there is so much at stake "and my opponent, Hal Kimball, is a dangerous guy."
But Mahlstedt took a different approach."I take issue with Mr. Wilson. Mahlstedt said he will abide by the rules of the private Republican party, "because we have an election to win this year."
He accused Wilson of making the election about him and not the party if he enters the primary. "It's not about him."
If Wilson runs in the primary against the endorsed Republic candidate, "we will have four months of in-fighting," Mahlstedt said.
For more about the convention, see the March 3 print edition of the Chronicle.
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