Paul Thissen: Innovation in Action

Thissen Adds Experienced Staff Members, Builds Convention Strength

Paul Thissen’s campaign for Minnesota Governor announced today that it has added a total of five staff in the last week in their push for the DFL endorsement.

Thissen added Chelsie Glaubitz and Mike Simpkins to lead the organizing effort for the DFL State Convention in Duluth.  Glaubitz and Simpkins bring considerable convention and floor experience to the campaign.  This background is critical in the crowded DFL field that will create a complex, multi-layered floor fight for the endorsement.  Glaubitz served as Al Franken’s Assistant Floor Leader at the 2008 State DFL Convention.  Simpkins brings experience to the team from both the floor fight in the 2006 governor’s race and Franken’s campaign in 2008.

Additionally, both Glaubitz and Simpkins specialize in organizing greater Minnesota.  Glaubitz is a native of Southern Minnesota’s First Congressional District while Simpkins is a resident of Bemidji and has organized in the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Congressional Districts.  The addition of two greater Minnesota organizers adds strength to Thissen’s whole-state approach to the race.

The Thissen campaign added Carrie Lucking as Communications Director as well.  Lucking most recently served as Steve Kelley’s Campaign Manager in his campaign for governor.  She brings experience in the crowded field and a background in campaign communications that stretches back to 2005.

Rounding out the team are field organizers Peter Grafstrom and Ross Dybvig, both offering on-the-ground experience from different corners of the state.

Thissen’s Campaign Manager, Gia Vitali, said of the hires, “We’ve been extremely successful gaining The MN Nurse’s Association endorsement, Take Action’s support and winning pledged delegates. Carrie, Mike, Chelsie, Peter, and Ross add even greater strength to our winning team as we build to the DFL endorsement.”

Statement on Pawlenty Budget Proposal

Minnesotans don’t want a state where we are leaving our most vulnerable neighbors behind, but that is just what Governor Pawlenty is doing. Middle class families are feeling the deep squeeze of the current economy. The governor’s proposals to eliminate affordable health care for working Minnesotans, to cut quality child care for working parents, to make college less affordable, just tightens that squeeze.

Minnesotans have a more generous vision of the responsibilities we owe each other as citizens. As public leaders, we should enact a budget that reflects that value and that gives Minnesotans hope for a brighter, more secure future. Unfortunately, the governor’s budget does not do that. His political blinders continue to keep him from seeing that there are other alternatives to the cuts he is proposing. It’s time Minnesotans stand up and stand together for a better vision of our state.

FULL MEDIA RELEASE

Callers Unite!

We had a great meeting this weekend to rally volunteers and get everyone set to call the thousands of potential delegates to the April 24th DFL State Convention. Paul has been one of the top candidates at gaining delegates thus far, and the team is determined to keep that momentum going. The meeting was attended by all different kinds of volunteers coming together for Paul: first timers, Nurses Association members, Take Action members, party officers, friends, and neighbors!

Response to Governor Pawlenty’s Final State of the State Address

Response from Rep. Thissen on Governor Pawlenty’s Final State of the State Address

I went into the State of the State address hopeful and unfortunately the Governor’s address was predictable and I left disappointed.

I agree we must slow the growth of spending by spending smarter. I agree we must create jobs. I agree we must maintain funding levels for education. I agree we must cap the unsustainable rate of property tax increases.

But, I don’t agree with the governor’s path.

His proposals to cut are just as predictable as the legislature’s reaction to his speech. Governor Pawlenty’s priorities are clear but he consistently misses the point.

Health care isn’t about insurance, it’s about care.

We can’t create just any job. We need to create good paying jobs; jobs that deliver meaningful income that allow individuals and families to contribute to our economy, not just get by.

We can’t just keep education funding levels flat, we must invest. Minnesotans have already felt the pain of Governor Pawlenty’s cuts. And he promises more with his budget on Monday.

We need a governor that is going to find creative ways to ease the pain to his constituents, not further the burden by eliminating programs and cutting deals with corporations.

Under a Thissen Administration, Minnesotans can expect a progressive tax system, investment in early and higher education and a health care system that delivers on behalf of the patient, not a corporate bottom line.

Thissen Leads the Pack in Swift County

While six DFL candidates trekked to Benson for Saturday’s Swift County Convention, Paul was the lone candidate to garner a delegate commitment.

From the West Central Tribune story by Tom Cherveny:

BENSON — Swift County had a New Hampshire-like feel about it on Saturday night, when the DFL party reaped the benefits of being one of the first to hold its county convention.

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The county will send three delegates to the state convention. Two are going as uncommitted delegates and the third is caucusing with Paul Thissen.

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