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HomeNewsRepublicans and DFLers Caucus February 27th at 7 PM

Republicans and DFLers Caucus February 27th at 7 PM

Tuesday, February 27, is the eve­ning the major political parties hold bi-annual precinct caucuses. All caucuses are called to order at 7:00 PM.

A caucus is where neighbors gather to discuss political issues and can­didates for elective office at the lo­cal, state, and federal levels.

Held every two years, caucuses help the parties organize supporters and activists for the fall elections. They are the definition of local, grassroots politics.

This is the beginning of party build­ing, where delegates are elected to represent their neighbors at the next level of organizing. In this case, county and state senate district conventions are where resolutions that can begin at the precinct level rise for debate and a vote to see if they make it to the state party platform.

State law, Section 202A.19, per­mits Minnesota residents to take time off from work without pay to attend precinct caucuses if they give their employer written notice at least ten days in advance.

The primary election for President of each party is Tuesday, March 5.

THE REPUBLICANS

In Cook County, the Republican Party will caucus at The Hub, 10 Broadway in downtown Grand Marais.

Cook County Republican Party chair Andrew Smith is looking for­ward to the caucuses this year and naming delegates to the next level.

“I’m urging people to participate,” Smith said. “Come and offer solu­tions. You’ve got to be involved.”

Lake County Republicans stated on their notice, “The purpose of the Precinct Caucus is to elect delegates to the Lake County Republican Convention. Any person residing in Lake Coun­ty who agrees with the principles of the Republican Party is invited.”

The caucuses will be held at the Mary MacDonald Business Cen­ter, 99 Edison Blvd. in Silver Bay for eastern Lake County (Silver Bay, Beaver Bay, Finland, Isabel­la). Catherine Miller is the caucus convener.

Western Lake County (Two Har­bors, Knife River, Brimson) cau­cuses will be at the Two Harbors Community Center, 417 South Av­enue, in Two Harbors. Dan Schleet­er is the caucus convener.

The Northern Lake County (Ely, specif­ically Fall Lake Township) caucus will be held in conjunction with the St. Louis County Republican Party in Ely.

THE DFL

The Cook County DFL caucuses are planned at four locations across the county.

After its last county caucus was held only in Grand Marais, and the one before it was held on Zoom during the pandemic, the party’s executive board elected to have multiple locations.

“We wanted to broaden access to our caucuses,” said Cook Coun­ty DFL Chair Kevin LeVoir. He mentioned that having dispersed locations means that people won’t have to drive as far, in the dark, to participate.

The Colvill Town Hall, 2965 East Highway 61, will host the Grand Portage, Hovland, Magney, and Colvill precincts.

Gunflint Trail DFlers will caucus at A. Paul and Carol Schapp Commu­nity Center, 7401 Gunflint Trail.

The Arrowhead Center for the Arts, 51 West Fifth Street in Grand Mara­is is the venue for the Croftville, both Grand Marais, Cascade, Ma­ple Hill, and Pike Lake precincts.

Birch Grove Community Center, 9 Good Neighbor Hill Road in Tofte, is the location for the Lutsen, Tofte, and Schroeder Precincts.

The Lake County DFL also has several locations where its parti­cipants may caucus.

William Kelly School, 137 Banks Blvd. in Silver Bay, hosts caucus goers with a 55614 zip code. That includes Beaver Bay, Crystal Bay, and Silver Bay.

Two Harbors High School, 1640 Highway 2 in Two Harbors, is the site for Silver Creek, all Two Har­bors precincts, and all precincts in the unorganized territory covered by zip code 55616.

Lake County DFLers in Fall Lake Township will be caucusing at Ver­million College, Room CL-110, 1900 E. Camp Street in Ely.

Steve Fernlund
Steve Fernlund
Typically these “about me” pages include a list of academic achievements (I have none) and positions held (I have had many, but who really cares about those?) So, in the words of the late Admiral James Stockwell, “Who am I? Why am I here?” I’m well into my seventh decade on this blue planet we call home. I’m a pretty successful husband, father, and grandfather, at least in my humble opinion. My progeny may disagree. We have four children and five grandchildren. I spent most of my professional life in the freight business. At the tender age of 40, early retirement beckoned and we moved to Grand Marais. A year after we got here, we bought and operated the Cook County News Herald, a weekly newspaper in Grand Marais. A sharp learning curve for a dumb freight broker to become a newspaper editor and publisher. By 1999 the News Herald was an acquisition target for a rapidly consolidating media market. We sold our businesses and “retired” again, buying a winter retreat in Nevada. In the fall of 2016, we returned to Grand Marais and bought a house from old friends of ours on the ridge overlooking Lake Superior. They were able to move closer to family and their Mexico winter home. And we came home to what we say is our last house. I’m a strong believer in the value of local newspapers--both online and those you can wrap a fish in. I write a weekly column and a couple of feature stories for the Northshore Journal. I’m most interested in writing about the everyday lives of local people and reporting on issues of importance to them.
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