Re-election

Members of the State Central Committee,

It has been an honor to serve you as the Secretary of our great Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. And, it has been an honor to serve with my fellow officers. We have accomplished so much over the last cycle. Of course, there's always more to do. 

Since being elected in September 2011 you have come to know me as a person that likes to keep it short and to the point. So, with that, I wanted to announce that I would be honored to continue to serve you as your State Party Secretary. I hope that I can count on your support at the DFL Business Conference in February.

Sincerely,

Jacob Grippen

Secretary, Minnesota-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

List of Public Supporters

DFL Friends,

I am writing to you via the Yahoo Group one last time during this campaign to thank you for your patience and for your words and your questions, (and your e-mail Inbox) during the past few weeks. I look forward to seeing and chatting with many of you tomorrow at our meeting. I hope that you will allow me to serve the DFL as your next State Party Secretary by voting for me tomorrow. Below are the people who were willing to go public with their support of my candidacy; people from all across the state and at all levels of leadership and I am honored and humbled to have their support. Have a safe drive to Andover!

Jacob Grippen
Chair, Houston County DFL
Secretary, State Affirmative Action Commission
347.834.1771
jacobandersongrippen@gmail.com
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jacob-Grippen-for-State-DFL-Secretary/193898660678532

______________________________________________________

Tim Walz, United States Representative CD1
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/01/congressman-walz-endorses-jacob-grippen.html
Randy Maluchnik, Carver County Commissioner (Chair)
Sharon Erickson Ropes, Former Senator SD31

Nancy Larson, DNC Member
Del D Jenkins, State DFL Director
Thom Peterson, State DFL Director
Chris Schmitter, State DFL Director
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-chris-schmitter-dfl.html
Katherine Speer, State DFL Director, CD1 Treasurer

Lori Sellner, CD1 Chair
Jim Hepworth, CD1 Associate Chair
Crysta Parkin, CD1 Secretary
Phil Castrovinci, CD1 Affirmative Action Officer
Shawn Groth, CD2 Associate Chair
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-shawn-groth-cd2.html
Lucy Buckner, CD2 Affirmative Action Officer
Jerry Gilkeson, CD3 Treasurer
Sunday Alabi, CD3 Affirmative Action Officer
Megan Thomas, CD4 Affirmative Action Officer
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-megan-thomas-cd-4.html
Paul Wright, CD7 Chair
Allison Stock Myhre, CD 7 Associate Chair
Ione Yates, CD7 Secretary
Lil Ortendahl, CD7 Treasurer
Aaron L. Wittnebel, CD7 Affirmative Action Officer
Cathy Daniels, CD8 Treasurer
Elizabeth Scott, CD8 Affirmative Action Officer

Eric Nelson, MYDFL Chair
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-eric-nelson-chair.html
Alyssa Siems Roberson Featherstone, MYDFL Associate Chair
Cameron Erickson, MYDFL Secretary
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-cameron-erickson-mydfl.html
Quentin Avola Wathum-Ocama, MYDFL Affirmative Action Officer, (Outreach & Development Deputy Director,YDA Minority Caucus)
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-quentin-avola-wathum.html
Josh Preston, Chippewa County Associate Chair, MYDFL College Caucus Chair
Alex Valen, SD53, MYDFL National Committeeman
Christian Torkelson, SD38, MYDFL Executive Committee (YDA Deputy Director of the Midwest Region)

Dale Moerke, President - Southwest Central Minnesota Labor Council/AFL-CIO
Steve Kemp, Spring Grove City Council Member/2010 DFL Candidate for HD31B
Steve Linnerooth, Platform Commission Co-Chair/SD17 Chair
David DeGrio, Stonewall DFL Chair

David Strand, Aitkin County Chair
Cordy Strand, Aitkin County Associate Chair
Kriss Hakala, Chisago County Chair
Larry Nicholson, Clay County Chair
Ken Albrecht, Cottonwood County Chair
Lance Peterson, Dodge County Chair
Dennis Barnack, Douglas County Associate Chair
Gary McKinley, Faribault County Chair
Dennis DeKeyrel, Fillmore County Chair
Art Anderson, Freeborn County Chair
Rose Anderson, Freeborn County Associate Chair
Arlene Roth, Goodhue County Chair
Susan Ames, Houston County Associate Chair
Janet Straug, Le Sueur County Associate Chair
Tim Buysse, Lyon County Chair
Cheryl Avenel-Navara, Nobles County Associate Chair
Lynn Wilson, Olmsted County Chair
Vicki Jensen, Steele County Chair
Bill Harris, Winona County Chair
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-bill-harris-winona.html
Lydia McAninch, Winona County Associate Chair
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-lydia-mcaninch-winona.html
Ted Fiskevold, SD02 Chair
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-ted-fiskevold-sd02.html
Joe Radinovich, SD04 Chair
Pam McCrory, SD04 Associate Chair
Laurie Stammer, SD19 Associate Chair
Dr. Michael DeBrule SD21 Associate Chair
Harriet Wishnick, SD25 Associate Chair
Rill Reuter, SD31 Chair
Steve Quist, SD36 Chair
Cassandra Stepan, SD55 Associate Chair
Donald Slaten, SD57 Chair
Eric Ferguson, SD62 Associate Chair
Elizabeth Wefel, SD64 Chair
Eric Mitchell, SD66 Associate Chair

John Schultz, Big Stone County
Sherry Berg, Fillmore County
Thomas Trehus, Houston County
Wayne Pauluk, Redwood County
Alex DeMarco, Rice County
Margaret Walsh, Winona County
Clare Jarvis, Winona County
Loki Anderson, SD07
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-loki-anderson-sd-7.html
Scott Yeazle, SD07
Barbra Peterson, SD08
Tom Harbinson, SD15
Diane Hellie, SD29
Deb Staley, SD30
Leanne Kunze, SD34
DJ Danielson, SD35
Ross Dybvig, SD40
Matt Scherer, SD41
Jackie Stevenson, SD43, Former DNC Member
http://jacobfordfl.blogspot.com/2011/09/endorsement-from-jackie-stevenson.html
Arron Olson, SD44
Thomas Dwyer, SD49
Elianne Farhat, SD50
Norm Hanson, SD54
Julianne Johnston, SD54
Ivor Matz, SD54
Stephen Cusulos, SD60
Dottie Gilkeson, SD63
Grace Kelly, SD64
Michael Lewis, SD64

Sean Broom, Former DFL State Director
Pauline Gustafson, DFL Activist
Deb Hogenson, DFL Activist

Endorsement from Eric Nelson, Chair ~ MYDFL

Dear DFL State Central Committee members,

I'm writing to you today to express my support for Jacob Grippen for DFL State Party Secretary. Having had the opportunity to work with and get to know Jacob over the past three years, I have absolute confidence that not only would he be a great secretary, but he would be an unparalleled asset for our party.

With the departure of Vanessa, we have the opportunity to ensure that young people see that there is still room in the party for them to lead at all levels. While "young people are the future" is a bit of a platitude, it is also true, especially for our party. Young people know that the DFL shares their values, but we also need to know that this party, the DFL, doesn't just stand for young people, but stands with them as partners. With Jacob we wouldn't be electing a young secretary, we'd be electing a great secretary who happens to be young.

Since the time we met at the 2008 CD1 Convention, I have had the good fortune of knowing Jacob as an activist, a coworker, and a friend. I know there is not a young person in this state as dedicated to this party and our values as Jacob. And to limit the comparison to just young people does a disservice to Jacob, as his commitment rivals that of any DFLer of any age in this state. There are few people in this state whose political involvement includes Southeast MN, Southwest MN, the Iron Range, the suburbs, and even spending weeks of volunteer hours across the border in Wisconsin to win back a State Senate seat. During the last election, Jacob was asked to move hundreds of miles across the state to work in a tough area that he wasn't familiar with. Jacob surpassed any and all expectations. He worked hard, without problems, and everyone knew that Jacob Grippen's area was not something we had to worry about because he was quietly organizing it with his talent, his skill, and his devotion to our party.

Despite all that he has done Jacob hasn't asked for recognition, he's only asked for the opportunity to do more. I hope you'll join me in giving Jacob the chance to do more for this party. You'll see, like I have, Jacob's ability to excel beyond any possible expectations.

Eric Nelson

Chair, Minnesota Young DFL

Endorsement from Shawn Groth, CD2 Associate Chair

Dear Friends,

I’m writing today to endorse Jacob Grippen for the office of State DFL Secretary.

Jacob is a leader. He listens to others, finds solutions to challenges, and reaches out to people and communities all throughout the state.

Jacob is a doer. If there’s an election somewhere, Jacob will be involved. He demonstrated this last year during a special election in Senate District 26. The day Jacob came to help door knock the campaign held a contest to see who could knock on the most doors. It was wintertime and there was most definitely a below-zero wind-chill.  Jacob won the contest and showed all of us his unwavering commitment to the cause of electing DFLers.

As the Secretary of the Rice County DFL, I appreciate Jacob’s plans for bringing us together, involving us with development of resources and best practices, and to organize trainings and other support for us. I truly believe that he will do all he can to ensure that secretaries within the local party units (county, senate and congressional districts) have what we need to be successful.

In the past when I’ve heard Jacob say he will do something, he follows through and follows-up. His willingness to listen, a positive can-do attitude, thoughtfulness, experience, and passion are all qualities we need in a secretary.

Please join me in supporting Jacob Grippen for State DFL Secretary.

Sincerely,

Shawn Groth

Associate Chair, 2^nd Congressional District DFL

Chair, Senate District 25 DFL

Secretary, Rice County DFL

Endorsement from Chris Schmitter, DFL State Director

Fellow members of the DFL State Central Committee,

I am writing today to strongly endorse Jacob Grippen to be our next State Party Secretary. While I am thrilled that we have two great candidates running, I want to discuss my experience working with Jacob and why I think he's the right choice to be Secretary.

First, Jacob has been a relentlessly hard worker on behalf of DFL candidates across the state. During my years working for Tim Walz, I was able to see firsthand the hard work that Jacob is willing to do for our DFL candidates. Jacob has worked hard in Tim's district, from door knocking, organizing phone banks, and recruiting parade volunteers, to developing strategies for candidates at all levels. And Jacob is willing to take his work ethic, expertise, and passion for DFL politics across the state. From Duluth to Minneapolis to Winona, Jacob will put miles on his car to help DFLers.

Second, Jacob understands the issues facing folks in greater Minnesota. While I firmly believe that candidates can and must deliver an effective progressive message all throughout Minnesota, I know firsthand that we need to be especially smart and thorough in our work and messaging in greater Minnesota. Our statewide candidates, and our candidates in these areas, depend on it.

Finally, Jacob is a passionate and organized progressive. When it comes to the duties of Secretary, I know Jacob has the passion and organizational skills to take on complex tasks and support party units as needed across the state. He can do the hard work of connecting party units to each other and helping us all elect and re-elect DFL candidates in 2012.

I look forward to seeing you all on Saturday and encourage you to support Jacob Grippen for Secretary. 

Sincerely,

Chris Schmitter

DFL State Director

Endorsement from Jackie Stevenson

I write to you today to say that I support Jacob Grippen for State Party Secretary and I urge you to do the same, because I know from experience that Jacob is one of those young energetic people who will lead our party into the future. Jacob is a dedicated DFLer, one that I know does not shy away from hard work. Jacob is willing to listen to those who bend his ear. 

I had the opportunity to watch Jacob campaign for the privilege to serve our DFL Party earlier in the year. Jacob campaigned well and used his talents to bring a new perspective to the race. I fully believe that Jacob will be a great Secretary, and I'm encouraged by the fact that he has even gained more secretary experience since our elections in February. Please join me in supporting Jacob Grippen for State Party Secretary this Saturday at our State Central Committee Meeting.

Sincerely,

Jackie Stevenson

SD43, Former DNC Member

Endorsement from Lydia McAninch, Winona County Associate Chair

Fellow DFLers:

My name is Lydia McAninch. I am currently the Associate Chair of the Winona County DFL and a former executive committee member of the Mower County DFL. I have spent most of my life in Southeastern Minnesota and a lot of that time has been spent volunteering and working for what I like to call “the Greater Minnesota DFL Caucus.” During the 2010 election cycle I got to know Jacob Grippen as leader in Southeastern Minnesota as Chair of the Houston County DFL.

Early in 2010 I attended the Houston County DFL convention and I was extremely impressed at Jacob's attention to detail and his respect of the DFL Constitution and Rules of Order. He was the clear leader of the meeting, but he gave everyone in the room a chance to speak their mind on resolutions and Gubernatorial Candidate preferences, on which there was plenty of debate and differing opinions. Jacob uses most of his free time to work hard for all of our candidates.

I was the Southeastern Minnesota organizer for the Coordinated Campaign last year and Jacob’s support was essential. He made hundreds of phone calls alongside me in the office and encouraged me throughout the year with his selfless commitment to the DFL. He also provided me with accurate and detailed notes he had kept from 2008 (when he was the CC organizer) that he shared with me; which I found to be a great help organizing events, recruiting volunteers, and finding staging locations. 

Jacob is extremely detail oriented and accurate when it comes to recording meetings and he can be counted on to follow up with people in a respectful and timely manner. Jacob controls the Houston County email list with great diligence and he is more than technologically competent to keep up with social networking to strengthen our communication and outreach. His knowledge about the DFL Constitution, bylaws, and Robert’s Rules of Order constantly astounds me and he is my first call whenever I have a question about organizing with the Winona DFL and keeping our local party “up to code”.

Beyond Jacob’s exceptional qualifications, as a DFLer in Southern Minnesota, I would like to see more representation from this area in our State Party’s official boards. I know that within the party there is some disagreement about whether or not geographic balance is relevant, but I am convinced that if we are to strengthen our party units in the small cities and towns around the state, we do need to have a geographically diverse group of State Party Officers. I write this as someone who lived in Minneapolis for 6 years and spent the 2006 election cycle volunteering 20+ hours a week for the Coordinated Campaign in Saint Paul. Back in 2004, I spent a good deal of time volunteering in Austin, MN for the DFL House candidate (my mother), Representative Jeanne Poppe. My campaign experiences showed me just how much campaigning in the Metro is substantially different than campaigning in Southern Minnesota.

I firmly believe there is a dearth of representation from Rural Minnesota and these are the places we will need to win to take back the Legislature. In my experience in Austin and Winona, I have found one of the most frequent complaints from DFL board members and leaders is that our state party keeps their focus on progressive Metro issues. I strongly support progressive politics and I understand how much of our democratic base vote exists in the greater Metro area. However, voters here are fervently “independent” when asked if they belong to a political party and these are the folks we need support from to put us over the top on Election Day.

For these reasons and more, I strongly support Jacob Grippen for Secretary of the Minnesota DFL and I urge others to do the same.

Lydia McAninch
Associate Chair, Winona County DFL