Endorsement from Lori Sellner, 1st CD DFL Chair, State Party Treasurer

Fellow Central Committee Members:

It is not often that I publicly voice my support for candidates running for state party office, but as someone who has watched Jacob Grippen work hard for the success of DFL candidates in southern Minnesota, I strongly encourage you to support him for state party secretary on February 5th.

Over the last two election cycles, Jacob has worked for the DFL Coordinated Campaign as an organizer in both the southeast and the southwest corner of our state. Over that time period he has also served as the chair of the Houston County DFL and a director on the 1st Congressional District Executive Committee, while also devoting many hours to a state legislative campaign for Steve Kemp. His many hats have provided him with the experiences that will make him a great secretary for our state party.

I also believe Jacob's experiences in southern Minnesota politics have given him a thorough understanding of the issues that face DFL activists in our rural areas. He will provide a much needed voice for Greater Minnesota DFLers on our DFL state executive committee to ensure that our party is doing all that is necessary to make our candidates competitive in every corner of the state.

I whole-heartedly endorse Jacob Grippen for State Party Secretary and hope you'll join me in supporting him on February 5th!

Lori Sellner

Chair, 1st Congressional District DFL

Congressman Walz Endorses Jacob Grippen for State DFL Party Secretary

Tim Walz Endorsement of Jacob Grippen for State DFL Party Secretary

Tim Walz:

"Fellow DFLers,

I am writing today to tell you about Jacob Grippen, a gifted organizer whose work across Southern Minnesota I have benefited from. Over the past few years I have had the pleasure of getting to know Jacob and his work as a volunteer, as a staffer, and as a party leader. I know that he has a kind heart, a good head, and a strong work ethic. Jacob doesn't hesitate when called on to help our DFL candidates and to promote our Democratic values, whether it be running a meeting, door knocking, phone banking, or writing letters to the editor. I have seen Jacob in action and I am confident that if elected Secretary you can be sure that Jacob will work hard and do the job well. Please consider supporting Jacob Grippen for DFL Party Secretary."

Things People are Saying

Things people are saying about Jacob Grippen.


“Jacob Grippen has been a strong pillar in the fledgling progressive movement in southeastern Minnesota. I have known him as a willing field worker for all Democratic candidates, from local to federal involvement. He has stepped up to serve in Houston County DFL executive positions. Always informed and committed to liberal values, Jacob does whatever candidates have asked of him - doorknocking, volunteer organizing, phone canvassing, local convention leadership, GOTV activities, and more. I would happily endorse Jacob Grippen as a candidate for MN DFL Secretary.” ~ former Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes, Winona, District 31


“I worked with Jacob this past election cycle in the six-pack (SD21 & SD22) as the L in the DFL. I would not hesitate to do it again.” ~ Dale Moerke, UFCW Local 1161/President, Southwest Central Labor Council/AFL-CIO.


“. . . Jacob has been a guiding light in an area of rural Minnesota without a lot of hard-core DFL support. Jacob's dedication to DFL politics is something to be admired and I strongly encourage you to support him as Secretary at the February Business Conference in Cokato.” ~ UDFL Vice-President, Thomas Trehus


“I've helped out in the Houston County DFL under Jacob's organizational direction for the past three years. He's an excellent organizer and skilled at articulating details, keeping ducks in a row, and tapping the talents of volunteers. He's dedicated, reliable and ambitious. I think he'd make an excellent State Secretary.” ~ Houston County DFL Activist, Barb Huning


“. . .I had a great time working with Jacob this November here in SD21 (Marshall, MN)! Jacob has great organizational talents and knew exactly how to maximize our productivity for DFL volunteers. Also, he is smart, articulate, enthusiastic-- the real deal. Additionally, he seems to understand out-state rural issues along with good progressive and liberal base values. He will make an excellent State Secretary and I encourage everyone to vote for him.” ~ Dr. Michael DeBrule, Associate Chair SD21


“Jacob has made a strong effort to attend DFL and Labor Activities all over Southern MN. I've seen him at events across the 1st and 2nd CD. He is incredibly dedicated to this movement and would do a terrific job as DFL State Secretary!” ~ Laura Askelin, AFSCME Council 5/President, Southeast MN Area Labor Council/AFL-CIO


“I'm supporting Jacob Grippen for Secretary of the Minnesota State DFL Party. I have known Jacob for a number of years, not just through DFL politics but also in a community theatre here in my hometown of Spring Grove. Jacob and I have been in numerous stage productions together, and I have enjoyed working on stage with Jacob. Jacob also served as president of our community theatre's board of directors this past year. Jacob put his heart and soul into making that year a success for our organization.

Jacob was also instrumental in the development of my legislative campaign this past fall. Serving as my campaign manager, we worked together to run a positive campaign in a very difficult election year. I believe Jacob would be a great Secretary of the State DFL. Jacob will put all he has into helping the Minnesota DFL make 2012 a successful election cycle.” ~ Steve Kemp, Former Candidate HD31B, Former Houston County DFL Chair, Spring Grove City Council Member

MLK Day of Service and Volunteerism

MLK Day of Service is this Monday the 17th.

As we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it's good to take a day to shine a spotlight on the ways to get involved in our communities.

Volunteering can be a rewarding experience, and it's something that my family instilled in me from a young age. I can't remember a time when my parents were not volunteering with the Lions Club or at church or at school (after their work was done) or other things throughout the community. Both my mother and father were teachers, serving the public by educating future generations. As was my grandmother, and I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies Education.

My volunteer work was at first as a tag along with my parents, but later on it was on my own. Picking up litter along the road, planting things in the spring around town, working the church rummage sale, etc.

The Ye Olde Opera House Community Theater in Spring Grove took a lot of my volunteer time over the course of the last 13 years. Cleaning, building, painting, acting, serving, managing, etc.

I spent the 2009-2010 school year as a member of MN Reading Corps (an AmeriCorps program). I spent the year tutoring students ages K-3 with their reading skills at a Winona Elementary School.

More recently I have been volunteering at a local Catholic Worker House in La Crosse, WI called "Place of Grace." Washing dishes was my main thing, but another part of returning to PoG over and over again is a sense of community.

Chatting with people who do need help, whether it be emotional, financial, social or a combination of all of three, it continues to open my eyes to the parts of the community that tend to get swept under the rug, or at least are tried to.

Our communities are always in need of a helping hand, so if you have time check out this link, it can connect you to things to do in your community even beyond Monday's MLK Day of Service.

Support for my candidacy

Thank you to Thomas Trehus for these kind words about me and my candidacy for State DFL Secretary. I am honored.

Dear State Central Committee Members,

I'm writing today to recommend Jacob Grippen for Secretary of the Minnesota State DFL Party.

I became acquainted with Jacob's talents and leadership in 2008 as his intern while he was working for the DFL coordinated campaign in the SE corner of the state. As a seventeen year-old I was enthusiastic, but very inexperienced in the world of political organizing. I looked to Jacob's leadership for guidance and found it. He encouraged me nearly every day to knock on doors and persuade the people of Southeastern Minnesota to vote DFL in a region we later learned to be a key voting bloc in the victories of Al Franken and the DFL ticket. Eventually I helped to lead door knocks under his direction, and in August 2009 he repaid the favor when he helped volunteer at some knocks I had arranged with OFA to gain support for Health Care Reform.

While I was still in high school Jacob encouraged me to get involved in the DFL at the local and state level. Under Jacob's leadership I quickly became a precinct captain, county director, state delegate, and state central committee alternate. I would have never been so involved within the DFL if it hadn't been for Jacob's guidance and leadership.

Since then and from afar I have watched Jacob juggle his once full-time service with AmeriCorps, serve as Houston County DFL Chair, and manage a state House campaign at the same time, seamlessly. Jacob has been a guiding light in an area of rural Minnesota without a lot of hard-core DFL support. Jacob's dedication to DFL politics is something to be admired and I strongly encourage you to support him as Secretary at the February Business Conference in Cokato.


Sincerely,

Thomas Trehus
DFL SCC Alternate - Houston County
Vice President - College Democrats at University of Minnesota - TC

Activity

Over the past 2.5 years I have had the honor of working beside many great DFLers and great DFL candidates. Door knocking and phone banking as a staffer, as a volunteer, marching in parades, helping organize and run DFL events, etc.

One of my favorite moments over the last few years is when I won a Franni Franken apple pie that was personally delivered by Senator Franken to Owatonna in January 2010 during the Special Election in Senate District 26. I helped to knock through lots of cold snow for DFL-endorsed candidate Jason Engbrecht. After all was said and done Jason's campaign was not won, but it was fun to help activate DFLers in the middle of a cold January. At the Inauguration Reception at the State Capitol on Monday, I was finally able to thank Franni personally for the delicious pie.



One event that I volunteered to help organize (in my capacity as Steve Kemp's campaign manager) was a door knock from just this past summer. Chatfield, MN is located partially in Fillmore County(SD31), and partially in Olmsted County(SD30). At the time, Chatfield was represented by Senator Ann Lynch (30) Representative Andy Welti (30B), Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes (31) and Republican Representative Greg Davids (31B). My friend Steve Kemp was running against Greg Davids in 31B and so I (along with the Coordinated, Senate and House Organizers) helped put together a door knock that involved all 4 DFL candidates who were wanting to represent (or to continue to represent) Chatfield, MN.



I strive to stay active, and to keep other volunteers active as well. Sometimes it can be hard to do, in Greater Minnesota and I'm sure it's the same for the Metropolitan area as well. Every now and again we need to figure out how to light a fire, and how to find new ideas and new people to activate ourselves and our causes to continue the legacy of our great Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

Where are SD21 and SD22?

Just where are SD21 and SD22?

SD21 and SD22 are made up of 9 full Minnesota Counties, and part of a 10th.



As you can see, SD22 contains all of the following counties:
Cottonwood, Jackson, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, and Rock.

SD21 contains all of Brown, Lyon, and Redwood, and part of Watonwan.

Despite how the political map looks like in this part of the state, there are a lot of dedicated DFLers that work tirelessly to elect DFL candidates and promote DFL party values. I had the pleasure of working with many of these wonderful people during the latter part of the 2010 election cycle.

There are many great places to visit, I found myself spending a good deal of time at The Daily Grind in Marshall, MN, and I had a chance have a wonderful lunch and dinner at the Left Bank Cafe in Slayton, MN. I was able to make a quick jaunt over to New Ulm to visit some friend during Oktoberfest. All these counties offer interesting experiences and things to see. In fact, I spent my down time during the lead-up to the Recount by seeing the sites and purchasing Christmas presents for my family and friends. There is a wonderful art gallery in Luverne, right on the main drag.

And, of course, if you ever have the chance to visit Pipestone National Monument just outside of Pipestone, MN (in Pipestone County) please do so. It's quite an experience.

Some kind words from Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes

On December 30, Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes, District 31 (Fillmore, Houston and Winona Counties) posted some kinds words of endorsement on my Campaign's Facebook page. I wanted to post them to the blog as well.

Jacob Grippen has been a strong pillar in the fledging progressive movement in southeastern Minnesota.

I have known him as a willing field worker for all Democratic candidates, from local to federal involvement. He has stepped up to serve in Houston County DFL executive positions. Always informed and committed to liberal values, Jacob does whatever candidates have asked of him - doorknocking, volunteer organizing, phone canvassing, local convention leadership, GOTV activities, and more.

I would happily endorse Jacob Grippen as a candidate for MN DFL Secretary.

Senator Sharon Erickson Ropes, Winona, District 31

Thank you Sharon for your kind words.