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Burnsville is getting all jazzed up for the seventh annual Art & All That Jazz Festival on Aug. 20-21. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND PAGE 9A
Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount AUGUST 13, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 24
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
Announcements/5A
Opinion/6A
Legal Notices/7A
Sports/8A
Real Estates/11A
Fun at the Dakota County Fair
Classifieds/13A
Two challengers file for City Council seats by Andrew Miller
APPLE VALLEY
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Apple Valley voters will see at least two challengers on the ballot in the November election for City Council seats. Ikram Huq and Erik Younger have both filed as candidates for the two City Council seats up for election which are currently held by John Bergman and Sharon LaComb. The filing period runs Aug. 3-17. Bergman, who’s served on the council since 2003, has filed for re-election. It is unclear at this time if LaComb intends to seek reelection. She is not among the Apple Valley City Council candidates listed on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, and she did not return a call seeking comment earlier this week. LaComb was appointed to the City Council on an interim basis in April 2008 to fill the vacant seat left by Bob Erickson, who died in February of that year after a battle with cancer. LaComb was later elected by Apple Valley voters to serve out the remaining two years of Erickson’s term. Huq, a member of the state Board of Pharmacy since 2006, is owner and CEO of Omar Insurance Agency, co-owner of Rama-
Photos by Rick Orndorf
Above: Bernice Wenzel of Rosemount waves to the crowd from her 1959 John Deere 730 tractor during the tractor parade on Tuesday at the Dakota County Fair; the fair runs through Aug. 15 at the fairgrounds in Farmington. At right: That’s a big juicy hamburger, right? Not exactly. That’s a burger-themed cake created by Kerri Hall of Apple Valley. The cake won a blue ribbon at this year’s Dakota County Fair.
dan Halal Meat & Groceries in Burnsville, and is a senior imam and religious director of the Muslim Community Center in Bloomington. Younger, a Gulf War veteran and businessman, describes himself as “a proud patriot and a true conservative� on his campaign website, www.erikyounger.com. Younger notes on his website that he was an active campaigner for Ron Paul in the 2008 presidential election.
Mayoral election Apple Valley Mayor Mary Hamann-Roland is thus far the sole candidate to file for the mayoral election in November. Hamann-Roland has served on the council since 1999. Terms on the five-member City Council (which includes the mayoral seat) are for four years. Filing information for those interested in running for office can be found on the county’s website, www. co.dakota.mn.us, under “Voting & Elections,� and also on the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website, www.sos.state.mn.us. Andrew Miller is at andrew. miller@ecm-inc.com.
Madore wins 2nd District DFL primary Rosemount voters narrow Former state legislator will challenge incumbent Rep. John Kline in November by Aaron Vehling
DAKOTA COUNTY
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
In a mirror of the DFL gubernatorial race, primary voters on Aug. 10 repudiated a party endorsee, this time in the south metro. Former state representative Shelley Madore received 19,973 votes over Dan Powers’ 16,522, a 10 percent margin. “I am very pleased and grateful,� Madore said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “Voters saw a real challenger for (U.S. Rep.) John Kline.� The DFL Party establishment officially endorsed Powers at its convention in Duluth in April. He was unreachable by the time this story went to press. “I think Dan ran a competitive race,� Madore said. “Now it is time for us to focus on John Kline.� Madore will challenge Kline this November for his seat in the Second Congres-
sional District, which encompasses most of the south metro.
Where’s the beef? Madore said she will continue her 35 Cent Tour, which is designed to showcase the effects on the district of Kline’s “no pork stance.� For every federal tax dollar, she said, Dakota County only sees 35 cents on the dollar compared to an average of 77 cents in other Minnesota Congressional districts. She said that might be perceived as protecting our tax dollars from being wasted. “In reality,� she said during the primary campaign, “Mr. Kline has refused to request federal tax dollars for important community projects, even when asked by our trusted county, city and school leaders.� Troy Young, communications director for John Kline,
thousand of that is issued a statement on from a loan to his behalf of the conown campaign. Magressman. dore raised just over “Kline remains $42,000, none of committed to listening which is from Politito his constituents and cal Action Commitrestoring the values of tees (PACs), she said. limited government, Shelley Those numbers are personal responsibil- Madore quite low compared ity and economic freedom that open the door to to the $1.13 million Kline has opportunity and prosperity,� in his war chest. Kline has averaged a Young said. 15-percent win over DFL opA scrappy battle ponents every two years since Though the DFL did not he defeated Bill Luther in endorse her, Madore was en- 2002. Madore said she is not indorsed by several teachers’ unions, the National Wom- timidated. She is dedicated to en’s Political Caucus and the building a better Minnesota, Minnesota Women’s Political she said, echoing DFL candidate for governor Mark DayCaucus. Both Powers, of Burns- ton. “Voters today want to hear ville, and Madore, of Apple Valley, had been having how they will be able to keep trouble fundraising. Powers their house and job,� she said. had raised nearly $82,000, ac- “Right now, (Kline) has not cording to the Federal Elec- delivered that.� tion Commission. Some of that money is from the DFL E-mail Aaron Vehling at aar(as an endorsee) and several on.vehling@ecm-inc.com.
Censured judge sails through primary vote Clark to challenge Blakely for First District judicial seat by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A recently censured judge easily led challengers in Tuesday’s primary and will be in the general election. Timothy Blakely, First District incumbent judge, earned 11,160 votes, 38 percent of the 29,541 votes cast, to ensure his return in the November general election. Then, Blakely will face Larry Clark, an assistant prosecutor for Dakota County, who won over attorney Steven Allan Baker, the third-place candidate, by 641 votes. Clark earned 9,511 votes, 32 perGeneral 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
DAKOTA COUNTY
“As a judge, I promise to not let my personal interests interfere with my decisions,� Clark states in his campaign materials. Blakely has emphasized his service as a naval officer and told the Red Wing Republican Eagle that his suspension from the bench was due to “unintended misconduct.� According to the newspaper, he urged voters to consider the judgement of the Justices who ordered his reinstatement.
cent of ballots cast in the race, while Baker ended his campaign with 8,870 votes, 30 percent of ballots tallied for the race. During their campaigns, both Baker and Clark had criticized Blakely because in 2009 he was reprimanded for using his position to refer clients to his personal divorce attorney to get a $64,000 discount on his legal bill. Clark said he never intended to run for a judicial seat, but was compelled to run in an effort to restore integrity Laura Adelmann is at dceditor@frontiernet.net. and respect to the position.
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Incumbents hold strong leads by Laura Adelmann
ROSEMOUNT
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Rosemount voters narrowed the six-candidate field for two City Council seats in Tuesday’s primary election. Top vote-getters heading into the general election are incumbents Kim ShoeCorrigan, with 903 votes, and Mark DeBettgnies, with 817 votes. They will be challenged by Tim Judy, who received 587 votes, and Joe Kurle, who garnered 361 votes, in the state’s first August primary election. Dennis Winsor and Maila Ellefson received 316 and 235 votes, respectively. Shoe-Corrigan has been a council member since 2002, and has said her priorities on the council are working on budget issues and future plans for the UMore property. Other concerns she has cited include improving the Steeple Center, building a senior center downtown and expanding the number of athletic fields in the city through strategic partnerships. DeBettignies has also served eight years as a council member and has emphasized public safety, transportation and promoting development in Rosemount as his priorities. The business owner has also advocated for the maintenance of city services while keeping taxes in check, and proper development of the UMore Park
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project, a University of Minnesota plan for thousands of acres to be mined and then developed into housing. Likewise, Joe Kurle has emphasized the need to ensure UMore is developed with Rosemount residents in mind. He has cited the need for senior housing, expanding Rosemount’s job base and managing the city’s budget as his top priorities. In addition, Kurle has said he wants to maintain Rosemount’s hometown feel. Tim Judy has been involved in local issues for years, attending Rosemount City Council meetings and working with elected officials. One of Judy’s primary concerns has been the defense of private property rights, an issue about which he testified before legislators. In addition, Judy has emphasized his desire to lessen the tax burden, manage the city budget and bring the voice of regular citizens to City Hall. He has said he wants to help create a city council whose mission is to work for Rosemount’s citizens. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s Office, 3,219 Rosemount voters casts ballots in the City Council race. Laura Adelmann is at dceditor@frontiernet.net.
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