secret organization called "Minneapolis Democrats for Truth." I also
received two identically designed and printed pieces supporting Ray Dehn.
The attack says Ian, as a former Republican, is a "wolf in sheep's
clothing" and that he used "GOP accounting gimmicks on an official
document, failing to report over $13,000 in campaign expenditures and
detailed contributor information."
According to the CFB, this secret PAC's treasurer is Chris Stinson. A few
days ago Mr. Stinson texted me to ask about the omissions in the campaign
finance report. I checked with the Alexander campaign and they explained
there were some software glitches at the CFB, and that they had affected
multiple campaigns, and I shared that information with Mr. Stinson.
Democrats for Truth? That's rich. Mr. Stinson know it was a software
glitch, and the Star Tribune even reported that information, so Mr. Stinson
knew full well it was a lie. Even more irony? He alleges that we don't know
who Ian's donors are, but we don't know who the secret contributors are to
their secret PAC.
I am a lifetime DFL'er. We are the party of inclusion. We are the big
tent. In fact, it's our official policy.
We work to attract voters by sharing our values. Once in a while, we even
persuade a Republican to officially join our party. Like Senator Dean
Johnson, who took a courageous stand against marriage discrimination, or
Governor Arne Carlson, a champion for respectful, bipartisan leadership.
Or Ian Alexander. Ian is an attorney, and earned a Masters degree in public
policy from the Humphrey School. He wrote his thesis on community
development on the northside. He is an engaged community activist.
He is a former Republican. He earned my support as well as the endorsement
of DFL'ers like Martin Sabo, Mike Freeman, Barb Johnson, Don Samuels and
Lisa Goodman being completely honest about his former party affiliation.
He has run a positive campaign of ideas. He refrained completely from any
negative campaigning, and there are legitimate issues he could have
exploited, but he chose not to.
His opponents have kept up a constant barrage of accusations and
insinuations about Ian still being a Republican, and being a plant for his
party. That is nonsense. Today they took it a step further and accused Ian
of deliberately, criminally cheating on a campaign finance report. This is
a lie. In fact, it probably rises to the level of libel.
Note to anyone who wants to join the DFL: beware. You will be punished. You
will be defamed. As a DFL'er, I am ashamed. I dearly hope, for the sake of
my district, that we don't elect a representative that will have no ability
or platform to establish a respectful dialogue with the Republicans
("wolves") who currently hold the majority in the state house
Nikki