Michele Bachmann and the 2002 election

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Despite being elected to a six-year term in 2000, because of re-districting then State Senator Michele Bachmann found herself running for election in a newly drawn district against a fellow incumbent.

Contents

[edit] Redistricting

In 2002, district lines for the Minnesota State Senate were redrawn following the 2000 census. Minnesota's three main parties Republican, Democratic, and Independence (lead at the time by then Governor Jesse Ventura) failed to reach a compromise concerning redistricting, so a judicial panel determined the size, shape, and locations of voting districts within the state.[1][2][3] In the redrawn district 52, Bachmann (previously in District 56) faced fellow incumbent, DFL State Senator Jane Krentz of May Township (previously in District 51).

[edit] Jane Krentz

Jane Krentz had been a State Senator since 1993. She was an elementary teacher who had a Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Elementary Education, with a Master of Education in Special Education from the University of Minnesota. Krentz took a leave of absence when serving in the Senate, and her education background helped here as she served on the K-12 Education Budget Division for ten years, hold the Vice-Chair of K-12 Education for four years, and be Vice-Chair of the Education Finance Committee for two and a half years. She also chaired the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Environment and Agriculture Budget Division. On the national level Krentz had chaired the Education, Labor and Workforce Development Committee for the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2001-2002.[4][5][6]

[edit] Krentz's strategy

The newly formed district leaned Republican, and Krentz declared “‘“If they (voters) just go in and vote party, it's no good. There’s just not enough Democrats out here.’”[7] She believed contrasting her and Bachmann's records would show the voters who could best represent them.

Krentz ran pointing to her work for environmental causes and her support of abortion rights. She called for more equal funding for schools statewide and held that it might “be necessary to raise taxes to fix the state's budget problems.” Krentz also reminded voters that she sponsored a bill to “dedicate 3/16 of one cent of the state's sales tax to the outdoors and the environment.” During the campaign Krentz complained that Bachmann had only recently become interested in the environment and only became “more environmentally friendly ever since the two were placed in the same district.”[5] She pointed out that Bachmann had “an environmental record that propelled her onto the Sierra Club's Toxic 12 list”.[7][8]

[edit] Stillwater Bridge issue

One of the main issues Environmental groups opposed Bachmann for was her support of expanding the Stillwater Lift Bridge over the St. Croix River, the only Federally designated "Wild and Scenic River" in Minnesota. Environmental groups hold this "would destroy five wetlands and 130 acres of farmland, triple the amount of paved surface, and increase the amount of polluted runoff flowing into local streams and wetlands."[9] (Groups like the Sierra Club also oppose Bachmann for endorsing Personal rapid transit.[10][11])

[edit] Bachmann's strategy

Bachmann, who carried the endorsement of the National Rifle Association, spoke to voters “about gun issues, taxes and the environment.”[5] She also pointed out that she called for abandoning the Profiles of Learning while Krentz sought to mend them.[12] Bachmann signed a no tax pledge from the Minnesota Taxpayer's League, saying that homeowners can't handle higher property taxes. She held that lawmakers could balance the state's projected 3 billion dollar budget shortfall without raising taxes or cutting spending but did not offer any details.[5] Krentz held that while “it would be galling to raise taxes…everything needs to be on the table”, because ‘“Every cut we make has a human face on it.”’ Bachmann in contrast saw the deficit as an opportunity ““I think it’s wonderful. The deficit affords a fabulous opportunity for the state to reprioritize its spending. …Special interest groups, unhappy over the potential of fewer state dollars, are trying to create a sense of panic over the budget deficit.”[7]

[edit] Education funding

While Krentz called "for more state school investment, saying she believes the property tax tends to be regressive and points to the state constitution as the rational for state involvement in education."[12] Bachmann’s previous position that funding schools with local property taxes ensured local control and "districts [should be] weaned from state funding"[12] seemed to change somewhat as she proclaimed that “the state has a funding obligation to K-12 education and should keep it.”[7] While Bachmann saw "rail transit as a poor investment needing constant infusions of operational funding"; Krentz was the author of Northstar Commuter Rail legislation in the Senate.[12]

[edit] Reproductive issues

Bachmann saw her opponent as “one of a handful of top liberals in the Minnesota Senate”, and cited as proof Krentz's vote against enforcing a 24 hour waiting period on any woman seeking an abortion.[7] Contrasting herself to Krentz, Bachmann said "I would say my positions are not ultra liberal. I'm a conservative." Krentz who had a pro-choice voting record but also helped establish ENABL (Education Now And Babies Later) "an abstinence-based educational program geared toward young teens"[13] thought Bachmann's brand of conservatism was too extreme for the district voters. She believed they would agree with her statement that "quite frankly, I don't want her speaking for me on the Senate floor."[12]

[edit] Results

In the end Bachmann carried 54% of the vote to Krentz’s 46% and won the election for the new District 52.[14]

[edit] Krentz's reflections

Reflecting on her loss Krentz attributed it in large part to Bachmann’s "No Tax Pledge" saying “‘They must have a magic wand. How they propose to maintain schools and government services in the face of the budget deficit is perplexing. Some people have just come to believe it’s possible to cut taxes and at the same time keep K-12 education “plugging along”.’”[15] Since leaving office Jane Krentz works on the board of the Minnesota Conservation Corps and continues to work part-time as a Research Fellow for the National Center on Educational Outcomes.[4][6]

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ Jeff Horwich. "Redistricting brings identity crisis home", Minnesota Public Radio, September 25, 2001.Retrieved November 27,2006
  2. ^ Michael Khoo. "Redistricting: An exercise in politics", Minnesota Public Radio, January 16, 2002.Retrieved November 27, 2006
  3. ^ Michael Khoo. "Suburbs get more clout from new plan", Minnesota Public Radio, March 19, 2002.Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  4. ^ a b Jane Krentz. National Center on Educational Outcomes (October 27, 2006).Retrieved on November 26, 2006
  5. ^ a b c d Tom Scheck. "GOP looks to take control in Minnesota Senate", Minnesota Public Radio, October 24, 2002. Retrieved on November 26, 2006
  6. ^ a b Minnesota Conservation Corps - Board (2006).Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  7. ^ a b c d e T.W. Budig. "Krentz, Bachmann carry their message door-to-door in Senate District 52", Forest Lake Times, ECM Publishers, Inc, 10/23/02.Retrieved November 27, 2006
  8. ^ The Toxic Twelve Campaign 2002: Building On Last Election’s Success. The North Star Chapter (Minnesota) of the Sierra Club.Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  9. ^ Stillwater Bridge - Minnesota and Wisconsin, Cost to Federal Taxpayers: $160 million. Taxpayers for Common Sense (June 2, 2004).Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  10. ^ Laura McCallum. "Personal rapid transit spending draws fire at Capitol", Minnesota Public Radio, April 23, 2004.Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  11. ^ North Star Chapter position on Personal Rapid Transit (April 2004).Retrieved November 27, 2006
  12. ^ a b c d e T.W. Budig. "Krentz vs. Bachman race will be one of premiere legislative races in the state", ECM capitol reporter, 4/30/02.Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  13. ^ T.W. Budig. "There's more to do for education and environment, says Sen. Jane Krentz", ECM capitol reporter, 7/5/00.Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  14. ^ "Election Returns, Minnesota – Legislature, Campaign 2002", Minnesota Public Radio.Retrieved on November 27, 2006
  15. ^ T.W. Budig. "Northern metro area sees evidence of Republican surge", ECM capitol reporter, 11/12/02.Retrieved on November 27, 2006
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