A record attendance of delegates for a non-election year was represented at the Minnesota Republican Convention held at the St. Paul River Centre on Oct. 3. 

State Rep. Marty Seifert of Marshall took first place on the first straw ballot with 37 percent of the vote. State Rep. Tom Emmer of Delano came in second, former State Auditor Pat Anderson took third with Sen. David Hann of Eden Prairie a close fourth. 

The poll does not bind delegates in next year’s vote but is an indicator of what delegates are looking for in the next governor.

Nine candidates spoke at the Friday night gubernatorial forum and also made presentations to the entire convention on Saturday preceding the straw poll.

The list of contenders includes environmentalist Leslie Davis, Sen. Michael Jungbauer of East Bethel, Republican activist Phil Herwig, former state legislator Bill Haas, and Rep. Paul Kohls of Victoria. There were also write-in votes for Laura Bord, Steve Swiggum, Sue Jeffers and Norm Coleman.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican from Eagan, spoke, pointing out that our state budget has never gone down since 1960 until this year. Minnesota has dropped from third highest in all taxes in the nation to 12th, he said. 

  Delegates also heard from Republicans 2nd District Congressman John Kline, 3rd District Congressman Erik Paulsen and 6th District Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. Kline spoke of the difficulty getting bills passed because the Republicans cannot get them past Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Evie Axdahl, Republican National Committee member, brought greetings and a message that America needs more women involved in government.

Constitutional changes were brought before the convention as well as an update on the new database the state will do to expedite communication with the Republican base. 

Delegates representing Freeborn County were Matt Benda, Ebenezer Howe, Mark Rofshus, Pat Waters, Annie Schleck, Marge Lukehart, Eric Larson, John Forman and Maureen Ruble.

When asked her impression of the convention, Waters replied, “I am very pleased with the well-qualified gubernatorial candidates. I look forward to getting to know their position on major issues in the months ahead.”

That view seemed to be the consensus of the Freeborn County delegation.