Recently I was watching Sen. Elizabeth Warren, for whom I have the highest respect and admiration, speaking on the Stephen Colbert show. She indicated that the Democratic National Committee was understanding that they couldn’t “put a thumb on the scales” of elections anymore and were understanding that they needed to listen to the voters. I assumed at that moment that she didn’t know that the DNC, reportedly, had moved a man named Dan Feehan from D.C. to Mankato to run for Congress in the District 1 seat, despite the fact we have some excellent candidates right here in Minnesota. This man has little ties to Minnesota, and it seems his family still lives in D.C. However, it is my understanding that the outside East Coast donors and the PACs have funneled a great deal of money to him to insure their “thumb on the scale.” This carpetbagging move is offensive to me. While he is likely a very nice man and I have nothing against him personally, I am tired of the parties telling us what to think, who to vote for and what our stand should be on issues. He knows nothing about this area, and so it is likely that the thought is he will go back to D.C. and be just a party person with no real investment in this area. We don’t need more politicians who are just party people there to represent the parties, we need people who can think independently and work for the people who put them there. Well then you have to have some real understanding of the area you represent.

I think the DNC should take its thumb off of our scale and call Feehan back to D.C. and allow Minnesota to elect whomever we see fit. This is clearly not giving us a voice.

Thank you.

Sharon Davern

Mantorville