2010 Recommended Candidates for Minnesota Legislature

All seats in the Minnesota Legislature are up for election on November 2, 2010, and we also have an opportunity to elect a new governor.

Minnesota Elections 2010

Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection has selected the following candidates based on several criteria. In some cases it is based on the candidate’s excellent voting record as tracked in MVAP’s Humane Scorecard. In other cases it is based on the candidate’s willingness to author difficult bills to better animal welfare in Minnesota. And in other cases it is based on the candidate’s stated position on several animal issues. This is by no means an exhaustive list of all deserving candidates! If you’d like to see our capacity grow to the point we’re able to interview more, if not all, candidates, please consider donating or volunteering.

Minnesota Voters for Animal Protection does not evaluate candidates’ positions on taxes, education, health care, or social issues. To the degree that animal protection issues are important to you, we offer this review to be combined with other, personal considerations to determine your vote on November 2, 2010. 

Recommended candidates for the Minnesota Legislature

Senator Linda Berglin

Represents District 61, in Minneapolis. Campaign website is here. Senator Berglin received a perfect score (100%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard for her consistent record of humane voting on a wide range of animal-related legislation in the Minnesota Senate this past biennium.

 
 
 
 
Senator Don Betzold
Represents District 51- portions of Anoka, Ramsey, Hennepin counties in northern metro area, includes Fridley, Blaine. Campaign website is here. Senator Betzold is being recommended by MVAP for his firm support of legislative protections for companion animals, and especially for authoring legislation to protect dogs and cats in Minnesota by regulating commercial breeding facilities (“puppy and kitten mills”).

 

Ron Case

Running to represent Senate District 42- includes Eden Prairie, part of Minnetonka. Campaign website is here.  Ron Case is being recommended by MVAP for his humane values and animal-friendly stances as reflected in his responses on our Candidate Questionnaire.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
Senator Scott Dibble
Represents District 60, in Minneapolis. Campaign website is here. Senator Dibble received a better-than-perfect score (100+%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard. In addition to his record of voting with the animals on the Senate floor, Sen. Dibble authored two pieces of pro-animal legislation this past biennium; legislation to increase protections for service animals, and to require retailers to post warning labels about cocoa mulch (which is potentially fatal to pets).

 

Barbara Goodwin

Running to represent Senate District 50, which includes Arden Hills, Columbia Heights, Fridley, Hilltop, New Brighton, Shoreview, and St. Anthony. Campaign website is here. Goodwin is a Democrat who previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives. During her tenure as a legislator, Barb prevented the slaughter of deer that had been trapped in the Minneapolis Water Works in Columbia Heights. She also fought against the shooting of mourning doves.

Representative Mindy Greiling

Represents District 54A- all or parts of Rosevile, St. Anthony, Lauderdale. Campaign website is here.  Representative Greiling received a better-than-perfect score (100+%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard. In addition to her record of voting with the animals on the House floor, Rep. Greiling authored legislation to increase protections for service animals.

 

Representative Frank Hornstein

Represents District 60B, in Minneapolis. Campaign website is here.  Representative Hornstein received a better-than-perfect score (100+%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard. In addition to his record of voting with the animals on the House floor, Rep. Hornstein authored legislation to require retailers to post warning labels about cocoa mulch (which is potentially fatal to pets).

 

Senator John Marty

Represents District 54- includes Roseville, St. Anthony, Little Canada, Vadnais Heights, Lauderdale, Gem Lake, Shoreview. Campaign website is here.
Senator Marty received a perfect score (100%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard for his consistent record of humane voting on a wide range of animal-related legislation in the Minnesota Senate for the past two years. 

 

Representative Joe Mullery

Represents District 58A, in Minneapolis. Campagin website is here. Representative Mullery received a better-than-perfect score (100+%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard. He has a consistent record of humane voting on animal-related legislation both on the House floor and in committee, and he also authored legislation to increase protections for fighting animals.       

 

Senator Sandy Pappas

Represents District 65, in St. Paul. Campaign website is here. Senator Pappas received a better-than-perfect score (100+%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard. In addition to her record of voting with the animals in the Senate, Sen. Pappas authored legislation to enable the courts to include protections for pets in restraining orders.                                                                                    

 

Representative Tom Tillberry

Represents District 51B- portions of Anoka and Ramsey counties in northern part of Twin Cities metro area, including Fridley. Campaign website is here. Representative Tillberry received a better-than-perfect score (100+%) on MVAP’s 2009-2010 Humane Scorecard. In addition to his record of voting with the animals on the House floor, Rep. Tillberry authored legislation to protect dogs and cats in Minnesota by regulating commercial breeding facilities (“puppy and kitten mills”).

 

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Thank you for supporting our recommended candidates! The humane community in Minnesota is growing by the day, and if we harness the strength of our numbers, we can make a real difference at the polls. Remember- animals can’t vote… but you can!