DORAN'S ANNOUNCEMENT SPEECH

Kelly Doran for U.S. Senate Announcement Speech
Kelly Doran for United States Senate

Announcement Speech

June 5, 2005

Thanks to Dick Anfang...for a long and successful partnership to create jobs and commerce in Minnesota and for your kind words.

Thanks to my friends, colleagues and supporters who have come out on a Sunday because they love our country and are willing to work to improve it.

Thanks to my family...I am so grateful and honored to have Maria as my wife and partner, not only in marriage, but also in our business together. Maria and I work together every day, as Maria is the General Counsel of the Robert Muir Company.

To my sons Evan and Kramer; I am so proud to be your Dad. You are wonderful young men and I love you both very much. I am also currently Kramer's soccer coach and sometimes I have to motivate him and his teammates to hustle on the field. But I guess they do ok, because we are currently undefeated.

When I married Maria, I also received an extra bonus of having Ali, Maria's daughter, come into my life. For nearly ten years, I have watched as she has grown to become a beautiful young women. Ali, I love you. I saved the littlest for last. A little over four years ago, Maria and I brought our precious little Sydney home from the hospital. She was a miracle baby and has brought endless joy to our entire family.

I also want to recognize some of Maria's family that traveled here from a foreign place, Wisconsin. First, Maria's parent's Ralph and Margaret Tenuta and Maria's sister Anne Tenuta and her daughters Lydia and Eleanor. Thank you for coming.

For most of my 47 years, I have lived in Minnesota.

Minnesota, and its people, have been good to me.

When I grew up in Duluth, and later in the Twin Cities, my mother--who raised me and my three older sisters-- taught me that if I studied hard, worked hard, and was fair and honest, I would be a success.

And, indeed, I have not only been successful, but I've been blessed.

Blessed with family...

A wonderful public education at Southwest High School in Minneapolis.

A college degree from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the Carlson School of Business.

During my college years I was fortunate to meet good, hardworking Minnesota entrepreneurs who hired me so that I could support myself and pay for college.

I took my mother's advice and I studied hard, I worked hard and I have been fair and honest with those with whom I did business and I have enjoyed success. Along the way I have met and worked with many wonderful people. One of those wonderful people is Cheryl Gilbert.

Cheryl, who is in the audience today, owned for years a wonderful day care center that both of my sons attended. Cheryl, like most day care operators, did not make much money, but that didn't matter to her because she did it out of love for the children.

When Cheryl heard I was running for the United States Senate she sent me the nicest note. In it she said this:

"Good for you! I admire people who dare to make a difference."

She then went on to say that one of her favorite quotes is a quote from President Kennedy that goes "One man can make a difference and every man should try." Cheryl also went on to say that:

"Having known you for 16 years, I know you can make things happen. I also know that you are knowledgeable, decent and fair."

Thank you, Cheryl, for those very kind, but humbling words.

Knowledgeable, decent and fair is what I have tried to be in my business and my life.

Today, I am announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate.

And you may ask, why? So I will tell you why.

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