MDE IN THE NEWS ABOUT DORAN'S CONTRIBUTION HISTORY
"Another memo sent recently by Doran to his supporters suggests that a Republican blogger first launched the attack on Doran's contributions and that Republicans are 'very afraid of a match-up' between Doran and GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty."
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DFL candidate Doran's record includes some efforts for GOP
The ad in the Woodbury Bulletin just before Election Day in 2000 declared that Minnesota had been on a "spending spree" since the local DFL state senator had been in office, and it urged readers in big, bold type: "Do Not Re-elect Len Price."
The buyer of that ad is a wealthy real estate developer who also contributed $250 to the state House Republican caucus in 2004 and gave to at least a couple of GOP challengers to DFL candidates in 2000.
He is now a DFL candidate for governor -- Kelly Doran, who is mounting a strong, self-financed bid for the DFL nomination in 2006.
His political dabblings in the past are generating considerable buzz in DFL circles. E-mails from his critics provoked a detailed response from Doran in a letter to state DFL chairman Brian Melendez this week.
In the response, Doran stands by his claim to be a "lifelong Democrat" and notes that he gave more than $35,000 to DFL candidates in 2004 and 2005 and only $250 to House Republicans in that period.
"I have honestly said to people that I have not been a party activist," said Doran, who has been trying to establish himself as a business-oriented centrist in the DFL field. "Our campaign is about bringing new people into the process and to broaden the tent."
His critics suggest that his Democratic contributions began only recently, coinciding with his early announcement as a U.S. Senate candidate. A few months ago, Doran switched to the gubernatorial race.
"If you are going to make a statement that you are a lifelong Democrat, and even your recent actions say something different, I have a problem with that," said Kim Millman, a Burnsville activist who sent fellow DFLers an e-mail strongly criticizing Doran.
Millman criticized the donations as well as Doran's backing of Republican candidates who supported changes in tort law. She also accused him of living half-time in Arizona, basing the statement on conversations she said she had had with someone who answered his phone.
Woodbury politics
Special circumstances surround the anti-Price ads and the donation to the House Republican caucus, Doran said in his letter to Melendez.
In 2000, Price was sponsoring a bill that would shift the entire cost of a $25 million highway interchange in Woodbury to commercial property, said Doran, who was then a major shopping center developer in the fast-growing suburb.
"I informed the senator that this was not a fair or good public policy," Doran wrote to Melendez. "He refused to change his approach and ultimately his bill was defeated in the Senate, mainly by fellow Democrats."
Price's recollection is different. He said that Doran never approached him about the issue and that he has never met him. The bill passed the Senate with strong DFL support but died in a conference committee because of Republican opposition, Price said.
"He was sticking up for his business interests, and I was trying to stick up for my community," Price said.
Doran's critics note that none of the anti-Price ads he paid for said anything about the commercial property tax issue and instead echoed themes of conservative groups such as the Taxpayers League. To that, Doran says, "the purpose of the ad was to get Mr. Price's attention."
Doran said the GOP caucus donation was simply a response to a request from a lobbyist for the Minnesota Shopping Center Association, of which he was an active member.
Counterattacking, Doran suggests that the attacks might be a sign that he's being taken more seriously. Among his high-profile DFL opponents are Attorney General Mike Hatch and state Sens. Steve Kelley and Becky Lourey.
"I guess this means they're worried about us," Doran said in an interview Friday.
In the letter, he says, "this appears to be a coordinated effort," adding that "while I currently do not have any information that another campaign is involved in these efforts, I have stated many times that my campaign will not initiate these types of tactics."
Another memo sent recently by Doran to his supporters suggests that a Republican blogger first launched the attack on Doran's contributions and that Republicans are "very afraid of a match-up" between Doran and GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
"As a Democrat, Kelly Doran can work with people of all parties and will put principle ahead of politics to move our state forward," the memo says.
As for the time he has spent at his second home in Arizona, Doran spokeswoman Tonya Tennessen said that "many things about his life will change" as a result of his candidacy.
"People don't get up to the cabin as often when they run for office." Source: Star Tribune, December 17, 2005
##
DFL candidate Doran's record includes some efforts for GOP
The ad in the Woodbury Bulletin just before Election Day in 2000 declared that Minnesota had been on a "spending spree" since the local DFL state senator had been in office, and it urged readers in big, bold type: "Do Not Re-elect Len Price."
The buyer of that ad is a wealthy real estate developer who also contributed $250 to the state House Republican caucus in 2004 and gave to at least a couple of GOP challengers to DFL candidates in 2000.
He is now a DFL candidate for governor -- Kelly Doran, who is mounting a strong, self-financed bid for the DFL nomination in 2006.
His political dabblings in the past are generating considerable buzz in DFL circles. E-mails from his critics provoked a detailed response from Doran in a letter to state DFL chairman Brian Melendez this week.
In the response, Doran stands by his claim to be a "lifelong Democrat" and notes that he gave more than $35,000 to DFL candidates in 2004 and 2005 and only $250 to House Republicans in that period.
"I have honestly said to people that I have not been a party activist," said Doran, who has been trying to establish himself as a business-oriented centrist in the DFL field. "Our campaign is about bringing new people into the process and to broaden the tent."
His critics suggest that his Democratic contributions began only recently, coinciding with his early announcement as a U.S. Senate candidate. A few months ago, Doran switched to the gubernatorial race.
"If you are going to make a statement that you are a lifelong Democrat, and even your recent actions say something different, I have a problem with that," said Kim Millman, a Burnsville activist who sent fellow DFLers an e-mail strongly criticizing Doran.
Millman criticized the donations as well as Doran's backing of Republican candidates who supported changes in tort law. She also accused him of living half-time in Arizona, basing the statement on conversations she said she had had with someone who answered his phone.
Woodbury politics
Special circumstances surround the anti-Price ads and the donation to the House Republican caucus, Doran said in his letter to Melendez.
In 2000, Price was sponsoring a bill that would shift the entire cost of a $25 million highway interchange in Woodbury to commercial property, said Doran, who was then a major shopping center developer in the fast-growing suburb.
"I informed the senator that this was not a fair or good public policy," Doran wrote to Melendez. "He refused to change his approach and ultimately his bill was defeated in the Senate, mainly by fellow Democrats."
Price's recollection is different. He said that Doran never approached him about the issue and that he has never met him. The bill passed the Senate with strong DFL support but died in a conference committee because of Republican opposition, Price said.
"He was sticking up for his business interests, and I was trying to stick up for my community," Price said.
Doran's critics note that none of the anti-Price ads he paid for said anything about the commercial property tax issue and instead echoed themes of conservative groups such as the Taxpayers League. To that, Doran says, "the purpose of the ad was to get Mr. Price's attention."
Doran said the GOP caucus donation was simply a response to a request from a lobbyist for the Minnesota Shopping Center Association, of which he was an active member.
Counterattacking, Doran suggests that the attacks might be a sign that he's being taken more seriously. Among his high-profile DFL opponents are Attorney General Mike Hatch and state Sens. Steve Kelley and Becky Lourey.
"I guess this means they're worried about us," Doran said in an interview Friday.
In the letter, he says, "this appears to be a coordinated effort," adding that "while I currently do not have any information that another campaign is involved in these efforts, I have stated many times that my campaign will not initiate these types of tactics."
Another memo sent recently by Doran to his supporters suggests that a Republican blogger first launched the attack on Doran's contributions and that Republicans are "very afraid of a match-up" between Doran and GOP Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
"As a Democrat, Kelly Doran can work with people of all parties and will put principle ahead of politics to move our state forward," the memo says.
As for the time he has spent at his second home in Arizona, Doran spokeswoman Tonya Tennessen said that "many things about his life will change" as a result of his candidacy.
"People don't get up to the cabin as often when they run for office." Source: Star Tribune, December 17, 2005
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