Shortly after the groundhog emerges annually from his winter dwelling for a peak at the outside world, Minnesota’s most active and informed Republican activists also emerge to gather in their basic political operating units (BPOUs) and conduct the business of the Party. To submit any information from your BPOU, including delegates and alternates elected, please use MDE’s submission form.

This year, BPOU’s will select candidates to represent them on the MN GOP State Central Committee that will gather in April to elect the Party’s officers. That list will include electing new RNC representatives (a Committeeman and a Committeewoman) as Brian Sullivan and Evie Axdahl step down.

Current MN GOP Chairman Tony Sutton and Dep. Chair Michael Brodkorb have announced their plans to run for re-election. To date, no formidable candidates have stepped up to take them on. Current Treasurer-Secretary David Sturrock is also running again. He is currently unopposed and a copy of his letter is also below.

Sutton and Brodkorb have been distributing a letter to activists at BPOU gatherings, the text can be found below.

The RNC Committeeman’s race promises an interesting dynamic. I had the chance to hear two of the three major candidates this morning at the SD 37 Convention in Rosemount. Ben Golnik and Tom Emmer pitched their background and appeal to delegates this morning in Rosemount. Jeff Johnson is also a candidate.

The candidates for RNC Committeewoman to date are: Pat Anderson, Janet Beihoffer, Mary Igo, and Pamela Punt.

A few BPOU conventions took place today, but the bulk will occur in the next 3-4 weeks, leading to Congressional District Conventions in March, where there will also be contested leadership elections taking place. CD2 being one example. The involvement and energy are overall good news for our Party.

State Central Delegates for the GOP will elect their replacements during the State Central meeting on April 16, 2011

Letter from Sutton and Brodkorb to local leaders:

Fellow Republican Leaders,

Serving you in our capacities really is the most rewarding thing we have done in our lives. We have been humbled by the many kind words of encouragement in the weeks since the election. We are very grateful for everything you have done to support our Party and our candidates.

Two years ago, all of us embarked on a political voyage to change the course of our state and together we did it. After two grueling years of meetings, candidate recruitment and assistance, financial donations, voter ID, phone-calling, door-knocking, lit-dropping, rebar-pounding, and so much more, Republicans now control both chambers of the state Legislature for the first time in modern history and liberty and conservatism now fill the Capitol halls.

Republicans enjoyed many other victories as well in 2010, re-electing John Kline, Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen to the Congress. In one of the most surprising upsets in the country, Chip Cravaack retired Jim Oberstar after 36 years in the US House. We also saw a resurgence in local Republican endorsed candidate victories, a fact which bodes well for the future.

Without your hard work, this would not have been possible. Again, thank you and congratulations.

However, while the election showed we are moving Minnesota in the right direction, it also showed there is still much work to do.

That is why we have decided to run for re-election – because 2012 presents the opportunity to retire Amy Klobuchar, put Minnesota in the Republican column for President, and for the first time in 4 decades maintain Republican majorities in the state House and Senate. It will not be easy – but we know that if we all work together, we can accomplish these critical goals.

Therefore, we are officially announcing our bid for re-election to our current positions of Chair and Deputy Chair of the Republican Party. As Chair and Deputy Chair, we promise to continue an open, honest and transparent administration focused on customer service and winning elections.

We are particularly grateful to have earned the support of all eight congressional district chairs, every Republican member of our congressional delegation, and all of our 2010 statewide candidates.

Like the 2010 election cycle, we believe in 2012 we can work with all of the stake-holders to raise the necessary funds, build the best voter-lists in the country, continue to lead the country in technological innovation (such as Project Phoenix) and most importantly keep our Party at all levels unified and working toward victory.

In the weeks ahead we will be laying out our plans for 2011/2012. We hope we can count on your support for re-election, and of course, we hope we can count on your continued hard work doing what needs to be done to win in 2012.

As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions, concerns or just to chat.

Thank you again,

Tony and Michael

—

DAVID STURROCK

For RPM Secretary-Treasurer

Dear Republican Friend:

It has been an honor and pleasure to serve as Secretary-Treasurer of the Minnesota Republican Party.  I hope to continue in that service, and hope I can count on your support for a second term.

I am proud to be running for reelection alongside my fellow officers Tony Sutton and Michael Brodkorb.  They are tremendously dedicated and effective leaders for our party and we are fortunate they are willing and eager to continue in their positions.

However, I am very different from Tony and Michael in at least one important way:  You don’t see my name in the newspaper or on TV.  Believe me, that’s a good thing!  It means that our party is staying out of trouble with state and federal regulatory agencies because it is managing its finances carefully and prudently.

I have contributed to that successful record by closely scrutinizing our financial activity on a daily basis. Also, I ask lots of questions of party staff and my fellow officers, and some of them have led to improved record keeping and money-handling practices.  As well, I have helped navigate the Minnesota Republican Party through financial challenges:  Adjusting to the (entirely appropriate) elimination of the Contribution Refund Program; coping with much-less-than-promised support from the Republican National Committee in 2010; and helping ensure that we got the best possible yield from our hard-earned donor dollars so we could fund an ambitious, aggressive campaign plan that produced so many great Republican victories last November.

During the last two years I have also used my leadership position to insist upon a fair, consistent, and transparent process that makes the Republican Party open to all who want to join and help us.  As Chairman of the 2010 Nominating Committee, I led the way in providing above-board, even-handed, consistent treatment for all candidates seeking endorsement for statewide office.

This record gives you a good idea what to expect from me if I have the honor of serving a second term as RPM Secretary-Treasurer.  I hope I can count on your vote for reelection at the April 16th State Central Committee meeting.  In the meantime, I look forward to talking with you by telephone and in person at BPOU and CD conventions.  And at any time please call or e-mail whenever you have a question, suggestion or concern.

Thank you very much!

Sincerely,

David Sturrock

C:  (507) 828-7565                  SturrockDE@gmail.com

Tags: Ben Golnik, Jeff Johnson, Michael Brodkorb, MN GOP, Republican Party of Minnesota, Tom Emmer

The podcast of Saturday's show is now available at Townhall.com.  While King and I usually focus on Minnesota politics, we decided to have a frank conversation about Senator John McCain's presidential campaign. McCain will likely be the Republican presidential nominee in 2008. I voted "uncommitted" on Super Tuesday and I'll explained why on the program. 

Ben Golnik, who coordinated McCain's Minnesota efforts on Super Tuesday, was a guest from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Ben agreed to answer questions from callers who had concerns about McCain's candidacy.  I'll also addressed the ridiculous myth pushed by liberal bloggers and the DFL that Governor Pawlenty was somehow the big loser of Super Tuesday.

Tags: Ben Golnik, NARN

I'll be on the radio today for a two-hour program from 3-5 p.m. with King Banaian of SCSU Scholars on AM 1280 The Patriot. While King and I usually focus on Minnesota politics, we've decided to have a frank conversation about Senator John McCain's presidential campaign. McCain will likely be the Republican presidential nominee in 2008. I voted "uncommitted" on Tuesday night and I'll explain why on the program.  Ben Golnik, who coordinated McCain's Minnesota efforts on Super Tuesday, will be a guest from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Ben has agreed to answer questions from callers who have concerns about McCain's candidacy. I have a few concerns of my own.

I'll also be addressing the ridiculous myth pushed by liberal bloggers and the DFL that Governor Pawlenty is somehow the big loser of Super Tuesday. It's amazing what liberal blogs will publish when their desperate for attack material on Pawlenty.  

Before you listen to King and me, make sure you listen to the first four hours of the Northern Alliance Radio Network. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can hear Power Line's John Hinderaker and Chad and Brian from Fraters Libertas. Mitch Berg and Captain Ed are on the air from 1-3 pm.

I encourage you to all to listen.  Broadcasts can be heard on AM 1280 The Patriot, which has an Internet stream for those outside the Twin Cities. Brave Democrats and proud Republicans can join the conversation at (651) 289-4488.

UPDATE: I want to thank Ben Golnik for being a guest from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m to talk about McCain's candidacy. I also want to thank all of the callers who contributed to the discussion.

UPDATE #2: As I mentioned on the air, please read this post from Sarah Janacek over at Politics In Minnesota which helps debunks the myth that Governor Pawlenty was a loser on precinct caucus night.  He wasn't.

Tags: Ben Golnik, NARN

I'll be on the radio this Saturday for a two-hour program from 3-5 p.m. with King Banaian of SCSU Scholars on AM 1280 The Patriot. While King and I usually focus on Minnesota politics, we've decided to have a frank conversation about Senator John McCain's presidential campaign. McCain will likely be the Republican presidential nominee in 2008. I voted "uncommitted" on Tuesday night and I'll explain why on the program.  Ben Golnik, who coordinated McCain's Minnesota efforts on Super Tuesday, will be a guest from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Ben has agreed to answer questions from callers who have concerns about McCain's candidacy. I have a few concerns of my own.

I'll also be addressing the ridiculous myth pushed by liberal bloggers and the DFL that Governor Pawlenty is somehow the big loser of Super Tuesday. It's amazing what liberal blogs will publish when their desperate for attack material on Pawlenty.  

Before you listen to King and me, make sure you listen to the first four hours of the Northern Alliance Radio Network. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can hear Power Line's John Hinderaker and Chad and Brian from Fraters Libertas. Mitch Berg and Captain Ed are on the air from 1-3 pm.

I encourage you to all to listen.  Broadcasts can be heard on AM 1280 The Patriot, which has an Internet stream for those outside the Twin Cities. Brave Democrats and proud Republicans can join the conversation at (651) 289-4488.

Tags: Ben Golnik, NARN

The podcast of Saturday's show is now available at Townhall.com. The entire show was dedicated to a discussion about precinct caucuses. King and I spoke with representatives of the remaining GOP presidential campaigns (Huckabee, McCain, Paul and Romney) about their candidate. If you're undecided about who to support, make sure you listen to Saturday's program to help you decide.

Tags: Ben Golnik, NARN