McGuire Announces Bid For Ramsey County Board
McGuire's seeking election in District two, whose territory includes Roseville.
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Mary Jo McGuire, a veteran DFL state lawmaker, on Monday announced her candidacy for the Ramsey County Board.
“I know that the work that I have been doing at the state level will make for an easy transition to the county. I am passionate about my work in public health, violence prevention, public safety, and early childhood education and know that the County Board is an ideal place to implement many of the policies that I worked on as a state legislator.” McGuire said in a press statement submitted by her volunteer committee.
This spring, McGuire was thrust into the same Senate district as Roseville Sen. John Marty due to legislative redistricting. In a District 66 DFL endorsing convention, McGuire lost out to Marty and she pledged not to run in a primary to challenge him.
McGuire's volunteer committee said she is running for the Ramsey County Board in District Two, which includes Roseville, New Brighton, Little Canada, Lauderdale, one precinct in St. Anthony Village and one in Mounds View. Jan Parker, the current District Two County Board commissioner, announced her retirement earlier this year.
McGuire is a lifelong resident of Ramsey County; she attended high school at Alexander Ramsey Senior High School in Roseville (now Roseville Area High School), completed her undergraduate degree at The College of St. Catherine in St. Paul and received her law degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul.
McGuire has served as a state legislator for more than 15 years in the Minnesota House and Senate. She has represented Roseville, Falcon Heights. Lauderdale, St. Anthony Village and St. Paul. She was recognized as ‘Legislator of the Year’ by Politics in Minnesota and ‘Best Elected Official’ by the Roseville Review.
McGuire is an adjunct professor and civic educator and is active in her community, currently serving on the Board of Directors for Northwest Youth and Family Services.
Throughout her years as a state legislator, McGuire has been a champion for education, especially early childhood through higher education; violence prevention, public health, energy, the environment; equity and human rights, her committee said.
Of her candidacy, McGuire said, “We continue to face a tough economic and political climate. The realities of these challenging times demand a leader with the fortitude and experience to stand up for our progressive values, to not only push back against the divisive right-wing agenda, but to continually strive to find ways to advance our priorities and move Minnesota forward."
Tim Johnson
7:55 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
McGuire betrays her intellectual immaturity by asserting her goal to "push back against the divisive right-wing agenda" as apparently anyone who is not in lockstep with her own idealogical agenda is divisive. Ironically, she is the one who is establishing herself as divisive by alienating a large portion of her district which do not share her "progressive" values by making such a derogatory statement and she obviously fails to appreciate the non-partisan nature of of the County Commissioner role.
John Kysylyczyn
8:49 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
McGuire forgot to mention that she has never lived in District #2, the district she wants to run in. So she will be moving into the district shortly before the election.
Ed
10:32 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I think that what McGuire is doing, by not running against John Marty, shows class. That kind of unity is what's really needed in today's volatile political world.
Tim Johnson
11:50 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Unity to her own party means absolutely nothing in the broader picture.
Pete C
10:46 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Oh great, another politician whose first words toward fulfilling this office - the very press release announcing her candidacy - seek to set battle lines and establish divisiveness. How about spending that dozen words telling us what you would do, or what problems you would correct? Some of us don't care which "team" you're on, and I don't believe the role requires it.
Tony Nickelsen
10:49 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Even though it is not illegal to run for another office in the same calendar year, I would think it would be better off letting other candidates come forward to campaign for Ramsey County Commissioner. Mary Jo has done a very good job in the State House and Senate and should be commended for a job well done. However, in this day of divisive partisan politics, sometimes hearing a different voice gives the constituency a fresh perspective on ideas moving forward!
Sue Jacobson
6:20 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
There is much to be said for experience, and especially Mary Jo's time in the Senate. The fact that she listens to her constituents and is willing to relocate in order to better serve, are just a few of the reasons I think she will be an excellent County Commissioner.
John Kysylyczyn
6:56 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I think the term is called carpetbagger isn't it?
Tony Nickelsen
9:10 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Sue, It's hard to disagree with your comment. If the districts hadn't changed like they did, we wouldn't even be having this discussion! As it is, Mary Jo had her run for Senate in the new district and lost to the stronger opponent. (At least that's what the majority of the delegates in district 66 thought) To all of sudden run for another office soon after defeat is quite uncommon, but has been done before. I wish her all of the luck and hope she wins!
Scott Carlson
11:22 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Some interesting comments. I am wondering whether you think there should be partisan politics at the county level? I guess I understand it at the state level. But does that mean it also happen on the county level?
Tony Nickelsen
3:17 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Scott, I've always been under the impression that county commissioners act as a body of government with the best interest of everyone they represent in the county and not necessarily representing a political party body of government. Kind of like on city councils, school boards, PTA/PTSA, etc.... With that being said, often times politics does reek it's ugly head when hard decisions need to be made. E.G. The Vikings stadium issue in Ramsey County. That was very contentious indeed!
Gary Kwong
12:36 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Would the Roseville Patch please provide the current residency requirements for the Ramsey County Commissioners, if there are any. Do they have to live in the district that they wish to represent? I cannot locate this information. Do the current board members live in the districts they represent?
Scott Carlson
1:08 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
I'll check into it and let you know.
John Kysylyczyn
11:28 am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
This is from the Alexandria Echo Press article today on Douglas County Commissioner seats:
In order to qualify for candidacy, an affidavit of candidacy must be submitted affirming that a person is: eligible to vote in Minnesota; has not filed for any office in the upcoming primary or general election; will be 21 years of age or more when assuming office; will have maintained residence in said district for at least 30 days before the general election and if a major political party candidate, has either participated in the party’s most recent precinct caucuses or intends to vote for a majority of that party’s candidates at the next general election.
Scott Carlson
1:07 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
I found out from the Ramsey County Elections office that for someone to run for the county board in a specific district, they must be an eligible voters and have resided in the district for at least 30 days before the general election.