Area parties prepared for precinct caucuses Tuesday

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

March 2nd is being billed as "Super Tuesday" because there are nine state primaries, including California and New York, and Minnesota's party caucuses with its DFL presidential preference ballot scheduled for Tuesday.

In other words, what happens Tuesday in those 10 states could make, or possibly break, John Kerry's bid for the Democratic nomination for president. There's no need for a presidential preference ballot for Republicans since President Bush faces no opposition in his own party.

Tuesday's preferential ballot is Minnesota DFLers' only opportunity for input into their party's selection of a presidential candidate as Minnesota's primary won't be held until Sept. 14, a scant seven weeks before the Nov. 2 general election.

Customarily, only those of voting age attend party caucuses; however, the Minnesota DFL Party have chosen to invite anyone 16 years of age or older to take part in their caucuses.

Even though they won't have a presidential preference vote, Republicans will have plenty matters to deal with during Tuesday's precinct caucuses, Brown County Republican Chairman Gerald Woodley said.

"We'll be selecting our officers, delegates to our county convention and proposing planks for the GOP's state and national party platforms," Woodley said.

It's also the first organized venue for candidates or potential candidates to make contact with larger numbers of party faithful.

At least five political parties are holding caucuses impacting Legislative Districts 21 and 23, and here's their caucus schedules. All caucuses are to meet between 7-9 p.m.

For more information about where you should attend your caucus, contact your local county auditor's office.

Constitution Party

of Minnesota

This party's caucus is the only exception to the rule as the party plans to a statewide caucus, in lieu of precinct caucuses, on Saturday, March 6, at Jefferson Christian School, 125 21st Avenue So., South St. Paul, from 1-4:30 p.m. Everyone is invited; for more information, contact Bill Dodge at (320) 286-5371 or e-mail info@cpmn.org.

Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Brown County: Residents of Hanska, Lake Hanska Township and Linden Township will meet at the Hanska Community Center, Main St., Hanska.

New Ulm area residents of Cottonwood Township, Milford Township, New Ulm W-1 P-1, W-1 P-2, W-2 P-1, W-2 P-2, W-3 P-1, W-3 P-2, W-4 P-1 and W-4 P-2 and Sigel Township precincts will meet in the Jefferson Elementary School Cafeteria, 318 S. Payne, New Ulm.

Residents of Cobden, Eden Township, Evan, Home Township, Leavenworth Township, Prairieville Township, Sleepy Eye W-1 and W-2 and Stark Township precincts will meet at Sleepy Eye Public High School Library, 4th Ave. SW, Sleepy Eye.

Residents of Albin Township, Bashaw Township, Burnstown Township, Comfrey, Mulligan Township, North Star Township, Springfield W-1, Springfield W-2 and Stately Township will meet in the Springfield Public School Cafeteria, 12 S. Burns Ave., Springfield.

Nicollet County: Residents of all St. Peter, Lake Prairie Township, Oshawa Township and Traverse Township precincts will meet at the St. Peter High School Cafeteria, 100 Lincoln Drive, St. Peter. Those living in all North Mankato, Belgrade Township and Mankato W2-P-30 precincts will meet in Heritage Hall at South Central Technical College, 1920 Lee Blvd., North Mankato. Residents of Bernadotte Township, Brighton Township, City of Courtland and Courtland Township will meet at Lafayette Township Hall, intersection of Highway 15 and County Road 5 in Klossner.

The Green Party

Residents of all precincts in State Legislative District 21 (A & B) will meet in the Teachers' Lounge at Marshall Senior High School in Marshall. Residents of all precincts in State Legislative District 23 (A & B) will meet in Room 114 at Mankato West High School in Mankato.

The Independence Party

Residents of all precincts in State Legislative District 21 (A & B) will meet in the Commons area of Sleepy Eye High School, Sleepy Eye. Residents of all precincts in State Legislative District 23 (A & B) will meet in Room 118 at Mankato West High School, Mankato.

Republican Party

Brown County

Residents of Town of Hanska and Albin, Lake Hanska and Linden township precincts will meet in the Hanska Community Center, 210 Broadway St., Hanska.

Residents of New Ulm W-1 P-1, W-1 P-2, W-2 P-1, W-2 P-2, W-3 P-1, W-3 P-2, W-4 P-1, W-4 P-2, Cottonwood, Milford and Sigel township precincts will meet at Washington Elementary School, 910 14th North St., New Ulm.

Residents of Sleepy Eye W-1, W-2, Evan and Eden, Home, Leavenworth, Prairieville and Stark township precincts will meet at Sleepy Eye Public High School, 4th Avenue SW, Sleepy Eye.

Residents of Springfield W-1, W-2, Cobden, Comfrey and Bashaw, Burnstown, Mulligan, North Star and Stately precincts will meet at the Springfield Community Center, 33 N. Cass, Springfield.

Nicollet County

Residents of City of Courtland, City of Nicollet and Courtland and Nicollet township precincts will meet at the Nicollet Public School in Nicollet.

Residents of City of Lafayette and Lafayette, Ridgely, West Newton, Bernadotte and Brighton township precincts will meet at the Lafayette Community Center, 540 7th St., Lafayette.

Residents of City of all North Mankato precincts and Belgrade Township precinct will meet at Hoover Elementary School, 1524 Hoover Dr., North Mankato.

Residents of City of all St. Peter precincts and Traverse and Oshawa township precincts will meet at St. Peter High School, 100 Lincoln Dr., St. Peter.

Residents of Lake Prairie, New Sweden and Granby township precincts will meet at the Norseland Lutheran School Building, 37777 State Highway 22, St. Peter.