Pawlenty tops Sullivan

in county straw poll

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- The number of qualified voters and student observers who turned out for the Republican precinct caucuses in New Ulm Tuesday night was considered a "good turnout" by Rep. James Clark, R-New Ulm, and other GOP leaders.

It also was a good night for House Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty who is running for governor. He topped businessman Brian Sullivan 21-19 with six undecided in the New Ulm straw poll and topped the voting in all Brown County precincts. He had 57 votes to 41 for Sullivan and two for Michael Vekich, with 17 undecided.

At the Sleepy Eye caucuses, Sullivan received 18 votes, Pawlenty 16, Vekich none with seven undecided, according to convener Jane Peichel.

In New Ulm, among the nine resolutions developed in individual precinct caucuses were measures calling for an increase of at least 7 cents in the gas tax, raising the tax on alcohol and cigarettes and deletion of the death penalty from the Republican Party crime plank.

Resolutions introduced at the Sleepy Eye caucuses took a position against cloning, favored tuition tax credits for parents of non-public school students, addressed funding of mandated school programs, opposed domestic partnership health insurance benefits and addressed farm-related issues, Peichel said.

Jacque Fuller of New Ulm, commissioner district representative to the County Board, said she logged in 54 qualified voters and 18 observers, some of whom stayed for only a portion of the caucus, at Washington Elementary School. Approximately 45 attended the session in Sleepy Eye, Peichel said.

Brown County Chairman Gerald Woodley, directing his first caucus in New Ulm, said he really didn't have a feel for how many might participate. However, he said he was "overall pleased with the turnout," especially by the number of students who showed up to observe the process.

"The governor's race probably had something to do with the increased turnout," Woodley said. "As a county organization, we did more things to get people to come out, and there were quite a few high school students."

For Sen. Dennis Frederickson, R-New Ulm, "it's good to see so many young people," and he urged them to maintain their interest in the elective process.

Because this is a redistricting year, Frederickson must stand for re-election this fall even though he has served only two years of his four-year term.

"Everybody stands for re-election this year," Frederickson said. "The governor, constitutional officers, the Legislature, everybody."

With George W. Bush in the White House and Norm Coleman running neck-and-neck with incumbent Paul Wellstone in the U.S. Senate race, the GOP had good things to talk about during the caucuses.

Chip Collum of rural New Ulm, participating in the Milford Township precinct caucus, was elated about his precinct being able to send five delegates to the county convention April 13.

"The last caucus we could only send two delegates, but because Bush did so well in the precinct we're now able to send five," Collum said. "This is my third caucus, and the turnout seems good at this one, and the interest is greater."

For Chris Dauer, 18, a senior at New Ulm Senior High School, it was interesting to see how a caucus works.

"It was very informative on who's running and what they want to get accomplished," Dauer said. "Yes, I'd probably come to the next one and check it out."