Area candidates

suspend campaigns

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Disbelief tinged with a deep sadness spread across New Ulm and Brown County at the news that Minnesota's senior Senator, Paul Wellstone, had been killed in a plane crash near Eveleth Friday morning.

Wellstone's wife Sheila, his daughter Marcia, three campaign aides and the plane's two pilots also died in the crash.

One of the aides was Mary McEvoy of Minneapolis, who had taken a leave of absence from her duties as associate chair of the Minnesota DFL Party to work on Wellstone's campaign.

"This was pretty hard for me to take," said Lori Sellner of Sleepy Eye, chairman of the Brown County DFL Party. "First, I lost someone who I could really believe in, and I lost a friend and mentor in Mary who had helped me learn the ropes."

House District 21B DFL candidate Mark Wiger of New Ulm announced the cancellation of a scheduled Highway 14 caravan, which had been scheduled for today.

"I'm sad. He leaves a big hole in politics. He was a strong leader who gave us a lot of focus on what is right in government. There's nobody in state or national government that gave the perspective that Paul did. It's a deep loss," Wiger said.

Area Democrats gathered on the campus of Minnesota State University, Mankato for a vigil late Friday afternoon.

"I'm just stunned by what has happened. I've pulled my ads (that were to run this weekend), and I'm just taking time to be sad and to remember Paul and Sheila, and everything they stood for," said State Rep. Ruth Johnson, DFL-St. Peter, who staffed the DFL office in Mankato Friday afternoon.

"I'll never forget the first time I heard him speak," she recalled. "I was galvanized by his passion and conviction. I try to live up to his ideals every day."

Republicans in Brown County suspended campaign activities for the weekend, at the suggestion of the state party, Brown County GOP Chair Gerald Woodley said.

"It's very shocking," Woodley said. "We immediately suspended literature drops upon hearing of the tragedy. It really shows how fragile life is. While I didn't agree with much of what he said, I never questioned his dedication and passion."

Brad Finstad of New Ulm, the Republican candidate for House District 21B, suspended his campaign.

"I'm in shock. It's a tragic loss. As a member of Congressman Kennedy's staff, I worked with Senator Wellstone's ag staff and got to know them pretty well. A tragedy like this certainly puts everything into perspective. It's a tremendous loss for all of us."

"It's a terrible tragedy for the families of the victims, and it's a tragedy for all Minnesotans," Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht said from the campaign trail in the 1st District. "I liked and admired him as a human being. He was passionate and never made it personal."