Ciresi on Candidate Qualifications

Mike Ciresi has a letter in the Strib today talking about his qualification for office, and takes a few shots as well.

His qualifications:

•Building an internationally recognized organization that is known for leveling the playing field for those who do not have a voice against powerful interests.

•Meeting a payroll and budget of $100 million and making sure that all within our organization have health insurance and that their workers compensation is paid.

•Advising the world's largest democracy, the government of India, regarding the Bhopal disaster and establishing new international law regarding multinational corporations' liability.

•Representing individuals, unions and corporations and guiding them to resolution of personal injury, business and intellectual-property issues.

•Negotiating hundreds of settlements in which, in most instances, it was necessary to persuade and motivate the other side to compromise.

•Providing members of Congress with the information they needed to frame laws and conduct hearings that benefited the common good.

•Establishing and chairing a foundation that has invested millions of dollars addressing issues of immigration, tolerance for diversity, education, housing and other timely issues facing our state and nation.

•Cochairing the Hennepin County Commission on Homelessness.

•Serving on the Minnesota Early Learning Foundation Board and many other charitable organizations.

•Taking internationally recognized action to remove defective products from the marketplace.

•Defeating the tobacco industry and bringing, to date, almost $3 billion to Minnesota, with continuing payments of up to $200 million per year for as long as the industry exists. This money has bailed us out of a budget deficit and has paid for roads, education, health care, social services and other obligations of government.

Note the workers comp/Al Franken shot.

It's an impressive list and I do agree with his statements about his work in Minnesota over the past 30 years.

I believe these qualifications and others made me ready to serve our state and country in the Senate. I am comfortable comparing them against those of any other candidate in recent memory. Jacobs' commentary article reminded me of Theodore Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" quote. To paraphrase: It is not the critic who counts. The credit belongs to the man who has actually been in the arena and who spends himself for a worthy cause. His place will never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.

I'd seen Mike speak at several events across Wright County and SD 18 over the past 6 months. His message resonated with me. While I strongly support Jack Nelson Pallmeyer for US Senate, Mike Ciresi was always a strong consideration for me.

Thanks for all you've done for this state Mike!