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Assistant St. Paul Police Chief Matt Bostrom is likely to challenge Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher in 2010. Bostrom filed campaign papers with the Ramsey County Elections office today and will begin raising money for the contest. The challenger already boasts an impressive array of supporters: U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, Ramsey County Commissioners Victoria Reinhardt and Tony Bennett, state Sen. Mee Moua and St. Paul Police Chief John Harrington.
“This is an exciting first step in this campaign,” Bostrom said in a statement announcing the formation of the “Bostrom for Sheriff” committee. “I am confident that my commitment to professional public service and to the core values of protecting our citizens, partnering with the community, reducing neighborhood crime, practicing fiscal responsibility, and collaborating with other law enforcement agencies are what the citizens expect from their sheriff.”
Bostrom is the son of veteran St. Paul City Council member Dan Bostrom, but is best known for heading up security efforts during last year’s Republican National Convention. Fletcher was critical of security preparations for the national gathering, repeatedly warning that the St. Paul department had failed to recruit enough police officers to ensure that it went off without serious problems.
Fletcher is a polarizing figure. The sheriff’s department drew the ire of social-justice activists last year by infiltrating the (ironically named) RNC Welcoming Committee. A series of police raids in the days leading up to the convention eventually resulted in criminal charges against eight activists who were allegedly plotting to damage property and disrupt the Republican gathering.
The four-term incumbent’s also been at the center of an investigation into the activities of the beleaguered — and now disbanded — Metro Gang Strike Force. Two damning reports released earlier this year alleged that the law enforcement agency routinely seized money from citizens without justification, failed to adequately keep track of its assets and displayed a general disregard for the civil rights of citizens, particularly minorities. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Department was the fiscal agent for the gang strike force.
In 2006, former St. Paul Police Chief William Finney took on Fletcher in a bruising political contest, but the incumbent ultimately prevailed by just over 1,000 votes.
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4 Comments »
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 2:43 pm
Bostrom is the guy who said he would resign if his promises about civil liberties being maintained during the RNC were broken. So it’s about time he leaves his post and fitting that he should seek the office of the top dog when it comes to lies, corruption and the police state.
Of course, some think Chicken Little deserves a career advancement himself… http://twitter.com/DraftFletcher
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 4:08 pm
It was a lot more than those who were part of the RNC Welcoming Committee that were outraged by the abuse of our civil liberties. What happend by law-enforcement before, during, and after the RNC is an outrage. Along with many other people over 40, will not vote for any official who condoned or were a part of the abuse during that time.
I hope someone who Respects the law and our constitution will run for Sheriff, so far there isn’t anyone yet.
Comment posted October 27, 2009 @ 9:38 pm
Uggh. Not a good looking ballot thus far.
Pingback posted October 28, 2009 @ 8:32 am
[...] helped oversee RNC security plannning, and drew criticism from Fletcher during that time, recalls the Minnesota Independent, with Fletcher “repeatedly warning that the St. Paul department had failed to recruit enough [...]
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