Former Coleman staffer Wardere to challenge Kline

Mahamoud Wardere, a former staffer for Sen. Norm Coleman and Muslim immigrant from Somalia, is running on an anti-war platform in hopes of defeating Republican Rep. John Kline. Wardere is seeking the Republican endorsement and joins DFLers Dan Powers and Shelley Madore in looking to unseat Kline. Wardere’s name also popped up during the 2008 election when several voters alleged he attempted to influence votes in favor of Coleman while working as a translator.

The Faribault Daily News interviewed Wardere, who says he hasn’t sought advice from Coleman, his former employer.

On American foreign policy, Wardere says:

“Anybody who brings peace, you have to praise,” Wardere said. “We must worry about passing insecurity to our children and grandchildren the same way we worry about passing the deficit to them. We must pass them many friends, not many enemies.”

He would also work on legislation that defines the goal of the war on terror, clarifies the U.S.’s position and expedites ending wars.

“Washington has sent many conflicting broad and vague messages to the world, and some of them are self-defeating,” he said. “Our message should be simple and clear: we have been attacked, and we will attack anyone who wants to harm us and we will defend our people, period.”

Wardere’s name appeared in the news on election night 2008 when allegations arose that a Somali translator encouraging people to vote for Coleman at the voting booth.