Education, kids motivate Paulsen’s DFL challengers

Two candidates vying for the DFL endorsement to take on first-term Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen say he has betrayed the 3rd Congressional District’s moderate and independent streak. Maureen Hackett, a veteran and psychiatrist, and Jim Meffert, father of three and past PTA president, both see education as a top issue they’d tackle in Washington if they best Paulsen in November.

The district has been trending blue in recent local elections and Obama won the district by a slim margin, but campaign watchers think Paulsen will be difficult to unseat: The district, held by Republican Rep. Jim Ramstad through 2008, is rated “solid Republican” by the Cook Political Report.

Between Hackett and Meffert, the endorsement race is close. And as Minnesota Progressive Project notes, the endorsement is still up for grabs.

Meffert says he joined the Minnesota State Parent Teacher Association and later became president of the organization after watching funding for public education become stagnant and even decrease. “I couldn’t sit by and watch that happen,” he told the Minnesota Independent. “These are my kids this is happening to.”

Likewise, Hackett says she’s running in part to “lend my voice and work for my daughters generation…. Education is being taken apart at the highest level. There’s less opportunity for the younger generation. I want to be a part of the solution.”

Both agree that Paulsen has not been the moderate voice many in the district were hoping for.

“Residents of the 3rd District are knowledgeable and politically savvy, and they want someone who has independent ideas,” said Hackett. “Rep. Paulsen hasn’t done that. People liked Ramstad for his independent leadership. The district is appreciative of someone who has that.”

She said she has that. “People right now are sick of politics as usual in Washington.”

Meffert offered similar sentiments: “Paulsen finds excuses to vote against everything. He’s not what we had in Jim Ramstad. [Paulsen's] vote against health care is a perfect example.”

“People have not made up their minds about Paulsen,” he said, adding that on the campaign trail he’s spoken with Republicans who aren’t happy with Paulsen’s performance.

In terms of experience, Meffert cites his involvement in professional and personal involvement with nonprofits, plus he notes that he and his wife are raising three children in the district. Improving education and reducing poverty are issues that are close to his heart, he says.

“Many children and families are living in poverty and those children do not have a voice in Congress,” he said, adding he will try to be that voice. “These are our kids; this is our future.”

Health care is another issue that Meffert is passionate about. “Jobs are being lost because of health care costs.” He pointed to Minnesota’s health care system as a place to look for good ideas. “We have a good medical malpractice system in Minnesota. It works to keep costs down.” He added that Minnesota doesn’t need the caps on malpractice lawsuits that are debated nationally.

Hackett has a background as a veteran and a psychiatrist that she says has given her insight into a range of issues that come before Congress and that it would give her a “unique perspective” in the U.S. House. She said that she has an interest in early childhood enrichment in education. “If our country were to make a strong investment in early childhood enrichment, but we would see the benefits right away, not just 20 years down the road”

She says that what makes her a different kind of candidate is that she’s not a career politician.

“One of the reasons I’m getting into this is that I want to offer my services,” she said. “I don’t have a next election to worry about, because I don’t have anything to lose” she said, noting that she has a stable career as a psychiatrist. “I think the 3rd needs someone to represent them without worrying about that person being beholden to special interests.”

Another area that draws her attention is the environment. “I would like to see our government change its approach to research and development on alternative fuels to compete in the global economy.” She argues that the reliance on fossil fuels negatively impacts our economy and new energy technologies would be a boon to employment numbers.

The DFL endorsing convention is this weekend and both candidates say they are working hard to win over party activists.

“This has been an amazing experience,” Meffert said of the campaign.