The Bison – November 2, 1990

On November 6, approximately one third of the senior class will have the opportunity to vote for the first time. The right to vote has been a controversy throughout history.

“I would say that the right to vote is too often taken for granted. And first of all, it is our responsibility to become informed, and secondly, to actually cast your ballot,” said counselor Gloria Rose. Of the eligible students and staff, many expressed opinions regarding this year’s elections.

“Personally I’m rather disgusted with the mud slinging, but I still intend to vote,” said senior Marc Nevinski.

Many felt the 1990 campaign for governor was similar to the 1988 Bush/Dukakis election.

“I think it’s sad that our dumb state’s gone to that and that [Govenor Perpich] had to dig up all this crap. It makes it look like the only reason he’s running is to stay in the governor’s mansion. That’s third grade stuff,” said senior Lynn Dykhuizen.

“The governor’s race sucks - they’re all scum,” said senior Josh Mackey.

Although many non-eligible students have said they wouldn’t vote if they could, others felt they should.

“I think people should vote, but they should be informed first,” said junior Nikki Paripovich.

Negative campaigning, and tarnished images are among this year’s 1990 Gubernatorial race conflicts. Rudy Perpich, DFL incumbent candidate, is being challenged by IR write-in candidate Arne Carlson. Former Gubernatorial candidate Jon Grunseth officially withdrew from the Governor’s race last Sunday, October 28, when further allegations of sexual conduct were released in the Sunday morning editions of the Star Tribune and St. Paul Pioneer Press. The first allegations of sexual misconduct were publicly released on Monday, October 15, 1990. Three women accused Grunseth of having invited them to join him in a nude swim. The women, young teenagers at the time, were guests at the party thrown by the Grunseth family on the fourth of July. The allegations also stated that the naked and supposedly drunken Grunseth chased one of the girls in his swimming pool, and tried to pull down the straps of her swimsuit. Grunseth immediately set out on a counterattack claiming these charges as false, and doctored up by Perpich. Grunseth sent a letter to Gov. Perpich, stating that he was holding him personally responsible for the accusations, and threatened to sue him for political "blackmail." By the end off the week, Grunseth had come up with 19 affidavits, all stating that there had been no nude swimming or underage drinking at the 1981 party. On October 17, many key Republican leaders, such as U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz, started discussing what sort of options they would have if they had to replace Grunseth as the IR party’s gubernatorial candidate. At that time, Boschwitz wanted it known that they were not "trying to drum anyone out." On October 18, support for Arne Carlson, as a candidate for governor, starting pouring in. At that time though, Carlson said he would be more than willing to run again should Grunseth step down, and if "the Republican Party were to ask." Finally on Monday, October 22, State Auditor Arne Carlson, along with running mate Joanell Dyrstad announced that he was once again running for governor, as a write-in candidate, creating a three way race two weeks before the elections.

A familiar name will appear on the November 6 election ballot for Buffalo voters. Marcia Paulsen, a librarian at BHS, is a candidate for one of two open Buffalo city council positions on the ballot.

Having served on Buffalo’s Planning Commission for seven years, four of those years as either the chair or vice-chair, and also having the opportunity to write Buffalo’s centennial history, Paulsen believes that she has a good knowledge of the city of Buffalo, and what needs to be done for it.

“I didn’t feel that I should run for City Council without learning how [the political system] worked...and now I feel that I have a good understanding of how things are suppose to work,” said Paulsen.

Paulsen credits her work on Buffalo’s Planning Commission, Strategic Planning Committee, along with leadership positions in her church, and various local and state officer’s roles in the Teacher’s union, as good preparation for such a position as a city council member.

Among her primary concerns for the city of Buffalo, are its expected increase in growth when both Highway 25, in 1992, and Highway 55, in 1994, are expanded to four lanes.

She also has a concern for the businesses of Buffalo which will have to adapt to these highway changes, due to some possibly loosing direct access to the highways which they presently border upon.

“I believe that both highways have much to offer...but we have to make sure that both the business bordering the highways, and the businesses in the downtown area] stay strong,” said Paulsen.

The restoration and public use of the lakes that surround Buffalo, such as Buffalo Lake, and Pulaski Lake, also ranks as one of her major concerns.

“The city needs to be doing more to promote these lakes, such as constructing bike paths, and placing picnic tables near these lakes, for the public to use,” she said.

Public support and the belief that a woman running for a city council position is long over-due, were among the points of encouragement discussed by Paulsen.

“I think I’ve become more aware of what I have to offer, and that the time has come to make this sort of commitment,” she said.

CANDIDATES ON THE ISSUES

Gubernatorial Candidates

Arne Carlson (IR) Write-In
Rudy Perpich (DFL)

1. Faced with a major state fiscal crisis, would you sign or veto a budget-balancing bill that would raise taxes along with cutting spending?

Veto all spending bills that reach desk before tax bills.

Optimistic; predicts no crisis.

2. What major changes would you make in the state's educational system?

Change way in which funded; change state mandates - returning control to teachers, schools, and communities.

Expand early childhood education programs.

3. If you are the governor in January, what will be your priority environmental program and where will the money come from?

No net loss in wetlands/RIM lands; funding in more specific areas.

No net loss in wetlands/RIM lands; funds from job creation.

4. What would be the first step you would take next year to provide health care to Minnesotans who can't afford it now?

Establish an extended state pool, provides affordable & existable insurance to everyone.

Pass Health Care Access Commission recommendations.

5. What is the single most important step you would take to create new jobs and expand economic development in Minnesota?

Reform Worker Comp. Insurance - remain sensitive to those effected, yet restrict access. Encourage economic growth

Create balanced economy with emphasis on international markets.

6. What would be your first priority in dealing with the problem of crime and drugs - education and treatment, or tougher penalties?

Education & Treatment. Supporting and fully funding such programs as Early Childhood and Head Start Programs

Continued education and treatment programs; our penalties are now among toughest in nation

7. Would you ask the 1991 Legislature to pass a bill restricting abortion?

No. Would be off the agenda for 1991.

Will work with legislative leadership.

Note: Some information listed above was taken from the StarTribune.

GUBERNATORIAL
Continued from Page 1

By Thursday, October 25, sources close to the Grunseth campaign, leaked information that Grunseth would be dropping out of the race for governor.

A press conference was called for 7:00 p.m. that evening. But, later, the press conference was indefinitely postponed.

At 10:30 p.m. the same evening, Grunseth announced that his original intentions were to drop out of the race, but had decided to continue on, "no matter what."

On Friday, October 26, a one and one-half hour televised debate was held, in which all three candidates focused their topic of discussion on the state's economy and government financing.

Yet, about 20 minutes of the debate dealt with the hostility between the three candidates, mainly between Perpich and Grunseth, who blamed each other for all the mudslinging, which had taken place in the several weeks preceding the debate.

The final accusations against Grunseth, which led to him definite withdrawal from the race, were made by a woman, Tamara Taylor of Minnetonka. She claimed that she and Grunseth had maintained an intermittent, nine-year sexual relationship that occurred during both of Grunseth's marriages, and didn't end until 1989, nearly a year after he had begun seeking the IR gubernatorial nomination.

enterprise and business.

Editor-in-Chief

On November 6, local voters will elect two candidates to the United States Congress.

Incumbent, Independent-Republican Rudy Boschwitz, is being challenged by DFLer, Paul Wellstone for the U.S. Senate seat.

Issues are the main focus of the campaigning, both men attempting to stay away from dirty politics, opting to let their views and voting records speak for themselves.

Boschwitz is seeking his third term and is considered conservative on most issues. He has a 100% pro-life voting record in Congress, and has consistently voted against bills to raise taxes, and favors free-enterprise and business.

Wellstone, a political science professor from Carleton College in Northfield, represents the DFL, urges changes in education, the farm crisis, and the labor situation.

Another almost unheard of race is the election of one person to U.S. House of Representatives, either incumbent Gerry Sikorski (DFL) or challenger Bruce Anderson (IR).

With eight years of legislative experience, Sikorski stresses family life, saving the environment, and improving the quality of education.

Anderson, a resident of Buffalo, wants to put a lid on government spending and the increase of taxes. He is pro-life and is concerned with health and human services.

Editor-in-Chief

Marking checks on the 1990 ballot will fill local offices, including city, county, and state positions, in addition to the more publicized national and gubernatorial races, and the usually uncontested electing of court justices.

The following is a listing of positions open and the candidates running. In the state races a summary of issues concerning each candidate is included.

MINNESOTA SENATE

District 22

Running for the special two year term, independent-republican Rallie Lange is challenging incumbent Betty Adkins.

Adkins stresses issues concerning human services, and small business, while Lange puts education as the number one issue facing Minnesotans today.

District 48

IR incumbent Pat McGowan is seeking his second term, against DFL endorsed challenger Jim Hillegass.

McGowan's concerns include education, business, and crime fighting. Hillegass, unknown.

District 22A

Incumbent Bob McEachern (DFL) is running against IR-endorsed Steve Hjelmeland.

Hjelmeland stresses gun control, a decrease in government spending, and rights for veterans.

McEachern's main base for his campaign is education.

MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

District 22B

Incumbent Tony Onnen, IR, will be facing DFL candidate Debra Kultala in the general election.

A past lawyer, Kultala feels that crime fighting and education are among the most pressing issues. Onnen is concerned about balancing the budget and controlling state spending.

District 48A

Dennis Filipek, DFL-endorsed, is challenging incumbent Independent Republican Warren Limmer.

Editor's Note: Buffalo, Hanover, Montrose, and Corcoran residents may vote at their respective city halls. Buffalo, Chatham, Frankfort, Maple Lake, Marysville, Monticello, and Rockford townships may vote at their respective township halls.

Sex, alcohol, and politicians. The 1990 Minnesota Gubernatorial race has been the most exciting political scandal since Gary Hart's “monkey business” with Donna Rice.

Recently, Independent Republican candidate for governor, Jon Grunseth, dropped out of the race due to various accusations of sexual misconduct. Two women, now in their early twenties, publicly accused Grunseth of swimming naked in his pool at a 1981 party at his home. They also stated that Grunseth invited them and other teen girls to strip and join him. There were also allegations that Grunseth had served alcoholic beverages to minors and had even tried to disrobe one of the girls. An older woman even came forth to back up the stories. Plus, another woman came forward to confess having an extra marital affair with Grunseth. Grunseth claims the charges are false, and that DFL candidate Rudy Perpich has connections with these women, and that these accusations are slander. He has taken a lie detector test, which supposedly had reinforced his stand against the allegations.

After this scandal surfaced, Arne Carlson announced that he too, would run for governor as a write-in candidate and proceeded to mail flyers instructing voters how to participate in a write-in campaign, only twelve days before election day.

Of course, the “scandal” was not the only dirt-cloth thrown during the campaigning. Earlier, Perpich dug up “facts” that in his divorce, Grunseth had been delinquent on his child support payments, and accused him of being a rotten father. In response to this, Grunseth's adopted daughter, Nina, appeared on commercials denying the accusations and calling for an apology from Perpich.

Then Grunseth was to announce his step down during a television press conference. This never happened, since the press conference was indefinitely postponed and the message was “slightly” twisted. Grunseth announced that he would stay in the race until the bitter end (which didn't last too long.)

Thanks to this political mud slinging, Grunseth's so-called pool party made headlines in almost every newspaper. Grunseth is more known now than before Perpich's accusations. Unless you live in a cave, you can't go through a day without hearing about Grunseth.

You know, it is remarkably coincidental that all this scandalous activity was “discovered” after the StarTribune published a poll showing Grunseth leading in the popular opinion. And it is interesting that the woman who “backed up” the girls' stories, was a friend of Grunseth's EX-wife, and a former employee of his EX-wife.

Yes, dirty campaigning. One should think that a future political leader has more integrity than to name call and bring ruin to his opponent. One wouldn't think a “gentlemen” would not do such a thing. One would think that any intelligent, decent human being would not think of doing something like this to a fellow opponent.

This leads us to a question—should the personal lives of political figures be disclosed to the public? Does a shaky personal life mean a bad public leader?

Does anyone remember John F. Kennedy? The one that is reputed to have had an affair with Marilyn Monroe? The one whose family had numerous accusations of scandals? The one who admitted his biggest mistake was the Bay of Pigs invasion?

Does anyone remember Ronald Reagan? The one who doesn't recall telling Oliver North to divert funds?

Does anyone remember Nixon and Watergate? Just an innocent attempt to tape everything that happened in the White House for memories, turned into a trail of impeachment.

People will believe what they hear, and usually they want to remember the bad things. Sometimes people are ruined because of false accusations.

Here is one final reminder: In the 1950's the dreaded “Red Scare” swept through the U.S. Joe McCarthy ran around pointing fingers and shouting “communist!” Many of these people had to leave the U.S. to seek refuge in a foreign country due to their ruined careers and being ostracized by society.

Dirty politics have no place in Minnesota, the mud should stay in the top-soil, instead of flying through the air at another person. The Bison thinks we gave that up when we left elementary school.

This is the secret diary of Heather Bakke—O.K. the idea isn't original but what do you expect? Over the years we Bakke's have been known for placing high expectations when it comes to elections. So just in case I might find myself as a candidate in some sort of election (hint) I should let you know a little more about myself. I mean over the years I have given away the secrets of my family, friends and all activities I am involved in and not uttering a word about myself.

Well, BHS, now it's my turn. For all readers I am laying my very deepest thoughts on the line.

Heather knows wrestling. Actually, most people think I do if you want to know the truth. I don't know if I should tell you guys, I could get in trouble. Oh well, my Dad has never wrestled before in his life.

O.K. I said it! Are you happy? Now I think I'm going to puke in my shoes.

The trophy's..the medals...the “lean and mean” pictures; they are all fake. He bought them all at Woolworth's. That is only half the story. When he was in high school and in college they called him Gerry the Bak' Chamberlain.

No kidding.

He was the center of the basketball team, quarterback for the football team, and the first baseman of the Salamander River Bible Academy baseball team: the Armadillos. When we came to Buffalo ten years ago from Iowa (another family secret) he didn't want so much attention so he asked me what sport he should coach. Naturally I said wrestling. The rest is history—I still have no idea how he came up with Cross Country.

Well, back to me. I said this was about me, right?

Every year at the same time, I travel down to Westbranch, Iowa, the birthplace of Herbert Clark Hoover, to lay a single rose and a bundle of newspapers on the front step of his memorial. That is the biggest secret unveiled. That is why in every Bison we refer to the Great Herbert Hoover. This all came about last year when I was in Iowa at my grandpa's farm. I was out in the cornfield checking for renegade game show hosts when I heard a voice mysteriously say “ease his pain.” When I looked over my shoulder I saw a huge newspaper hovering in the west with a huge headline saying “Herbert Hoover Lives.” From that point on I have dedicated my writing to him.

Of course I have other secrets. There is one major biggie that could send me packing. The only person who knows of my serious mysterious doings is my long-time friend Leslie. Hopefully she's forgotten. Here's the deal Les: you don't tell about me, and I won't tell anyone that you're Elvis' love child.

Wrestling starts pretty soon and there's big things on the horizon. But that's another story.

No kidding.

"Music is to the mind, as air is to the body." The fall musical is just that, music to the mind; music set to stage. "Little Shop of Horrors" contains songs ranging from love ballads to dental hygiene songs to songs about hunger pangs. The cast consists of vocalists and several cast members singing solos throughout the play. Rehearsing the songs takes many hours of work, at play practice, at home, and during individual sessions during lunch or mods. Getting the gestures to match the words, and all characters to correspond in action and tone quality, is a difficult task. The whole scene will be complete when the curtain is raised on opening night, November 8, and the audience can see the results of long hours and hard work.