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HEROES AND DREAMS AT APRIL FULL COMMITTEE MEETING
HEROES - At the April 24th Senate District 41 Republican Full Committee meeting, Brigadier General Dennis Schulstad (ret.) was honored with the Crystal Eagle Award. This award is given to one person each year who has made a significant contribution to the Senate District and the Republican cause. Denny is currently the Minnesota Chair for Employers Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). He is also a board member of Minnesota Military Family Foundation and co-founder of the Minnesotans’ Military Appreciation Fund. He also raises funds to assist families that have financial difficulties due to military service. Denny is the University of Minnesota Alumni Association volunteer national president. 
In accepting the award, Denny praised Senate District 41 as a great organization. He said that the glamorous part of politics is running for office. The hard part is running the organization. He accepted the award with gratitude.
DREAMS – Mayor Jim Heavens of Dyersville, Iowa (home of the “Field of Dreams”) was the keynote speaker. His son, Al Heavens, Chairman of the University of St. Thomas College Republicans introduced the Mayor. Dyersville is 25 miles west of Dubuque with a population of 4035. The town is known for three things - the site of the movie “Field of Dreams”, the National Farm Toy Museum, and the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier. Dyersville won the Iowa Shines Award and was one of 3 0 finalists in 2005 for All-American City.
The title of the Mayor’s speech, “Alcohol, Sex, and Twelve Things I’ve Learned in Public Office,” caught the attention of the audience. The Mayor was quick to explain the first two items. There were two big decisions made by the Dyersville City Council in the last two years. First was a decision to ban registered sex offenders from living inside the city limits of Dyersville vs. Iowa law which has a restriction of 2000 feet from a school or day care. This decision caused the city to run afoul of the ACLU, the Dubuque County law enforcement establishment, and the Telegraph Herald. It would appear that an attempt to overturn this law at the state level would fail.
The second was a twenty-year development agreement to bring a 100-million gallon ethanol plant to Dyersville. This was a lesson on how to handle a very controversial action and on how to negotiate a multi-million dollar agreement.
The Mayor then gave his “Top 12” list of lessons learned while running for office, operating in office, and getting re-elected, giving examples of each lesson.
The voters get it right more often than you think they do.
- It’s not what you say; it’s what the voters hear.
- When you are “riding high,” it is surprising how fast you can lose your popularity and what will cause it.
- Never be afraid of an intense and thorough public discussion of a controversial issue. It is the only way to bring closure to the matter and bring people together.
- There is a way to make your position almost “bullet-proof.” Have somebody on the council who will disagree with almost any action that is controversial.
- When dealing with the press, remember that what they are interested in is conflict and can never be counted on as a true friend and supporter.
- When you “go to bed” always take a lot of people with you.
- When nothing is said, nothing has to be defended. Before you speak out on something, make sure that you see it with your own two eyes.
- Keep some money in reserve. When you take care of the finances, they will take care of you. When you have some reserves, it keeps you from making some stupid or unpopular decisions.
- Give the impression to the public that you aren’t even there and when something is accomplished make the public think that they accomplished it.
- Good Republicans find a way to live within the current tax levy rate and they find a way to lower expenses without passing the problem on to the taxpayers.
- Pick your spot when to run and what office to run for and know when it is time to leave office.
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