MARSHALL — On Wednesday morning, Tracy Area High School student Will Johnston anxiously watched the results of the Federalist Party nomination for secretary of state be tabulated.
A few minutes before that, Johnston waited to see how the vote would turn out. There was even a recount. He wasn’t one of the frontrunners.
Peter Lonnquist of Dawson-Boyd High School sat among a few of his fellow Federalists from St. Paul. He said he’s an alternate delegate.
Lonnquist threw his support behind another candidate for secretary of state.
“Let’s go Travis,” Lonnquist cheered.
Whether they were running for office, giving their support for a candidate, serving as a party delegate or just observing the process, local Boys Staters played their part at the state convention Wednesday and Thursday for the Federalist and Nationalist parties.
More than 400 boys from across the state are participating in this year’s Legion Boys State this week at Southwest Minnesota State University.
Lonnquist said the candidate he was cheering for is a good guy.
“When everything was falling apart, he got everything together,” Lonnquist said.
But it’s been a little rowdy in the Federalist Party, Lonnquist said.
Lonnquist said that his party tried to impeach the party chairman in the first half-hour after elected.
In the midst of the excitement with the secretary of state nomination, Lonnquist wondered who the top candidates were and what his county wanted.
“Who are we voting for?” Lonnquist said as he raised his hand.
Johnston stepped up to the podium for the second time Wednesday morning. This time he was campaigning to be state auditor for the Federalist Party.
Johnston’s county, Crow Wing, decided to nominate him again.
And he was ready to make a speech in his bid for state auditor.
“When I was a young boy....” Johnston started as the rest of the Federalists laughed and groaned.
“I don’t think that worked out well the first time,” Johnston said.
A boy called for Johnston to sit down. Another wanted to call time. Johnston switched his tactics.
“I have a good work ethic and I would work hard,” Johnston said. “At this point, I’m kind of desperate.”
Johnston finished his speech and did a little jump and heel click before he took his seat.
Johnston eventually got down to the top two for state auditor, but was defeated. But he was still determined. He said he’s county clerk and city clerk for the Federalist Party and considered running for county attorney.
“I want to win something,” Johnston said. “I pretty much know everyone.”
Lonnquist said his party had toyed with the idea making a rule against cheering or clapping for nominations.
“Man, that would be boring if there wasn’t (applause),” Lonnquist said. “Yelling and applauding is the most fun.”
Lonnquist said he was running for the House of Representatives on Thursday.
Wednesday afternoon saw Russell-Tyler-Ruthton High School student Craig Jorgensen sitting next to the Ramsey County sign in SMSU’s Charter Hall 201 for the Nationalist Party convention. He was his county’s delegate and spokesman.
Michael Twining, one of the Nationalists, asked Jorgensen to nominate him for the supreme court justice position.
You want to be known as Mike or Michael, Jorgensen asked Twining. Twining didn’t mind. Jorgensen walked up to the front of the lecture hall to present his county’s nomination.
Jorgensen sat back in his seat, relaxed and listened as the supreme court justice candidates made their speeches.
“Government, as a whole, is rather boring, but it has its moments,” Jorgensen said.
“The planks are a lot more interesting,” Jorgensen added. A few of the planks, Jorgensen said, included light rail.
“We were about to do gay marriage, whether we approve or disapprove,” Jorgensen said.
Jorgensen asked his county’s delegates’ votes, getting them to raise their hands. He tallied the votes on a green sheet of paper and made another trip to the front. It would be the second of several trips.
Once the final nominations were made for the Nationalist Party slate, Jorgensen was ready to discuss his party’s planks. First up was gay marriage.
With no discussion, the Nationalist party decided to indefinitely table the issue of gay marriage.
“We’re actually doing very good,” Jorgensen said about how his party proceeded through the platforms.
