Seifert will be all alone at Minnesota State Fair
By Rae KrugerWhile Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, might be one of at least 20 candidates for governor of Minnesota, he will be alone at the state fair this year.
Seifert said he and his campaign were informed his booth would be the only from a gubernatorial candidate at the Minnesota State Fair.
"It's shocking to me, actually," Seifert said. "There are over 20 people planning on running. I'm just really surprised."
Seifert said he knows a state fair booth is demanding but he couldn't pass on an opportunity to reach "over 2 million people."
The state fair requires a booth to be staffed at all times from 9 a.m.- 8 p.m., he said. Seifert will have volunteers be at the booth from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. all 12 days of the fair.
"Ours will be all volunteers organizing it, staffing it, including constructing the booth," Seifert said.
The campaign will need to fill 72 four-hour shifts, he said. "That's three shifts of four hours for two people each shift," Seifert said. "It's a massive operation of volunteers but you want two people there. You want people to be able to use the (restroom). If only one person is there and they leave, and you get audited ..."
Seifert's booth will be about a half block away from the Republican Party booth he said. Seifert said he won't be at the fair each day but with a booth and volunteers, voters will still see and hear his message.
Seifert and several other Republican candidates participated in a forum this week in Rochester. The forum went well and another is planned for September, Seifert said.
Various political polls have listed Seifert as a Republican front-runner.
On Thursday, the Independent asked Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who gave an address at Farmfest, if and when the governor would endorse a candidate.
Seifert has served as House Minority Leader and has served on Pawlenty's election campaigns.
"Eventually," Pawlenty said of endorsing a candidate. "I will stay out of it for now."
Pawlenty said he wants to watch the race and events unfold and has no time table to endorse.
"Everybody that's running is a friend of mine," Pawlenty said. Including Seifert, he said.
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ConcernedSmallBusinessOwner
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08-18-09 12:29 PM
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I am just guessing but it is my opinion that the two other posts on here are probably those that vote DFL simply because of the word Farm is there. Don't look at the candidate simply vote the party, how shallow!!
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ConcernedSmallBusinessOwner
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08-18-09 12:26 PM
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RuralRoute maybe you should run for public office, would you be able to be at the booth the entire time or would you need people to help you out as well. If he wasn't at the booth at the Lyon County Fair for the entire time, I am sure he was with his wife, children, etc. We are all busy and cannot keep everyone happy.
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ruralroute
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08-09-09 8:03 AM
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He's probably afraid of someone throwing a tomato or water balloon at him -- or someone asking him a question he simply can't answer.
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JasonsStorm
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08-08-09 4:43 PM
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No surprise that he wasn't at the booth at the Lyon County Fair. Just goes to show, that he is abandoning the region, in favor of the cities, for his party.
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