Minnesota State Senator Tom Neuville

Yesterday was not a good day for Republicans in Minnesota. My Republican Senate caucus lost a net of 6 seats, including two senior Senators who everyone thought would be easily re-elected.

Governor Pawlenty’s win was a stroke of luck, probably due to  miscues by AG Hatch in the last week of the campaign. And so, we will have divided government again, much like my first 4 years in the Senate, when Arne Carlson was Governor.

Some recall that Governor Carlson holds the record for number of vetoes in Minnesota. Given the huge majorities for Democrats in both the House and Senate, the veto threat will likely come into play much more during the next two years. Governor Pawlenty will have to change his leadership style significantly. Compromise will be expected on most issues.

I am grateful for my own victory ( 52% to 48%) over Jessica Peterson. I have the rural, western part of my district to thank for their support. Northfield produced a huge wave of voters for the Democrats this year. I have never lost Northfield by more than 1000. But, this year, Jessica Peterson won Northfield by about 2400. Republicans just couldn’t get their base out, and the DFL was highly motivated to cast an anti-George Bush vote. There is no doubt that national issues affected state legislative races this year. Sometimes there is nothing a candidate can do, once he puts on a partisan label.

Thanks to all of the voters who supported me, especially those in Scott, Sibley and LeSueur counties. I will keep my promise to work hard, serve honestly and respectfully, and remain accessible.

Congratulations to David Bly for his victory. We will likely differ on many issues. But, I will extend a hand to work with David, especially on local issues.

A special tribute to Rep. Ray Cox, who lost by only 57 votes, pending a re-count. It has been my honor and privilege to work with Ray for 4 years. He has worked so hard for the people in District 25B. Much of his hard work is never known or appreciated by the average citizen. His wife Ellen and family are kind and gracious people, who have sacrificed much for Ray’s public service. Thank you Ray and Ellen. Don’t stay on the sideline very long.

Finally, I want to thank Jessica Peterson for running a campaign which was largely free of unfair negative or personal attack ads. One only appreciates how hard and time-consuming a campaign can be, when you become a candidate. Jessica and I also disagree on many  issues, but we kept our disagreements civil. I think voters found that refreshing. Congratulations Jessica for running a very good campaign.  

This week, I ran ads in district newspapers quoting a colleague of mine, Senator John Hottinger, a St. Peter Democrat. John is retiring this year, and on May 20th,2006, he gave his “good bye” speech on the floor of the Minnesota Senate.

John spoke of his 1990 Senator “classmates” of which I am one. John said some very complementary things about me and our relationship. The remarks were public, and I have a video tape of the speech.

Among other things, Senator Hottinger said:

” I can honestly and forthrightly say that I have as much respect and trust in Tom Neuville as anybody in this body. I’ve served with him for 16 years. This is a great guy, and he deserves to stay in the Senate.”

Now, of course, Jessica Peterson had already been endorsed by the DFL when Senator Hottinger made his comments. Perhaps he hadn’t met her. It doesn’t matter. I didn’t take the comments to be an endorsement of my re-election bid this year. Rather, I took Senator Hottinger’s kind words to be a statement of his respect for me, and evidence that I am able to work well with him and other Democrats.

I had a conversation with John in June about the comments, at a luncheon in St. Peter. He told me that he was getting some calls from local DFL’ers objecting to his comments about me. I recall him saying something to the effect that, ‘what I have said, I have said.’ (although that may not be an exact quote.) I think I told John that I would probably use his words. But I didn’t believe that I needed to get permission, because his comments were public already.

Anyway, John has now endorsed Jessica Peterson. I expected that he would do so, since he is a loyal democrat. I am not the least bit offended that he has done so. He will continue to be my friend.

In this time of so much negative campaigning, I’m proud that John and I have always respected each other, even though our positions on many issues are very different. John and I are both Plainfiffs in a lawsuit which is now pending in the Court of Appeals, and which deals with a Separation of Powers issue involving appropriation authority,  between the Legislative and Executive branches. I  respect John, for being willing to join the lawsuit with me and about 30 other legislators.

In 2003, John provided 3 DFL votes (his and 2 others) to pass the budget, and prevent a government shutdown. I have publicly praised his statesmanship for doing so. John did in 2003, what Dean Johnson and other DFL’ers were unwilling to do in 2005- prevent a government shutdown. John lost his Majority Leader post because of this compromise in 2003. But, I will always have high regard for him, because he put the State ahead of partisan politics. I do the same by the way, and that’s why John has the same kind of respect for me.

I thought people would like to see the email that I send to John Hottinger yesterday, in response to his email to me. I did receive a very complementary 2nd email from John, but I’ll keep that one confidential, since I don’t have John’s permission to use it. (his kind words in the 2nd email were only sent to me, and are private). I will say though, that John affirmed the accuracy and sincerity of the words that he spoke about me in May of this year.

Here is my email to John Hottinger, in reply to his first letter, which endorsed Jessica Peterson:

Hi John,