I kind of wish Erik would have run for Mayor

Representative Simonson signed on to the legislation that would have made what happened to Art impossible for a school board to pull off again. That bill will have to be revisited next year because those of us who lobbied for it got started too late in the session despite finding quite a few supporters.

Here is an email he just sent to the Board:

Erik Simonson
11:33 AM (3 minutes ago)

to anne.harala, arthur.johnston, me, judy.seliga-pu., michael.mierni., rosalie.loeffl., william.gronse., william.westho.
Good morning,

A wise man once told me to never meddle in the affairs of local elected officials. And I generally adhere to that.

I am writing to you as I sit in St. Paul, on the last constitutional day of the legislative session, where I and each of my House DFL colleagues have elected to stand with Governor Mark Dayton and not accept what would be a disastrous E-12 education bill. I have decided, that even a risk of a special shutdown is worth standing strong for the future of our children, and I am not interested in seeing districts such as ours make even more difficult decisions about how to address budget shortfalls. After all, it is about the children.

Now, I am asking you all, to please, please find a way to set aside your differences and move forward together. Much damage has been done, both personally and as a community. And we are all to take part of that blame. But now is not the time to blame, now is the time to stand up for our children and move ahead. Showing solidarity now, will go far in repairing good will in our community.

I know, trust me I know, there is unresolved differences. I am only asking as a friend, if nothing else as a friend to the school district, to please, drop the issue that purports inflammation and move ahead on behalf of the children.

Thank you for your time. And best of luck in difficult times.

Representative Erik Simonson
Room 221 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155

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