I will use my column in the DNTrib for my handout.

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It will contain these sections all on a 8×11 inch copy paper – probably tri-folded:


We face the arrogant ignorance of a Caesar-like president’s war on public schools, as he takes steps toward shuttering the U.S. Department of Education, silencing science and history, neglecting troubled children, and withholding congressionally approved financing. Coming, as I do, from a family of Republican teachers, I am red hot.

In 1971, I joined the party of President Abraham Lincoln, a man who was embarrassed to have received only a few months of public schooling. That year, I saw Republican legislators join Democrats to pass the “Minnesota Miracle.” It was a law that gave the children of property-poor school districts equal financing to what was available in rich communities. That Republican Party is no more.

Last year, I knocked on a thousand doors and told everyone it was my intention “to be Donald Trump’s worst nightmare in northern Minnesota.” I may not be able to do that as a protest candidate for Congress, but returning to the Duluth School Board may be the next best thing.

I persevere. I lost six elections for public office before I wore voters down and they elected me in 1994 to the first of three four-year terms on the Duluth School Board. I’d been an active PTA dad, organized Chester Park carnival games, and threw myself into the School Board.

At the time I was reading a book called, “Savage Inequalities,” by Johnathon Kozol. The neglect of poor children in American schools it described made me so furious I could never bring myself to finish it. I was glad to live in Minnesota.

As a newbie, I discovered that most of my fellow board members were intent on experimenting with charter schools. Even in a state with equitable school funding, some children fell through the cracks. I knew the experiment was going to be controversial, but I was determined to give it a try. A new School Board severed ISD

709’s connection to what is now the Northstar Academy but not before I could guarantee it was given a chance to prove itself. During the COVID epidemic, I renewed my teaching license and substituted at Northstar Academy to fill in for sick teachers. I hope I didn’t embarrass my grandson too much.

Today’s Republican Party, built on churches that endorse Republicans from the pulpit, doesn’t like my liberal Eisenhower politics. My only option for public service was a nonpartisan local office.

I treasured my first eight years on the Duluth School Board. That ended in 2004 with a school district that bused every child who lived more than a mile from school, a 10% reserve fund, and Minnesota’s best student-to-teacher classroom ratio. My work seemed complete.

And then the next School Board denied taxpayers a vote on a quarter billion-dollar plan to rebuild our schools. I raised a $100,000 bond to challenge a no-bid contract in court, only to have my attorney disqualified before we could make the case. The Red Plan ended up doubling the advertised cost to a half billion dollars.

Finally, let me add that second-graders love to hear me read “Me First” and “Pig Pig Grows Up” in their classrooms.

Harry Welty is one of five candidates for two At Large seats on the Duluth School Board. Four will advance from the Aug. 12 primary to Election Day on Nov. 4. All the candidates were invited by the News Tribune Opinion page to write a column ahead of the primary.

paid for by Harry Welty at his own expense

NOTE: If I fail to get past the primary I will contemplate this as my last campaign. If I survive and win the November general election I will strongly consider a fifth and more serious congressional campaign to fight for a Republican party that values truth, justice and the American Way. If I do so, I will challenge our traitorous Congressional Trump toadie, Pete Stauber with the authority voters bestow on me as an elected Duluth official who has never kept anything of importance hidden from the public.

I have not set up a mechanism to raise money for this school board campaign. I have all the lawnsigns I need and I can afford a few ads in the Duluth Reader and the printing of the letter above to take door-to-door. But I will want at least $50,000 to start a serious congressional campaign by May of next year or the prospect of help raising that and much more to rid the 8th District of the traitor, Stauber.

It may be premature but here is a button to make donations to my existing Congressional campaign account, Welty for Congress:




About the author

Harry is a ferociously good natured eccentric in Duluth Minnesota who detests traitors dressed up as Uncle Sam. You can find somewhat better edited writings of his at the Duluth Reader "contributors." page. The URL is:

https://duluthreader.com/contributors/h/84/284-harry-welty