LETTERS to the editor

Volunteer mediator wanted

To the editor:

The new Carlton School Board has been seated. While there may not be the votes yet for consolidation, the energy feels more positive. Time will tell if logic, vision and reason will prevail over emotion and tribalism.

The Wrenshall board is ready to consolidate now under a two-site option, and they have indicated so with a formal letter. The last Carlton board indicated that they were ready to talk about consolidation via a formal letter. The current board chair is trying to carefully lay down the process of engagement. She appears to have two board members who are absolutely opposed to consolidation with Wrenshall under a two-site option (Sue Karp and Tim Hagenah). She apparently has two other board members that are ready to consolidate tomorrow (Jenn Chmielewski and Ann Gustafson). Chair Lehto has been for consolidation with Wrenshall in the past, but has not voted that way over her past two-year tenure. The remaining board member (Sam Ojibwe) is new. He has yet to make his own way.

What the Carlton School Board needs, and has requested, is a mediator to help them engage the Wrenshall school board. Wrenshall is simply ready to roll.

I am making a public request for an attorney or judge or other qualified individual, retired or otherwise, to step forward and donate time to help these districts talk to each other. Please contact the Carlton School District office and let them know you are willing to volunteer to mediate a consolidation discussion. This is a chance to make a very meaningful difference in the lives of of 800 children, hundreds of teachers and staff, and thousands of taxpayers.

Dave Chmielewski, Blackhoof Township

Former senator endorses Lee

To my former constituents:

I was honored to serve as the Senator for what is now Senate District 11 from 1971 through 1997. I have stayed out of politics for many years and focused on my music. I loved serving my community and I believe that Michelle Lee would be our best choice for the DFL endorsement and the DFL primary on Jan. 22.

Michelle has come into our homes as an honest, trusted news anchor for many years. Her fact-checking investigative experience and community involvement will be an asset to the Senate. Michelle won Carlton County in the Congressional primary with 46 percent of the vote in a field of five candidates. She is a proven winner!

Please join me in supporting Michelle Lee for the endorsement on Jan. 19 and primary on Jan. 22.

Florian Chmielewski, Sturgeon Lake

Lee supports the whole DFL platform

To the editor:

We support longtime Senate District 11 resident Michelle Lee as the candidate for Senate District 11 because she vocally supports and promotes the whole DFL platform, which defines us Democrats as who we are and what we stand for. Because of that, we know where she stands on ALL the issues that affect us. It is what UNITES us in the DFL, not what divides us and all of us wrote it. The DFL platform supports ALL labor. The GOP’s platform promotes “right to work,” which is actually the right to less pay and benefits. A GOP candidate supports “right to work” by caucusing with the GOP.

Tom and Jan Kurhajetz, Willow River

Lee can win for DFL

To the editor:

For those of you who have watched “Harry’s Gang” over the years, there’s no hiding the fact I am a strong Democrat. With the announcement by Governor Walz of his appointment of Tony Lourey, our state Senator, to the position of Commissioner of Human Services, we Democrats needed to find someone who was a strong candidate who had good name recognition, and could win this race in February.

Michelle Lee is that person. She is a great Democrat who has come to the monthly meetings since retiring as anchor for KBJR. She attended the Women’s March on Washington, and it lit a fire in her to serve. She supports a strong educational system with more emphasis on trades in high school and technical colleges, where Michelle went to become a broadcaster. Not every good job requires a four-year-college degree.

Michelle is clearly a friend of the environment and labor, and I believe in her!

Patty Murto, Cloquet

Pipelines best for safe, affordable energy transportation

To the editor:

I believe most Minnesotans agree that a modern civilization depends on energy for providing gasoline for our cars, reliable electricity, and heat for our homes and businesses. We take these and many other things for granted on a daily basis.

Having energy supplied and transported at a fair price helps to ensure that people of all income levels can afford to get to work, raise families, and put food on the table. And while we would like to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, most of us believe that new reliable, economical technology is needed to do so.

Until sensible alternatives become available, a U.S. and Canadian supply of oil is preferred over over oil that comes from the Middle East and other countries. Let’s support and utilize our North American resources and continue to work toward being self-sufficient.

Pipelines are the safest, most affordable, and most efficient method to transport oil. If pipeline capacity is too low, oil prices increase for all of us and shifts oil transportation onto railroads and highways. This also means more tankers are coming from the Middle East — all of which are more dangerous and more carbon-intensive than pipelines. Pipelines are the best choice for oil transportation.

Enbridge’s Line 3 replacement project will replace an aging pipeline that is susceptible to leaks. Replacing this pipeline before it causes harm to people or the environment is simply the right thing to do.

The Line 3 replacement application went through a stringent, arduous, and lengthy review process in Minnesota. All parties were invited to participate in the process, and provided testimony to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The evidence was weighed, an informed decision was made, and now we need to move forward to complete this infrastructure project.

Todd Rothe, Duluth

Editor’s note: Letter writer Todd Rothe is president of J.R. Jensen Construction, which works in energy and pipeline construction.