Move to purple isn't an anomaly

Reliably blue and labor-centric throughout recent history, the city of Cloquet is experiencing something a lot of population centers are encountering: an encroaching red hue.

Five of six precincts in the city contributed to the state's Democratic Farmer Labor sweep in major offices, including governor. Those precincts also favored Jen Schultz in the 8th Congressional District, despite the college professor and former state legislator being clobbered by incumbent Rep. Pete Stauber, a Republican from Hermantown.

But one precinct, Cloquet's most rural that encompasses residences along north Highway 33 and North Cloquet Road, veered mostly Republican. Named Ward 5, Precinct 1, voters choose Stauber, incumbent Republican Sen. Jason Rarick, and Republican Jim Schultz, who lost statewide to Keith Ellison in the attorney general race.

To better understand the city's choices, the Pine Knot spoke with Bruce Ahlgren, a former Cloquet mayor, school board member and county court administrator.

"We're falling into the same things most of the country is," Ahlgren said. "Once you get out of the main city and into the rural areas, they're turning more red than blue."

Ahlgren pointed to the election of Republican Jeff Dotseth to represent District 11A in the state house as proof of the reddening of rural Minnesota. Dotseth's name was everywhere - on flyers, yard signs, and even sponsoring online crossword puzzles and word games Ahlgren is fond of playing.

"He spent a lot of money to win that seat," Ahlgren said. "But they did a wonderful job. They say if you keep seeing a name, it sticks in your head."

Dotseth, from Kettle River, lost all Cloquet precincts but still won Carlton County, beating Democratic opponent Pete Radosevich of Cloquet in the county, 8,105 to 7,637, en route to an overall 51 to 49 percent victory, including some precincts in rural St. Louis and Pine counties.

"I told Mary Murphy about 20 years ago that the Democrats have lost their message and they better get it back," Ahlgren said. "My prediction 20 years ago was correct."

Murphy, a DFLer from Hermantown who has been in the legislature since 1976, fell 35 votes short of re-election, losing to Republican Natalie Zeleznikar of Hermantown in the House District 3B race. That race is headed to a recount, but the point remains: once Ahlgren noticed his hunting buddies start denying the Democrats, it was only a matter of time until he was the only Democrat left in the hunting shack.

"It's a tough deal," he said, noting the debate over precious metals mining and clean water. "The environmentalists divided the (DFL) party, and they couldn't get their message across."

Carlton County court administrator for 30 years, on the Cloquet school board for 12 and, after that, 16 years as Cloquet mayor, Ahlgren, 72, has seen politics from a lot of perspectives. He weighed in on a series of election-related topics:

-On county voters overwhelmingly passing a half-cent sales tax to pay for the $66 million Justice Center coming to Carlton in 2024: Ahlgren called it a "no-brainer" to avoid putting the bill onto property taxes. He once helped push for a sales tax increase for Cloquet, but the mechanism to fund major projects has become so commonplace it's bound to have a shelf-life, he said.

"We can't keep putting up a half-cent sales tax every time we want something," he said.

The city's sales tax will rise to 8.875 percent next year, with voters also approving a city increase to pay for improvements to Pine Valley recreation area and two indoor hockey arenas.

- On the tight mayoral race in which incumbent Roger Maki beat another accomplished city politician in challenger David Bjerkness: "I served with both people when I was mayor, and they're both very good people," Ahlgren said. "Either one would have been a plus for Cloquet. ... Both have the city of Cloquet at heart. Neither one has a personal agenda. It was win-win."

- On newcomer Sarah Plante Buhs winning the most votes among five candidates for three seats on the Cloquet school board: "I'm glad a lot of younger people are stepping up to the plate," Ahlgren said. "She worked hard for it, too. I voted for her. She would have been my top choice. She'll do a great job. She'll do what's right for Cloquet."