Letter: Dotseth is not fit to serve in office

I had the honor to serve as our area’s state representative from 2013 to 2023 and I’m grateful for the trust voters gave me. Take note of a keyword: trust. The job requires plenty of it. Trust to collaborate with colleagues to solve problems and improve people’s lives. Trust to be responsive to the local needs of the district. Trust to serve in a way that reflects the values of constituents.

Disturbing information about our current representative, Jeff Dotseth, has recently emerged showing he’s undeserving of our trust to serve at the State Capitol. He’s faced criminal charges for domestic assault (pled down to disorderly conduct), with records highlighting a long history of violent behavior. The allegations even include kicking and punching a family dog. Shockingly, per court records, he’s claimed he’d own slaves if it was legal to do so.

Perhaps not surprisingly, there’s been absolutely no accountability for his behavior, either from himself or Republican leaders. He and his political friends are probably hoping folks either forget about what’s happened by the time they vote, or are so partisan that they will just look the other way as they cast their ballot. But this situation isn’t about left and right. It’s about right and wrong.

In 2021, records of domestic violence surfaced regarding one of my Democratic colleagues. DFL leaders from Gov. Tim Walz on down called on him to resign. When he wouldn’t, we removed him from our caucus. It’s a rare step, but the circumstances called for it.

I’m not suggesting we should expect our political leaders to be perfect. We are all flawed as human beings, so that would be impossible. However, domestic assault, violence against animals, and overt racism are disqualifying. Individually, any of these troubling examples bring reason for pause. Taken together as a whole, though, Dotseth’s record shows a total unfitness to serve.

It all comes back to trust, and it’s clear Jeff Dotseth has violated our trust. He should do the right thing and drop out of the race.

Mike Sundin, Esko