DFLers endorse Sailer in House 2B race

By Brad Swenson

Pioneer Staff Writer

      BAGLEY - Brita Sailer unanimously won the Democrat endorsement here Saturday in the state House 2B race after Quentin Fairbanks conceded.

      “I wish I had a life jacket - because there’s an ocean of blue out there,” Fairbanks, a Beltrami County commissioner, said as he addressed the convention, noting the bright blue T-shirts sported by Sailer supporters.

      Sailer now faces incumbent Republican Rep. Doug Lindgren of Bagley, who will be seeking a second term this fall.

      The potential race drew a large turnout - 188 DFL delegates in House 2B - to Bagley High School, but that race never materialized as Fairbanks decided earlier that he would concede to the more organized Sailer, a community activist who two weeks ago resigned her post as Hubbard County DFL chairwoman for the campaign.

      But he waited until after each candidate’s name was put in nomination, and nominating speeches held. Just before the first ballot vote, Fairbanks gave final remarks to delegates before making his announcement.

      “We do have a choice here,” said Fairbanks, a member of the Red Lake Band of Chippewa and tribal business planner. “It is an honor for a Red Laker and an Indian to be nominated. We have been left out; somewhere down the line the Democrats have forgotten the Indian.”

      But Fairbanks said that issues in the district know no racial boundary and are common. “We are all one,” he said. “We have the same problems. We all have the same damn problems and we have to fight to solve them.”

      After a slight pause, he took his campaign sticker off his shirt and said, “I will concede to Brita. She will be a good representative. I will back her and work for her on the reservation and in the county.”

      His remarks drew a standing ovation from both 2B and House 2A delegates - 212 all told - and was approached by a sea of blue T-shirted supporters thanking him. Among them were both Sen. Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, and 2A Rep. Kent Eken, R-Twin Valley, who earlier won unanimous endorsement for a second term.

      “I thank Quentin Fairbanks so very, very much,” said Sailer, an environmental consultant, which drew another standing ovation. “He’s just a gracious person. As Democrats, people from rural Minnesota have experienced many things, and I appreciate his experiences. Thank you, Quentin, for a class act.”

      Fellow Beltrami County Commissioner Jim Heltzer asked that an unanimous ballot be cast to endorse Sailer, and the delegates went home united, with Sailer standing with Skoe and Eken.

      “I never expected this day to be so quick,” Sailer said in her acceptance speech. “There’s no way I could be standing here today without so many of you. … I am amazed at how people have come together. I feel a sense of fire, because I want to go out and live up to all the things that all of you have said we need for this rural district.”

      Fairbanks didn’t participate in the endorsement process in 2002, when a five-way battle saw the endorsement go to Mark Edevold of Bagley. Fairbanks, however, challenged Edevold in the Democratic primary but lost.

      This year, Fairbanks announced he would seek the endorsement, and abide by delegates’ decision. He said Saturday in an interview that he thought Sailer was just more organized than he was for a campaign.

      “I didn’t have the organization,” he said, adding that he will seek another term as District 4 Beltrami County commissioner. “And I don’t have the time to put in to really get out as she has. Being county commissioner takes up a helluva lot of time, and I don’t think people realize that.”

      He believed he couldn’t focus on a House campaign while still serving his large county district, he said. The House 2B area includes most of Beltrami County outside of Bemidji, the western half of Hubbard County, Clearwater County and portions of Pennington and Polk counties.

      Fairbanks said he had decided to concede as he arrived at Bagley, and told Sailer so, “but I wanted to go through the procedures, rather than do it just prior to that. … We get unity and I think we’re going to right on.”

      Sailer said she will now hit the ground running in a campaign against Lindgren, knowing that the Republicans will work hard to keep the freshman in office.

      “I know that Quentin is such a quality person and he’s done hard work and many people were behind him,” Sailer said in an interview. “We expected to continue to work hard … I am so fortunate that I have a wonderful organization.”

      She has been campaigning since late last summer for the post, with the Park Rapids area stunned with redistricting, moving in 2002 from Senate 4 to Senate 2, and House 4B to House 2B.

      “I know it’s going to be a hard fight, but I’m going to do everything that I can to keep going,” she said. “I will spend my time out meeting people in the district. … I intend to be out shaking every hand in our district, at least once.”

      Education, housing and health care loom as large issues of concern across the district, she said. “I would love to be in any debates with my opponent.”

      Warren Larson of Bagley, a former Clearwater County commissioner and University of Minnesota regent, nominated Sailer for endorsement, while seconding speeches were given by Marilyn Heltzer of Beltrami County, Dawn Kovacovich of Hubbard County, an education activist and parent, and John Corbid of Osage, a former legislator.

      Sailer “will work on behalf of us on issues very important to us,” Larson said. “Brita stands for education, that is our future.”

      Heltzer said Sailer has a proven DFL track record, will be a hard-working candidate and will be true to her principles in serving in the Legislature. “She will take a sense of caring to the Legislature. Republicans put us in a downward spiral in greed and selfishness, and Brita will turn that around.”

      Joe Johnson of Redby nominated Fairbanks, saying he had the vision of the native American culture of making decisions based on their impact through the next seven generations, including investments in education and health care.

      “Quentin understands what it’s like to live in rural America and to struggle to survive,” Johnson said. “Quentin will take that message to St. Paul.”

      An unidentified man seconded the nomination, but didn’t wish to speak. After a few minutes delay, Nita Gross of Blackduck asked to speak in a seconding speech.

      “I came here to endorse someone else,” Gross said, “but in speaking to us, (Fairbanks) had specificity, not generalities.”

      Linda Bedeau of Little Rock, who sought the endorsement for the House 2B seat in 2002, also rose in support of Fairbanks, saying he had done much for equal rights for women, and has the credentials as a former business owner and as county commissioner.

      “Vote for somebody who will really take the initiative and Quentin is the one,” she said.

      Only 24 delegates came for House 2A’s endorsement, which was a quick affair for Eken, the incumbent.

      “It is an honor to carry the mantle of the DFL and I feel passionate about the issues for the DFL,” Eken said.

      The convention also elected officers for the next two years, with the Senate 2 chairmanship going to Ted Fiskavold of Detroit Lakes and the associate chairwoman’s post going to Jill Chisholm of Gary.

      Local Democrats go at it again today, with Senate 4 holding its endorsing convention 1 p.m. at Lincoln School. House 4A has Frank Moe and John Persell seeking the party nod, while William Weis of Pine River wants another run at the House 4B seat.

      Both seats are held by incumbent Republicans.

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