Move Democrats Back to the Majority

03/30/2005

Dear DFL Members and Supporters,

I am running for DFL Party Chair for one reason: TO MOVE DEMOCRATS BACK TO THE MAJORITY IN 2006! That’s my vision for the DFL. 

We were outstanding in 2004, garnering almost 100,000 more votes than Republicans, and I believe that we can translate that energy into majorities at the state and federal level in 2006 so that Democrats may act upon Democratic ideals once more. We can’t do it in the minority. Now, let us regain the majority to lift our state and country back on the track of working for the common good. 

As a former three-term member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing the good folks of Hopkins, Minnetonka and St. Louis Park, and before that as vice chair of the Hopkins School Board, I am deeply honored to have had the unanimous support of the DFL Party in all of my six races. That tells you how hard I fight for Democratic principles! 

The purpose of Party Chair is to win races and regain majority so that our leaders can act on our Democratic values in government. I know what it is to be a candidate and win. I have also helped candidates win throughout my life, working at the grassroots level for progressive issues. This past year as Coordinator of the Elected Public Officials for the John Kerry Minnesota Campaign, I had the privilege of serving as Community Director for 32 diverse, grassroots constituency groups across the state. The only way we achieve majority is to invite enough constituencies and communities to bond together to form that new majority. 

Democrats are “We the People”. Democrats fight against powerful interests and stand up for the common good. Democrats empower people through the tools of world-class education, healthcare access for all, transportation, job growth, a clean environment and public safety. We must begin to articulate our Democratic ideals of freedom, equality, peace, liberty and justice for all. As a Democratic family, there may be times when we disagree on some issues, but we share the same noble goals and can work shoulder-to-shoulder to achieve those noble goals. It is not about moving to the left or moving to the right. It is about lifting this Party up to a higher purpose. Together we will formulate and articulate our Democratic message. 

The DFL Party Headquarters must be responsive and accountable to our leaders and local units across the state, acting as a resource to our grassroots and DFL candidates.  We have inherited this incredible infrastructure of Senate Districts, County Units, City Units, Congressional Units, caucuses, candidates and leaders. Now let us empower Democrats to be successful in every district so that we may govern once more. We will use state-of-the-art technology to provide the tools, information, training, and communications structures necessary to equip our local units to win races. As DFL Party Chair I will be hands-on, on the ground with you, raising the profile of the Minnesota DFL in all parts of Minnesota, transforming the culture of the DFL to a welcoming culture, regaining trust and winning elections so that we may act on our Democratic values in government. 

The time is now to expand the image of our DFL Party, inviting all constituencies and communities to form a new majority. Having represented my district and the State of Minnesota in the legislature, having traveled the four corners many times with the House Education Committee, the Higher Education Committee, the Health and Human Services Committee, the Commission on the Economic Status of Women, having voted on all the issues facing our state, having toured and talked with Democrats throughout Minnesota during this campaign, I take a global view of the entire state. We cannot win any more seats in our cities of Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth--- we must win now in the rural, exurban and suburban districts.  As your DFL Party Chair, I will continue to travel the whole state, partnering with local DFL units to elect Democrats everywhere-- so that we may act on Democratic principles once more. 

Finally, we can no longer run sprints every two years right before elections. We must run full-time marathons with a full-time chair whose single focus is to win elections so that we can take back our state and our country. I hope to be that leader. 

Please join me! Your help is essential to achieve success for Democrats in 2006!  You can CONTRIBUTE online, LEARN MORE about my goals and strategies by visiting http://www.bettyfolliard.org, and SIGNUP TO VOLUNTEER. 

TOGETHER WE WILL MOVE DEMOCRATS BACK TO THE MAJORITY! I humbly ask for your support. 

Best,

http://www.bettyfolliard.org
612-868-3511