Brodkorb's Condition 'Improved'; Blood Alcohol Test Results Pending

Once-prominent Republican staffer Michael Brodkorb was seriously injured in a crash in Mendota Heights last week.

The condition of former Senate staffer Michael Brodkorb, who was seriously injured in a car accident last week is improving, according to a statement issued by his wife, Sarah Brodkorb. “Michael’s condition has improved. We thank everyone for their concern, warm thoughts and prayers," Sarah Brodkorb said in a KSTP report. She also asked for privacy as he continues to heal. Brodkorb, a 39-year-old Eagan resident, was driving on Interstate 35E in Mendota Heights when his car struck a concrete median wall. Minnesota State Patrol officials say he was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the accident. A state patrol officer also detected alcohol on his breath following the crash. Brodkorb rose to prominence as the chief spokesman of the …

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Lakeville's Thompson Named Top GOPer on Senate Tax Reform Division

Thompson was also appointed to three committees: education, state and local government, and tax committees.

Sen. Dave Thompson, (R-District 58), of Lakeville, the newly appointed assistant minority leader in the senate, has received his committee appointments. During the 2013-2014 legislative session, Thompson will serve on the education, state and local government, and tax committees. "Education must remain a priority in our state, and I am prepared to do the necessary hard work to help make our schools more effective and our students more successful,” Thompson said in a statement. In addition, Thompson was named the ranking Republican member of the Senate Tax Reform Division, something he expressed excited about. "I am particularly honored to serve as the Ranking Republican Member on the Senate Tax Reform Division Committee," he said. Thompson…

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Dave Thompson Election Debrief: GOP Re-Election Strategy 'Backfired'

Dave Thompson told a GOP constituency group that the push for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, as well as an insistence by GOPers that there was a budget surplus both "backfired."

Newly appointed Assistant Senate Minority Leader Dave Thompson, (R-District 58), of Lakeville, debriefed the Republican Seniors of Minnesota last week on the 2012 election and the GOP’s re-election strategy, which he says "backfired." MinnPost reported that Thompson told the constituency group the push for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, as well as an insistence by GOPers that there was a budget surplus, had a negative effect. “I don’t think your average voter perceived that marriage in Minnesota has a problem," he was quoted by MinnPost as saying. Thompson went on, according to the report: “When people wake up and read the paper and they see deficit, deficit, deficit, deficit, and then the one person comes out of the …

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Local GOP MIA? Burnsville, Lakeville Conservatives Absent From Forum

At a transportation forum on Wednesday night, the south metro's DFLers outnumbered GOP candidates 9 to 2, with only one incumbent legislator in attendance, Shakopee's Rep. Mike Beard.

Many of the south metro's Republican candidates were noticeably absent on Oct. 17, when a transportation forum drew just two of the 13 conservatives who had been invited to attend—Eric Pratt and Rep. Mike Beard, both of Shakopee. And while there were many hopefuls at the forum, few actual legislators made an appearance. Of nine incumbents, only one (Beard) came to the event at Burnsville's City Hall. None of Lakeville's sitting Republican legislators were at the forum. All GOP candidates for Apple Valley, Rosemount, Eagan and Burnsville were missing as well. The DFL in Lakeville was fully represented, though several of the party's candidates from elsewhere were also missing from the forum, which sponsored by the I-35W Solutions Alliance, a…

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Kline, GOP Lead New Charge to Repeal 'ObamaCare'

Rep. John Kline (R-Lakeville) says the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold President Obama's health care law “underscores the importance of fully repealing (it)."

Minnesota GOP Caucuses Could Take On Added Importance

With the Republican presidential nomination far from being settled, the Feb. 7 caucuses could get plenty of notice.

While much of the attention in the political world is on South Carolina and its presidential primary today, Minnesota quietly is gearing up for its Feb. 7 caucuses. And depending on who comes out on top in today's GOP race, our state’s caucuses could grab some headlines. Minnesota is one of three states—Colorado and Missouri are the others—with either caucuses or primaries on Feb. 7. If no GOP candidate takes control of the presidential race in today’s South Carolina primary or the Jan. 31 Florida primary, Feb. 7 could become a vital date on the presidential nomination calendar. For a state-by-state calendar of this year’s presidential primaries and caucuses, click here. CAUCUS SITES ANNOUNCED This past week, Minnesota’s major political …

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Romney Wins New Hampshire; Minnesota, Lakeville Caucuses Coming

As Republican voters across the country, Minnesota, and even Lakeville, watched Mitt Romney win the New Hampshire primary, many probably wondered when they get to cast their vote.

Gov. Mitt Romney won the New Hampshire primary tonight, and with the U.S. Presidential election season now in full swing, it looks more and more like Minnesota will have a prominent role in selecting the Republican party's nominee to run for the White House. As our sister Patch in Salem, NH, is reporting, Romney easily won the New Hampshire primary election on Jan. 10. with Congressman Ron Paul finishing a closer than expected second, a little more than 13 percentage points behind. Gov. John Huntsman finished third. Iowa caucus surprise finisher Sen. Rick Santorum finished a ways back, some 26 points behind Romney. The numbers aren't a final total as precincts are still reporting results. Lakeville residents will get a chance to be a part …

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Romney Wins Iowa Caucus, But When's Lakeville's Chance to Vote?

As Republican voters across the country, Minnesota, and even Lakeville, watched Mitt Romney win the Iowa Caucuses by just 8 votes, many probably wondered when they get to cast their vote.

The U.S. Presidential election season became official last night as the state of Iowa held the first caucuses of the year. And as our sister Patch in Iowa City is reporting, Mitt Romney beat Rick Santorum by a mere 8 votes to win the state's primary. Texas Congressman Ron Paul finished a close third. Further back in the field, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann finished a rather distant sixth-place, but vowed to continue in the race. Newt Gingrich finished fourth, and Gov. Rick Perry finished fifth. John Huntsman finished last. The caucuses were primarily a Republican affair, as Democrats across the country will be nominating incumbent President Barack Obama for a second term in the White House. Lakeville residents will get a chance …

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Lakeville's Thompson Out as Senate's Assistant Majority Leader

New GOP leadership said the previous caucus leadership team, which included Thompson as an assistant majority leader, volunteered to step aside.

Last week, rumors were swirling that State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville, was the leading candidate to replace the embattled Senate Majority Leader Sen. Amy Koch (R-District 19) of Buffalo, who resigned as the GOP's caucus leader amid allegations of an inappropriate relationship with one of her staff members. But just before Christmas, Thompson announced he wasn't seeking the post, and on Dec. 27, Republicans announced an entirely new leadership structure for the Senate—a structure that doesn't include Thompson. He'll no longer be an assistant majority leader—at least not for 2012. At the Dec. 27 vote held by Senate Republicans in Roseville, the caucus elected State Sen. David Senjem (R-District 29) of Rochester, the new …

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Senate Leader Resigns, Thompson to Seek Post?

Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R-District 19) of Buffalo, resigned her leadership post on Thursday after a year at the helm. Lakeville's Republican Senator Dave Thompson is the assistant, and he hasn't ruled out running for the spot.

After one of the more meteoric rises in state politics, State Sen. Amy Koch (R-District 19) of Buffalo, will be stepping down as the Minnesota Senate Majority Leader. She made the announcement on Thursday. The move suddenly makes her assistant majority leader, State Sen. Dave Thompson (R-District 36) of Lakeville, the favorite to fill the leadership position. Thompson said he was "shocked" by Koch's resignation, but he will "continue to work for the citizens of this state." Thompson, who is a freshman member of the Legislature after being elected to his first term in 2010, told the Star Tribune he had not yet thought about who might lead the Senate, and didn't rule out his own run to become majority leader, but said he hadn't tought about …

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