Hiiraan Online

by Sadik Warfa
Thursday, August 18, 2011

Last year, I ran a historic campaign for Minnesota House Representative District 61A against an entrenched fifteen-term incumbent. It was a transformative candidacy that stunned the insiders. My grassroots campaign attracted the attention and admiration of political observers from across the district. I walked virtually every neighborhood in the community, talking with thousands of people across the district engaging hundreds of new volunteers and activist in the political process, and communicating many of them online via social networks. During that time, I began to understand why so many are clamoring for change. My friends, these are tough times and the people of district 61 that I have met are facing economic difficulties. They worry about their future and the well-being of their neighbors. They hope the economic situation will pass so they can focus on better days ahead. And they are angry about the unwillingness of our political parties to work together, as evidenced by our second government shutdown in eight years. I believe we need more leaders like me to restore the people’s faith in our government so we can focus on creating jobs, keeping taxes fair and helping small businesses. We need to go beyond the blame game to find a way forward for all Minnesotans.

As someone who cares about the future our state, I bring a fresh yet practical perspective to Minnesota politics. I am big idea person and consensus builder. My ideology is “what works” I am proud American who wants to serve a state that has given me and my family so much. I am the kind of leader who aspires to work with both sides of the aisle. I believe in the importance of getting along with my political opponents and doing what I can to reduce the political rancor that has made it so hard to get things done in our government. I believe in the mission of government and I am troubled by its many failures at both the state and the national level. If I am elected as state senator of district 61, my top three priorities will be: first, to create more jobs; second, to continue and improve upon Minnesota’s heritage of strong educational investment; and finally, to strive for Health Care for all by containing the costs and increasing its coverage. To make progress in these and other areas, we need to end the gridlock so we can work out compromise solutions to our many problems with competence and integrity. If we can renew our political culture, it will be win-win situation for everyone. As president John F Kennedy said, “A rising tide lifts all boats” I believe very much that a rising tide can lift all boats. I plan to spread this message across our district. I ask my fellow Minnesotans Democrats who reside in district 61 in Minneapolis to give me their time and their vote in the upcoming state primary on September 13, 2011. I hope to show you through my campaign that I’d be a very good state senator for you. Thank you and god bless America.