The weather was perfect, the food was delicious and the conversations were lively at Sunday's (August 4) SD49-SD50 Family Picnic. More than 80 Republicans from Edina, Bloomington, Richfield and neighboring areas enjoyed the shaded setting for the event at Bush Lake Park.

We also heard brief, informative and inspiring messages from our distinguished guests: 
Sarah Patzloff (Edina School Board), MN Sen. David Osmek, Patti Meier (Chair, CD3), MN Rep. Greg Boe, Rob Barrett (US Senate Candidate), Kendall Qualls(US Congressional Candidate), and Ryan Kulka (Bloomington Mayor Candidate)

Thanks to the volunteers who organized the event, prepared the food, and made this a memorable afternoon.

Continue reading for summaries of what our guests said, and also more picnic photos.

Sarah Patzloff                                        Sheila (on left)  and Kendall Qualls (center)

Per the city website, the chief judge of Hennepin County is accepting applications to fill a vacancy on the Bloomington Charter Commission. Applications will be accepted through 4 p.m. on August 30. Applications may be obtained by calling Bloomington Civic Plaza at 952-563-8782, or you may apply online by CLICKING HERE and filling out the Boards and Commissions Application Form.

The Charter Commission is charged with studying issues and making recommendations relating to the city’s governing charter. The commission meets annually on the first Thursday evening in May and additionally as needed, if directed by the Bloomington City Council to study a particular issue.

More than 50 enthusiastic Republicans of all ages walked together for the Edina July 4 Parade.  We carried signs supporting our causes.  We handed out candy, smiles, and wishes for  “Happy Fourth”.  And came away eager to share the experience again next year.  

Thanks to our organizing team who brought signs & water for the walkers, and candy to hand to kids.

Thanks to Carolyn Wenger for pulling the little red wagon for our gear.

Special thanks to those who carefully drove vehicles behind walkers and between sidelines of eager, candy-seeking kids: Joel Quinnell on his motorcycle, Carol Kerr in her red Mercedes convertible carrying the elephant balloon, Tom McCabe in his black F-150 Super Cab, and John Ward in his red Mustang convertible.

Thanks to everyone who walked with us.  

And to the many, many well-wishers who cheered and applauded us from the parade route. 

We invite all area Republicans to plan to walk with us next year … you already know the date!

More photos below.  We also note that the Star Tribune chose to use 3 photos of our parade group to illustrate a Sunday, July 13 front-page article about the RNC's focused support of campaign efforts in Minnesota for 2020. CLICK HERE to read that article.

The Candidate Search Committee of the Senate District 49 Republicans met with Bloomington businessman Ryan Kulka for an extensive interview in June. Following a discussion of his background, his sense of Bloomington, and his readiness for the upcoming campaign, the Committee recommended that Republicans in Bloomington support Ryan Kulka for Bloomington mayor in the upcoming primary on August 13 and in the general election on November 5.

Kulka is the founder and president of Bloomington-based Social Boom L.L.C., a social media and digital marketing agency. He is a professional DJ and musical performer. He is also partner in Gray Duck Vodka which is a Midwest regional liquor/spirit company.
Ryan Kulka was born and raised in Bloomington. He attended Bloomington Jefferson High School and went on to study Entrepreneurship at St. Thomas University.

Randy Sutter sat down with Ryan for a 15-minute interview this past week, that Noah Harber captured on video. To view and listen to the video, CLICK HERE.

More about Ryan Kulka can be learned from his campaign website https://www.kulkaformayor.com.

If you like what you hear, go on-line and sign up for a lawn sign. They can already be displayed ahead of the primary. He will also be dropping in for Pints & Politics at Poor Richard’s Commonhouse on July 8. This is a great opportunity to meet him, talk with him one-on-one, and pick up one of his lawn signs.

Early primary voting is open now, if you wish to cast your ballot before Primary Election Day on August 13.

SD49 Republicans urge you to vote for Ryan Kulka for mayor!

The Bloomington League of Women Voters will be hosting a Primary Candidates Forum July 10.  Doors open at 5:30 PM, the Mayoral Forum is 6-7 and the City Council Forum is 7:10 - 8:40.  The event will be held at the Bloomington City Hall's Black Box Theater, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd, Bloomington. It will also be recorded for later broadcast and online viewing.

This information seems to only be published on the LWV Bloomington Facebook site, as of July 1, not yet on their local or state website.

Winning political campaigns don’t “just happen”.

Yes, it takes candidates that have the passion and drive to get out day after day to greet voters. But as former Minnesota Congressman Jason Lewis is saying, it also takes you. You know what the upcoming election cycle means for our state and our country. Have the choices ever been clearer? Don’t be sitting at home after the election wishing that you had done more. Commit now to volunteer.

Don’t know what you can do? Training is available now throughout our area to help candidates and campaign staff volunteers prepare for elections this Fall and into 2020.

Monday evening, June 17, hundreds of local Republican volunteers  (some pictured at left) attended initial training for the Trump 2020 campaign, which also included a plan for focus on state / local elections. You'll be hearing more about #LeadRight from #mngop.

SD49 is holding training Wed. June 19 for our precinct leaders and volunteers that details how we'll build support for our city candidates this year, and a base going forward.

MN GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan will discuss training available during her June 25 Telephone Town Hall 

And Americans for Prosperity is offering grassroots-focused training June 28/29.

Continue to watch the “Events Beyond SD 49” area of our website for additional opportunities.

Now is the time to gain the skills and knowledge to help our candidates win.

The City of Bloomington has two openings on its Housing and Redevelopment Authority. Experience in housing advocacy, real estate development, and/or project financing is helpful.

The Bloomington HRA is involved in the provision and development of affordable and mixed income housing, revitalization of the City and its housing stock through redevelopment and rehabilitation, and the utilization of public funds to create affordable housing opportunities and to improve/redevelop blighted properties.

Skills and experience that are beneficial in this role include a general familiarity with financial statements and budgets, knowledge of the development process, some familiarity with affordable housing programs, and experience in the provision of housing or other services to underserved and lower income households.

This volunteer role includes a $50 per-meeting stipend. Applicants must be a Bloomington resident. Interested individuals are asked to apply online. Applications are due no later than 4:30 pm, Wednesday, June 19.

To apply online, CLICK HERE

The Edina Crime Prevention Fund has chosen Sgt Kevin Rofidal as one of two Edina police officers for special recognition. He joins Edina Detective Joel Moore in being named the 2018 Mike Siitari Officers of the Year. The honor is named after former Edina Police Chief Mike Siitari.

The Edina Sun Current quotes current Edina Police Chief Dave Nelson as saying, “I fully support these two being recognized. Both of them have been with the department for many years, and the things that they do for the department are so great.”

Kevin Rofidal is credited with applying for a grant for the city to purchase a Bear Cat armored vehicle in 2003 for use in the west metro. He worked to reintroduce a K-9 unit that had been disbanded for decades. He started the K-9 retirement fund, pushing for community support and finding donors. He is the department’s self-appointed historian.

Bloomington Mayor Leaving Office after Five Terms

As the opportunity to file as a candidate for Mayor and City Council in Bloomington closes, the name of Gene Winstead has not been posted.  Winstead  (pictured at left) served as chairperson of Bloomington’s Planning Commission through the development of the Mall of America and first served on the City Council in 1995.  He was elected as the city’s Mayor in 1999 and appears planning to close out his tenure after five terms in office in 2019.

Bloomington and Minnetonka will hold municipal elections this year.  The window to file as a candidate closed today, June 4.

Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, and Minnetonka will all be holding elections for some of their school board seats this year.  The  filing period for local school board races is coming up in late July.

Here are the Bloomington and Minnetonka candidates who filed (in alphabetical order by office).  All candidates were listed as non-partisan.

Bloomington Mayor

• Tim Busse
• Sharon Christensen
• Rainer Einsmann
• Ryan Kulka
• Dan Niziolek

Bloomington City Council At-Large

• Jenna Carter
• Brian “Clem” Clemens
• Judy Gelina
• Larry James Hotchkiss

Bloomington City Council District 1

• Dwayne A. Lowman
• Johnathon McClellan
• Al Noard

Bloomington City Council District 2

• Shawn Nelson
• Susan “Hofmeister” Woodruff

Minnetonka Special Election for City Council At-Large B

• Susan Carter

Minnetonka City Council Ward 1

• Brian J. Kirk

Minnetonka City Council Ward 2

• Rebecca Schack

Minnetonka City Council Ward 3

• Mike Happe
• Bradley Schaeppi

Minnetonka City Council Ward 4

• Kissy C Coakley
• Paul J Lehman

We are again offering precinct leader training on June 19 at the SDF49 GOP office in Bloomington (9201 E Bloomington Freeway, suite G). Look for the Service Quality Institute sign. The training is for Precinct Chairs/Co-Chairs, SD49 Vice-Chairs and active volunteers who want to make a difference and grow the Republican Party.

The training is from 7:00 to 8:30 PM.

All Senate District 49 precinct chairs and co-chairs should plan to attend a training session. If you were among  the 30 people who participated in the training that was previously held in May, attending this session is optional. If you know of someone that would like to get involved and wants to make a difference, encourage them to come.

If you plan on coming, please call Jim Bowen at (360) 927-8301 or email at [email protected]. If you didn’t attend the previous session and can’t attend June 19, please set up an individual training session with Jim Bowen.

The training provides a plan for organizing SD49 and updating our voter database this year. There is a huge amount at stake in the local races this year and in the state and national races in 2020. As we heard from multiple sources after the 2018 election—NOW is the time to start laying the groundwork for a successful 2020!