Tom Rukavina for Minnesota Governor

Leading Minnesota in a Refreshingly Honest Way

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:04:46 +0000

It’s about time we had a Governor who will be upfront with the people.

I think you deserve to know what I fundamentally believe in as you consider voting for me as your next governor. In a few words, I want to give you a sense of my governing principles and how I will lead Minnesota.

#1 I want a government that is responsive to people, that will provide basic services to our community, one that is affordable, and one that is based upon fairness, including a new fair tax system that increases revenue so we can end the deficits and unpredictability our state faces.

#2 I want to be a leader for our state in creating new jobs and a growing economy. I want the new green economy to take off in our state by investing in our strengths—innovation, biofuels, and solar energy.

#3 I will lead by example encouraging all Minnesotans to buy American, buy Minnesotan and buy locally.

#4 I am going to promote Minnesota’s agricultural greatness and encourage citizens to work on and enhance our great agricultural economy by adding value to our famers’ products.

#5 I want to renew our transportation system. It needs to react quicker to the changing needs of our residents and to do it safely and efficiently. Let’s fill our potholes, plow our streets once again, and make sure another bridge won’t collapse.

#6 I am going to strive for equality in education funding and create new opportunities for innovation for our PreK-12 educational system while promoting what I believe is key in public education: letting teachers teach our children instead of testing to meet the demands of state and federal bureaucrats.

#7 I am going to eliminate bureaucracy. I am going to start by major reform in our higher educational system. There is going to be new accountability for our tax dollars. I want our kids- and folks going back to college or training- to have a good education that is affordable, accessible, and technologically innovative and inspiring. Money will be for the students, because that is where it belongs.

We are going to make Minnesota a brainpower state once again. I’ve said from the start that a good education leads to a good job and with a good job, lots of other problems Minnesotans face take care of themselves.

#8 I am going to fight for a fair and understandable healthcare solution on the federal level so our citizens have affordable and comprehensive care- and if it fails at the federal level, I’m going to work towards a long-term Minnesota solution that is within our budgetary means.

#9 I am going to stand up for people who don’t have strong voices. I always have, check my record. I will encourage good wages. I am committed to reducing criminalization, courts and corrections while reducing juvenile incarceration and criminal record rates so our young people have a chance to succeed. Fairness to minorities and a welcome to new residents will be the policy of the Star of the North state.

#10 I’ll be kind to people who don’t agree with me. Even Republicans.

P.S. When I’m governor, we will tackle serious issues, but we’ll do it with a sense of humor and a lot of passion!

RUKAVINA EARNS ENDORSEMENT FROM COMMUNICATION WORKERS OF AMERICA’S MINNESOTA STATE COUNCIL

Jacob — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:44:21 +0000

St. Paul, MN (January 29, 2010) – One of Minnesota’s largest and most active
labor unions has endorsed DFL candidate Tom Rukavina for Governor. The
Communications Workers of America Minnesota State Council gave Rukavina its
unanimous support. The Council represents over 8,000 members in Minnesota’s
communications, manufacturing, newspaper, television and transportation
industries.

“Tom has always been the unequalled champion for working families and labor,”
said CWA President Tim Lovaasen. “Because of his efforts on our behalf, the
CWA Minnesota State Council knows he will make a great governor for all the
people of Minnesota.”

“Tom will bring Minnesota back to its rightful place as one of the leading states in
education, transportation, communication, health care and job creation,”
Lovaasen said.

“I’m so excited about this endorsement, it makes me feel five and a half feet tall,”
said Rukavina. “I feel honored to have an organization like CWA support me.
The work they do is critically important to our state and for them to recognize me
as their choice for governor makes me extremely proud.”

Rukavina has received strong support from other labor leaders and
organizations. Last week he received the endorsement of former AFL-CIO
president Dave Roe. Rukavina also has the support of five United Steelworkers
locals and former Transportation Communications Union leader Tom Dwyer,
among others.

Kick/Straw Poll

Jacob — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:08:45 +0000

Cereal Ad

Jacob — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 07:47:57 +0000

RUKAVINA FOR GOVERNOR CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES BETTER THAN EXPECTED 2009 NUMBERS

Jacob — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:32:08 +0000

Virginia, MN (January 5, 2010) – Representative Tom Rukavina’s campaign for Governor has announced that over 1,100 citizens have contributed to his campaign and he has raised over $135,000 in less than five months. Rukavina announced his fundraising totals a month earlier than required by the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board.

With at least 1,133 campaign donors, Rukavina has nearly equaled the efforts of fellow gubernatorial candidate House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher. Last week, in the St Paul Pioneer Press, Kelliher said she had raised money from 1200 people. “Hey, I’ve nearly matched her,” said Rukavina. “I’m not the powerful House Speaker or the powerful Tax Committee Chair, but I’m a powerful little candidate with a refreshingly honest approach with people. That’s why I am going to win.”

With over $60,000 cash on hand, Rukavina added, “We have just geared up our fundraising and we expect January to be our biggest month. We’ll have the resources to be very competitive at the DFL convention.”
Rukavina also said, “I’m not wealthy and I’ve worked in the legislature for the unemployed, college students, and families earning the minimum wage. I’ve stood up for buying American and economic fairness. My constituents aren’t the bankers or the Fortune 500 businesses. That’s why I’m so proud that so many average Minnesotans have supported me on this campaign. I’m in it to win for them!”

“I can’t afford a big contribution but Tom Rukavina’s passionate support of progressive issues motivated me to contribute what I could afford. I know him to be a sincere, hardworking, honest person,” said former State Representative Katy Olson of Sherburne. “As governor, I believe Tom will make a difference in the lives of average folks.”

Details on campaign contributions and expenditures will be available later this month and will be filed with the Campaign Finance Board.

United Taconite Steelworkers Endorse Tom Rukavina

Jacob — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:59:50 +0000

Eveleth, MN (December 16, 2010) – Tom Rukavina picked up another key union endorsement last night. United Steelworkers Local 6860 representing 415 miners at United Taconite in Eveleth, MN gave their support to Rep. Tom Rukavina and his candidacy for Governor. This is the fifth Steelworkers local to endorse Rukavina.

“Tom has fought hard for the values we hold dear. He has long been a champion for organized labor and steelworkers in particular,” noted Local 6860 President John Motley. “He understands the importance of fostering and preserving good paying jobs and impact they have on communities here in northeastern Minnesota and throughout the state.”

“Furthermore, he passionately cares about issues that impact all workers like healthcare and workplace safety,” added Motley. Rep. Rukavina has been a leading advocate for a thorough study of the unusually high occurrence of mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer, found in miners from northeastern Minnesota.“

“I’m honored to receive Local 6860’s endorsement for governor,” said Rukavina. “As a member of the United Steelworkers and a former miner, I have a first-hand appreciation of challenges these men and women face everyday. It is important that we retain these jobs here in Minnesota. As Governor, I will work tirelessly to create more high-paying blue collar jobs here in Minnesota, address the high cost of healthcare so that the workforce can receive higher wages and companies can retain more employees and always prioritize workplace safety.”

Become a Delegate

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:12:27 +0000

Sign up now to be a delegate for Tom!

The first step in Tom’s journey to the Governor’s office is the DFL endorsing process. This is where you can have the biggest impact on who is the DFL candidate come next November. We need your help to make sure that Tom gets to the convention with enough delegates to secure the endorsement. Get your friends and neighbors to come with you to the precinct caucuses on February 2nd and become a delegate to your local party unit convention, where you can then go on to be a state delegate.

If you are interested in supporting Tom in this way, we will provide you with all the information you need to start the process. And if you can’t get all the way to the state convention, don’t worry we still need your help on caucus night and at your local party unit convention. Sign up now for more information!

Please click here to go to the sign-up page.

Win

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:16:28 +0000

RUKAVINA CALLS FOR A PUBLIC VOICE AT THE POLYMET PUBLIC HEARING

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:46:39 +0000

RUKAVINA CALLS FOR A PUBLIC VOICE

AT THE POLYMET PUBLIC HEARING

Aurora, MN (December 10, 2009)—During last evening’s PolyMet hearing at Mesabi East schools, Rep. Tom Rukavina, DFL candidate for Governor, called for giving the public a voice in a hearing that was not prepared to do so. Originally the state indicated that attending agencies and the company would answer questions from the public. In reality, the hearing wound up being closed to the public’s voice and their questions.

During Rukavina’s scheduled testimony, he criticized the decision by the DNR for not letting the public express their feelings directly to state and company officials. “If I were Governor,” said Rukavina, “the public would have been allowed to speak.”

After the hearing he added, “This is certainly another step for Gov. Pawlenty. After trying to usurp the legislative process by overextending his unallotment authority, the Governor and the DNR are now trying to revamp the public hearing procedure in this state by not allowing an open exchange of ideas by our citizens. That’s wrong. The public deserves to be heard on this and all important issues facing the State of Minnesota”.

Last night’s hearing was attended by more than eight hundred citizens, representatives from PolyMet Mining, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, amongst others. The intention was for the public and agencies to provide information about the draft environment impact statement for the project.vv

Meet gubernatorial candidate Tom Rukavina

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:27:25 +0000

Meet gubernatorial candidate Tom Rukavina
Minneapolis Young Democrat Examiner Sarah Friedman discusses Rep. Rukavina’s history and his current run for Governor.

Source: www.examiner.com