Desperation at the Schultz Camp

Desperation at the Schultz Camp!

Jail Supporters Vandalize, Steal Opponents Campaign Signs
Editorial and Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel

Chisago County Jail supporters find their fortunes sinking like a rock, diving head long toward the scrap heap along with incumbent Lynn Schultz’s reelection campaign.

You know your campaign is in deep doo doo, when you resort to vandalism and theft of opponents campaign signs.

Both Veronica Korby and Lora Walker have reported stolen and damaged signs in the same block where Schultz signs remain unharmed.

Korby is a relative newcomer to politics and has experienced her first taste of Commissioner Lynn Schultz’s version of “Minnesota Nice.”

Walker has been here before and understands the risk of opposing the tag team duo of Commissioners Robinson and Schultz.

The likely culprit of the vandalism is Lynn's long time crony Commissioner (Malicious Mike) Robinson. Robinson has stalked Lora in the past, though Sheriff Rivard refused to charge Robinson under Minnesota's Terrorist Threat Law.

Rivard needs Robinson's vote if he is ever to get a Jail named in his honor.

But Walker is tough, she can take it. Besides being tenacious and courageous, Walker is personable, witty and charming. When she “door-knocks,” people listen. Lora’s integrity and honesty shine through. Every “door knock” gains new supporters.

Veronica Korby has been making great strides as well, garnering support from many disaffected former Schultz backers.

However Commissioner Schultz is rarely seen in public, is afraid to “door knock,” for fear of having to defend her dismal record of broken promises made during the last campaign.

Jail supporting cronies place her yard signs as Lynn makes plans with Robinson to conquer Chisago County and divide the spoils between themselves and their good old boy cronies.

Lynn’s new campaign theme is reported to be “Corruption, Cronyism and Good Old Boy Politics, Forever.”

Today, South County, Tomorrow the World.

Glassel Meets the Press

Chisago County Press Questions and Answers

Hello candidate;The Chisago County Press will publish a Q & A voters¹ guide prior to theprimary. Please respond to the following questions and we will print your answers in the voters¹ guide.

The voters guide will run Aug. 28. This leaves the Sept. 4 edition of the paper, if needed for rebuttals or clarifications of Voters¹ Guide content.P.S. There will be a November general election voters¹ guide that will bepublished October 30, but more information will be forwarded to candidateswho advance.

Thanks for your interest in serving Chisago County.

Question 1. Identify one poor decision that the existing County Board hasmade on a specific issue. One that, if elected, which you would make aneffort to move the Board in another direction. Explain what¹s wrong aboutthe Board approach and what¹s right about yours.

Glassel: With so many questionable decisions by Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz and Robinson, it is difficult to zero in on just one.

However, the reversal of a previous board decision in reference to renewing the “Sunset Clause” concerning county participation in the landfill at Mora set the stage for many incompetent decisions to follow.

Lynn Schultz’s narrow 2004 victory over Lora Walker returned “Good Old Boy” Politics to the County Board. All decisions since that time have been made for the betterment of Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz, Robinson and their cronies, leaving the taxpayers to suffer.

50,000 hard working, responsible people make up Chisago County. The County is not the Board, it is not the Sheriff’s Department, it is not the County employees, it is “you,” and you deserve better representation.

County Government has lost focus on the people it is supposed to serve and has become a self serving entity unto itself. This is a direct result of the lack of leadership presented by Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz and Robinson, often referred to as the “Axis of Incompetence.”

Getting elected to public office does not make any of us smarter. To be a good representative, we must listen to the people, for the people are smarter than we.

We must have representation that listens to understand, not to respond.

The people of Chisago County need representation on the Board.

I intend to provide that representation.

Question 2. Which statement most aligns with your philosophy on the countyrole in the economy? The slowdown in the housing market presents an opportunity to step back andcreate environmental preservation and other zoning controls in ChisagoCounty. OR The county should address the housing construction slump byloosening zoning controls and offering incentives to developers.The housing market is so bad, any incentive offered to developers would not be affordable to a already over taxed county.

Glassel: The restrictions levied against farmers in the form of zoning is unconscionable and should be removed County wide. A farmer works his butt off, tilling marginal land and paying his taxes. When he retires or wishes to sell, he ought to be able to do as he pleases without Government interference.

Somehow, we survived from the mid 1800’s until the 1990’s without zoning. Many people fought to keep it out, but eventually succumbed to “city hall.”

Many folks work a lifetime to earn enough money to build a home in Chisago County. These are not subdivision buyers. These are people looking to share the good life Chisago offers. These folks want acreage, though many cannot afford to buy enough land as mandated by current zoning.

Chisago Lakes and Franconia Townships are closer to the Cities, hence more likely to attract people wanting to build on acreage. It is a good opportunity to relax zoning in these townships and let buyers and sellers, the free market, determine what is in their own best interest.

It should be noted for the record, that folks living in town do no wish to deny opportunity to their farming friends and neighbors in the Townships. The zoning ordinances concerning farmland are nothing more than inbred big city bureaucracy that has harmed our farmers and ranchers by denying them a free market for their property.

We don’t tell a farmer how to sell his corn. We have no right to tell him how to sell his land. We all prosper from a free market. Why can’t the farmer?

Question 3. Last year the County Board awarded the legal newspaper bid to the highest bidder; with Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz and Robinson being the majority vote. This was overturned when the county board reviewed legal advice that contracts must go to the qualified low bidder. (Gustafson abstained in second round of voting). Talk about your understanding ofwhat fair bidding means to a democratic system.

Glassel: This action by Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz and Robinson was not about fair bidding. It was about retaliation against the Press.

Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz and Robinson sought to punish the Press for articles written about them by the Press. This was a blatant attempt to censor free speech and cannot be tolerated.

This action by Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz and Robinson was reprehensible, despicable and blatantly un-American. They have a “date certain” with a destiny of their own choosing. Chisago County voters will not tolerate their retaliation come election day.

If we have a free press and free speech, we have Democracy. If self serving politicians like Commissioners Gustafson, Schultz and Robinson can silence free speech, we will succumb to tyranny.

It occurred to me, as I stood next to Commissioner Gustafson at Monday’s Forum, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with those in attendance, including Commissioners Robinson and Schultz, perhaps Commissioners Gustafson, Robinson and Schultz are pledging allegiance to some other Republic, for in the Republic for which I stand, free speech and free press are sacred and the retaliation of Good Old Boy Politicians will not stand.

When free speech is taken from one of us, it is taken from all of us.

Question 4. As you begin to door-knock and hear from voters, what is an issue people are bringing to your attention? Where do you stand on it?

Taxes and the New Jail. We can’t pay our taxes now, how the “BLEEEEEP” can we pay for a new jail?

First of all, I would like to thank Commissioner Rick Green for his courage and candor on the jail issue. To paraphrase Commissioner Greene, “The walls will crumble, before it (the proposed jail) can ever be filled.”

Commissioner Greene further indicated the lack of support for this project in his District. As presently planned, there is no public support for this project in any District.

This project is a boondoggle of colossal proportions and will become a debtor’s prison for the taxpayers Chisago County.

It will take jobs and money from our hard working, rank and file County Employees, which in turn, will reduce services to the residents of Chisago County.

Six years of incompetent leadership has left the County Attorney’s Office in a complete shamble. It was not thought possible that anyone could be less competent than Katherine Johnson.

Janet Reiter has proven us wrong.

While our kids are routinely jailed for underage drinking, the County Attorney’s Office has not sent a felony drug dealer to State Prison in memorable history, although a local man was recently jailed for five days due to expired license tabs.
Perhaps, it is time to prosecute the drug dealers, send them up the river and stop jailing non violent misdemeanor offenders.

If we run the drug dealers out of Chisago County, drug related petty crimes will cease.

It appears to me, that Sheriff Rivard, County Attorney Reiter and our Judges are running up the score against the young and the poor to coerce the taxpayers into building their very own debtors prison.

This project has no public support, is such a monstrous waste of taxpayer dollars, the motives of its few supporters must be brought into question.

It is simply the wrong boondoggle, at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

If Commissioner Gustafson, Robinson and Schultz are reelected, the jail will become reality and Sheriff Todd Rivard, along with the Commissioners will get their names on the cornerstone.

I propose to erect a memorial wall for every single tax dollar wasted on this project. It will be a large cornerstone, but Hell, we can afford it.

Glassel on Hostile Annexation

Glassel Denounces Hostile Annexation

It is the duty of a County Commissioner to fairly represent all residents of the District, whether town or township.

Whether we are town or township, we consider ourselves rural and have no interest in trampling upon the rights of others.

Hostile Annexation is a disgrace to the hardworking and intelligent people of Chisago County. Annexation should not happen without a vote by the people affected.

Please also read "Glassel, Gustafson
Likely To Win September Primary,
Carpet Baggers, Land Grabbers, Big City Politicians Not Expected to Advance"

Go Down about six stories.

Glassel On Taxes!

Taxes/Fees - 2 Minutes

The legislature has capped local government tax increases at 3.9% per year for the next three years. The current County budget requires increases well in excess of this percentage. How do you propose to solve this problem?

The legislature has done us a favor with this cap. The object is to force county government to live within your, the taxpayers, means.

With already high property taxes and the price of fuel and food increasing, many of our residents are also experiencing a budget crunch.

When these folks need to “something,” but lack the money, they get creative and do “something else,” as they have no well from which to draw more money.

There has been no such creativity on the part of current board to cut costs.

The tax and spenders simply go back to the well, raise your taxes and say “we had to do something.”

The wasteful ways of the tax and spenders have come back to haunt them in an election year. Once again, they look to the taxpayers to bail them out.

In tough times, the solution is always the same. If you ain’t got it, don’t spend it!

The various departments within county government must be held accountable for their spending as the Taxpayers have nothing left to give.

The tax and spenders need to understand that the good times are over. It is time to tighten our belts and cut the pork from the budget.

Doing so will benefit many hard working rank and file county employees, that live and pay taxes in the county. These folks are smart enough to know that any pay raise is quickly taken from them in the form of higher property taxes.

We take care of our own in Chisago County. Most county employees are one of us, and like the rest of us, are happy to be employed, knowing that we will ride out these tough times, together.

If the department heads cannot get their budgets in line, I have no problem making the cuts for them.


Do you favor increasing taxes/fees or reducing expenses/services to balance a deficit budget? If increasing taxes/fees, which ones and how much? If cutting expenses, what services would you cut?

Raising taxes and fees is out of the question. The people have nothing left to give.

Glassel on Overregulation!

In a time before zoning and governmental interference with private enterprise, two well known, local business ventures were established. Sven’s Shoes and Eichten’s Cheese Shop.

In today’s anti business climate, neither would exist.

Sven’s is a classic example of starting small and building as you grow. A close look at Sven’s building reveals the stages of his growth, from a small house to a fairly large retail and manufacturing facility, employing several people.

Joe Eichten’s harebrained scheme has turned into a local legend. From cheese to bison to gourmet restaurant.

25,000 cars, possibly 40,000 people a day drive through South County on Highway 8. All we need do, is remove the anti business restrictions and let our local entrepreneurs take advantage of the traffic count as Sven’s and Eichten’s have done.

We don’t need to waste taxpayer dollars luring business to the area. All we need do is loosen some of the anti-business restrictions currently in place.

If we get government off the backs of our local business owners and prospective entrepreneurs, create a business friendly environment, the business tax base will increase and we will prosper once more.

Agriculture has historically been a major economic activity in Chisago. As the overall economy shifts and changes, we ought not to lose sight of its value to contribute to the overall good of our area. What are some of the things you think we can do to retain agricultural activity and enhance the rural character of the area?

The people of Chisago County are its greatest natural resource. It is our people that provide the rural character of the area.

Many city folks work a lifetime to become one of us by purchasing a piece of land and building their dream with us.

Chisago County farmland, while beautiful and picturesque, is marginal at best, when compared to farms in Southern Minnesota.

Much of our county is better suited to raising kids than corn.

It is simply not possible to subsidize a local farmer to the point where he can compete with farms elsewhere.

We ought not lose sight of the fact that Government does not own this farm land. It is owned by private citizens and its owners know better than we, its best purpose.

We need to get government off the backs of our farmers and let them determine for themselves whether to raise corn or sell pieces of their property to others to raise kids.

Either way, we all prosper.

Glassel Well Suite to be Commissioner

What skills and abilities are needed to be an affective County Commissioner?

What skills and abilities do you have? Why are you running? What are your priorities? How do you propose to secure consensus from the other Commissioners to implement your priorities?

The Current Board is largely reactive and does not provide the leadership required by the citizens of Chisago County.

Commissioners Gustafson, Robinson and Schultz have controlled the Board since 2005 and are incapable of thinking beyond the box of inbred, Good Old Boy Politics.

A lot of folks are experiencing tough times right now. Tough times require tough leadership. Leadership that will find solutions to our problems. We cannot continue to throw money at our problems. We must find the root cause of our problems and solve them without raising taxes.

The wild tax and spending spree of the current board has placed our county in jeopardy. We cannot go back to the well and force tax payers to pay for the wasteful ways of the County Board.

For any Governmental Body, taxpayers are the collective goose that lays the golden egg. Without taxpayers, government itself would cease to exist.

If we continue this wild tax and spending spree, we will kill the goose that laid the golden egg.

The residents of Chisago County are not subjects to be ruled. The citizens of Chisago County are hardworking and intelligent, requiring little of our government.

If we are to prosper, we must engage the awesome brainpower of the people in an open and honest debate about the issues facing us.

Getting elected to public office does not make any of us smarter. To be a good representative, we must listen to the people, for the people are smarter than we.

We must have representation that listens to understand, not to respond.

The people of Chisago County need representation on the Board.

I will provide that representation.

Glassel Speaks about Township Roads

Township Roads

It may be a long time before the county can build and pave more roads. The well is dry. If we continue to tax and spend, with no return on investment, we will kill the goose that laid the golden egg, the taxpayer.

As new and more responsible board members get a handle on the budget crisis, the picture will improve.

At that time, we must address the imbalance that exists between North and South County.

It is my understanding that MnDot assesses each Commissioners District by miles of road and traffic count to determine the percentage of county road funds to be spent in a given district.

Commissioners from Districts 1, 2, and 4 bring home the bacon and get their rightful share of road building funds.

For years, District 3 taxpayers have gotten the short end of the stick.

For some unfathomable reason, Commissioner Gustafson has sent way too much of our road and bridge money to District 5 in the Rush City area to help Commissioner Mike Robinson.

Many unpaved Township Roads in Franconia and Chisago Lakes experience far heavier traffic than roads currently being paved in the Rush City area.

In some way, this imbalance must be corrected.

While good roads in all parts of the county do help us all, we must focus on those areas most likely to increase our tax base.

Paved Township roads in South County will increase property values much sooner and will likely attract more new residents than anywhere else in the county.

We need this growth, we need to assist our townships in the road building process.

Traffic Counter Installed on 260th Street

Walker, Glassel
Make a Difference for South County!

As if by magic, a traffic counter appeared at the intersection of 260th and Olinda Trail, leaving many Franconia residents to wonder, what the “Bleeeep” is going on?

Jonathan Glassel is running for County Commissioner in District Three.

Franconia Township is in District One which is currently represented by Lynn Schultz. Schultz is facing a tough reelection campaign, opposed by the ever popular Lora Walker.

On Monday, August 18, 2008 Glassel made the following statement at a debate forum of District Three Commissioners held in Center City:

“Many unpaved Township Roads in Franconia and Chisago Lakes experience far heavier traffic than roads currently being paved in the Rush City area."

Commissioner Lynn Schultz was in attendance, jumped up and shouted “That’s a lie!”

Undeterred, Glassel continued:

"In some way, this imbalance must be corrected. Paved Township roads in South County will increase property values much sooner and will likely attract more new residents than anywhere else in the county. We need this growth, we need to assist our townships in the road building process.”

Also in attendance was Commissioner Robinson, a close crony of Shultz and Gustafson, Glassel's incumbent opponent in District Three.

The traffic counter, installed by County workers at your expense is intended to prove Glassel wrong.

Once again, Lynn and her good old boy cronies listen to respond, to defend their dismal records, rather than to understand. Franconia and Chisago Lakes Township residents “shell out” both Township and County Road and Bridge construction taxes. The township collects just enough to maintain your gravel roads.

Your County Road and Bridge taxes get spent in Rush City, paving County roads with low traffic counts that benefit only Schultz’s all too close alliance with Commissioner Robinson.

Glassel and Walker are fighting to keep your township tax dollars working for you, providing you with “bang for your buck,” building a better Township, building a better County, rather than paving roads that serve Commissioners Robinson’s favorite bars, pubs and taverns.

Lynn Schultz quickly became a “Good Old Boy” politician and does not represent the people of the County. Her wasteful tax and spend ways benefit only herself and her cronies.

Commissioner Robinson is not the brightest bulb on the proverbial tree and cannot get reelected unless he brings a lot of "bacon" home to District Five.

To maintain his questionable contracts with the County, Gustafson needs support from Robinson and Schultz to prevent County Attorney Janet Reiter from prosecuting him on gross misdemeanor charges that could leave him imprisoned for a year.

Robinson and Schultz have "been in bed together," politically speaking, since her election in 2004 and look the other way as long as Gustafson sends District Three Road and Bridge money to Rush City.

The past four years of this arraignment incumbent Commissioner Gustafsonhas sent about 16 million South County tax dollars to Rush City.

"Bacon" to keep Robinson in power and himself out of jail.

Such are the ways of the Good Old Boy Politicians.

They get the bacon, while the taxpayer gets "porked."

Dump the Good Old Boys

Vote Glassel, Walker

September 9th Primary

Victim or Bully

Victim or Bully?

Commissioner Robinson Puts the "D" in Dysfunction

Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel

Mike is up for reelection, which means it is the year of the victim. After three years as bully, as if by magic, the victim emerges.

Once again, Commissioner Robinson will invoke his own "pity party" and attempt to induce 2,600 co-dependants to vote for him.

Robinson will claim to be victimized by the Press, Ben Montzka, Lora Walker, Bob Carter and a host of other enemies, real or imagined. In Mike's demented world, you are either friend, foe or terrified.

Until Monday night's debate, I took reports of Robinson's outlandish, terrorist behavior with a grain of salt, giving the Commissioner the benefit of the doubt.

Robinson had no real need to attend the forum of District Three candidates. Neither did Commissioner Schultz. It was clear from the outset, the purpose of their visit was to intimidate and bully their political opponents.

My father, God rest his soul, was a "dry drunk." Dr. Hovde, who treated my father for many years explained his condition as a "character deficiency." Over the years, my siblings and I learned to compensate for his behavior in differing ways.

I chose not to become a co-dependant and did not buy into the "pity party" for my father, nor would I stand for his bullying tactics.

Nor will I buy into Commissioner Robinson's "Pity Party".

There is but one way to deal with a bully. Summon your inner courage and confront the bastard. Never show fear and you will find that you have nothing to fear but fear itself as a bully is nothing more than insecure hot air.

Certainly Robinson's threats to assassinate Commissioner Montzka, his recent stalking of Lora Walker, threats against the children and families of his political enemies all crossed my mind as Commissioner Robinson blocked my entrance to the Forum.

As I sidestepped his rotund physique, he moved to block me again. And I said "Mike, if you have something to say, just spit it out, just spit it out!"

He let me pass, only to sit in the front row glaring at me. Mike did not know, that long ago, I choose not be intimidated by his kind, not by my father, not by the school yard bully and certainly not by Mike Robinson.

I told Mike, "My kids are grown and live in Texas, there is nothing you can do to them, there is nothing you can do to me." Mike continued to glare as I repeated myself.

Commissioner Robinson moved to a booth and was quickly joined by Sheriff Rivard. Two gun toting, uniformed deputies stood in back of the room.

At that point, I was not so sure there was nothing Robinson could do to me.

You see, Sheriff Rivard has "bitten into" Robinson's dysfunctional condition and has joined the "pity party."

Rivard has investigated Robinson's political opponents in the past. No doubt he could find the location of my kids and grandkids in Texas and pass that information on to Robinson.

It is sad to say, that a man I once held in such high regard has allowed himself to become Mike Robinson's Secret Police.

Sig Heil!, Sheriff Rivard!

Even more troubling than Sheriff Rivard’s descent into “Good Old Boy Politics,” perhaps is the following question:

Who does Commissioner Mike Robinson’s “Pit Party” serve?

Certainly not the tax payer, not the people he purports to represent, not Chisago County.

Proposed Chisago County Jail a Boongoggle

Glassel Clear Winner of Last Night's Debate

Sheriff Rivard Unable to Intimidate Glassel

Sheriff Rivard, with uniformed Deputies in tow were unable to dissuade Glassel from taking a stand against the jail. Despite menacing glares from Rivard and his cronies, Commissioners Robinson and Schultz, Glassel joined Commissioner Rick Greene in denouncing the proposed jail as an outlandish waste of taxpayers money.

Glassel withstood taunting and other bullying tactics from Commissioner Robinson, but was not deterred from making the following speech.

"First of all, I would like to thank Commissioner Rick Green for his courage and candor on this issue. To paraphrase Commissioner Greene, “The walls will crumble, before it (the proposed jail) can ever be filled.”

Commissioner Greene further indicated the lack of support for this project in his District. As presently planned, there is no public support for this project in any District.

This project is a boondoggle of colossal proportions and will become a debtor’s prison for the taxpayers Chisago County.

It will take jobs and money from our hard working, rank and file County Employees, which in turn, will reduce services to the residents of Chisago County.

Six years of incompetent leadership has left the County Attorney’s Office in a complete shamble. It was not thought possible that anyone could be less competent than Katherine Johnson.

Janet Reiter has proven us wrong.

While our kids are routinely jailed for underage drinking, the County Attorney’s Office has not sent a felony drug dealer to State Prison in memorable history, although a local man was recently jailed for five days due to expired license tabs.

Perhaps, it is time to prosecute the drug dealers, send them up the river and stop jailing non violent misdemeanor offenders.

If we run the drug dealers out of Chisago County, drug related petty crimes will cease.

It appears to me, that Sheriff Rivard, County Attorney Reiter and our Judges are running up the score against the young and the poor to coerce the taxpayers into building their very own debtors prison.

This project has no public support, is such a monstrous waste of taxpayer dollars, the motives of its few supporters must be brought into question.

It is simply the wrong boondoggle, at the wrong place, at the wrong time."

Glassel's moving speech was greeted by thunderous applause from those in attendance.

Land Grabbing Don Taylor Shipwrecked

Land Grabbing Don Taylor Shipwrecked!

Chisago City Mayor Don Taylor,

State Representrative Jeremy Kalin Opponent

Stranded on Desert Isle

Story by Uncle Lars Bob

In his youth, Don Taylor was the sole human survivor of a shipwreck and was marooned on a desert island with a pig and a bull mastiff.

A year passes and Don's sexual urges begin to get the better of him, and to his horror he finds himself becoming more attracted to the pig. However, his various attempts at a romantic liaison with the pig are thwarted by the mastiff, which begins to growl menacingly whenever he tries to approach the pig.

On numerous occasions Don finds the pig alone and the moment he begins to undress, the mastiff always appears to spoil his fun.

Two days later a ship sails by and Don lights a signal fire, but to his dismay the ship exploded into flames and sank to the bottom of the sea.

One hour later Taylor spots a young lady desperately trying to reach the shore and notices a fin approaching behind her. He wades into the water, beats off the shark with a piece of driftwood and drags the woman to safety.

"Thank you," she wails, "you've saved my life. If there is anything I can do for you, anything at all to repay you, I will gladly do it"

He looked earnestly at the woman as a sliver of salt water trickled slowly down her cleavage and said, "Actually, there is one thing that you could do for me."

The woman looked at him intently, lowered her voice and said, "Anything, anything"

"Right," says Don, "would you take this idiot dog for a walk?"

When politicians chase pork, they often forget about the people.

Glassel, Gustafson

Glassel, Gustafson
Likely To Win September Primary,
Carpet Baggers, Land Grabbers, Big City Politicians Not Expected to Advance

As the story goes, Curt Flug, during his 2004 bid to unseat Bob Gustafson as County Commissioner inquired of the “Old Timers” hanging around Poik’s Barber Shop in Lindstrom about his chances of winning the election.

One of the “Old Timers” reportedly replied, “With a name like Flug, you couldn’t get elected dogcatcher in this county. If you changed your name to Flugson or Flugberg, you just might get yourself elected dogcatcher.”

In reality, it is not the lack of a Scandinavian surname that defeated Flug. We regularly elect people with such odd names as Montzka, Reiter, Rueter, Greene and Walker to public office.

In 2004, Flug won the Primary with about 400 votes to Gustafson’s 350, yet Flug got clobbered in the General Election, losing to a scandal plagued Bob Gustafson by 1,000 votes when 5,000 votes were cast.

Flug did Ok in some areas, however, when it came down to the “nut cutting” the locals held their collective noses and re-elected Gustafson, the candidate with local roots.

Glassel and Gustafson were raised and attended school locally. Flug and the other candidates are relative newcomers to the area, and without local roots, or a concept of what it means to be local, will have difficulty selling themselves to the vast majority of residents within the district, whether those residents live in town or in the township.

98% of the people who have moved to Chisago County did so to escape the inbred bureaucracy of big city life. They adopt, and are adopted by the local residents, quickly becoming one of “us.” The remaining 2% are intent upon bringing the inbred bureaucracy of the big city to us local “hicks” and become one of “them.”

While Glassel is clearly one of “us,” Gustafson was a “no show” when Lindstrom businesses needed protection from “them,” i.e. Flug and Company. Gustafson is a savvy career politician, wants to keep his job and is not about to enrage the “whining minority” that controls City Hall by taking a stand for “us”.

We have good quality of life in Chisago County. While our villages and countryside are beautiful and picturesque, it is the tough, resilient and independent nature of our residents that gives our community its “rural flair.”

This fact is totally lost on Flug and the others who seek to saddle “us” with more inbred, big city bureaucracy.

Unfortunately, it is our rural nature that keeps “us” out of politics and allows “them” to gain power. 98% of us live in Chisago County because we mind our own business and don’t like being told what to do.

Consequently we abhor the thought of “sticking our nose where it don’t belong” by telling others what to do or what not to do. So, we stay out of politics, leaving ourselves vulnerable to the Carpet Baggers, Land Grabbers and Big City Politicians.

Not so long ago, a Carpet Bagger came from the West. Coveting his neighbor’s property and tax base, the Land Grabber “sucked up” to the local purveyors of inbred bureaucracy and became Mayor of Chisago City.

The unsuspecting residents of Wyoming Township had built a quiet, peaceful and profitable community without help from the inbred elite. Taxes were low, services were good and all was well.

Chris DuBose brought strange new words to us country “hicks.” Hostile and Annexation. While annexation was nothing new, to force one’s will upon another was, for lack of a better word, hostile and did not sit well with a majority of the locals.

Most of us living in Chisago County, whether living in town or township, consider ourselves “Country.” We “tote our own water.” Excepting when a neighbor needs help, we stick to ourselves and stay out of politics.
DuBose knew this and used our “rural flair” against us. With chicanery, lawyers and the courts, most of Wyoming Township was annexed to Chisago without a vote by the people affected.

After annexing an area larger than itself, over the objections of both city and township residents, DuBose wisely chose not to seek reelection as Mayor. After a two year hiatus from elected office, DuBose now seeks to abuse power while representing us “country hicks” at the county level.

Pilgrim, that dog ain’t gonna hunt in these here parts!

During the past 18 years, Gustafson has built his power base by handing out millions of your tax dollars to few select governmental and quasi governmental agencies.

If God, Himself was running for County Commissioner in District Three, “Boondoggle” Bob Gustafson would still get 300 votes at the primary.

The 2%, the inbred elitists may be able to coerce 600 people to vote for Flug, DuBose, McMahon or Stignani leaving Glassel to find just 300 new voters.

Flug, DuBose, McMahon or Stignani cannot defeat Gustafson in November, leaving “us” to endure four more years of the stench of “Good Ole Boy” Politics.

You Can do something about it, vote for Glassel at the Primary on September 9th.

Glassel Stands For Chisago County, Glassel Stands for You!
Will You Stand With Glassel on September 9th?

Just 300 Votes Will Return Chisago County to You!
Together, we will build a better county
for our children and our children’s children.

I’m Jonathan P. Glassel, and I approved this message. Actually, as most of you know, I wrote it, too.

What the “BLEEEEEEP” Does a County Commissioner Do?

What the “BLEEEEEEP” Does a County Commissioner Do?
Story by Uncle Lars Bob

Chisago County has 50,000 residents. The County is divided into five Districts of about 10,000 people each.

Each District elects one representative, called a County Commissioner to the Board of Commissioners.

Basically, the County Board is a legislative body. As with any legislative body, its main purpose is the redistribution of wealth. In other words, it takes money from you and gives it to someone else.

The taxpayers hire (elect) five ordinary schmucks to take about 56 million hard earned dollars away from you, and spend it.

The current board consists of a truck driver, a career politician, a lawyer and two farmers.

As you might guess, a commissioner is like a guy who just won the lottery. He has many friends, all of whom want your taxpayer dollars.

These friends are known as lobbyists and are already paid by you, the taxpayer, to run various departments in County Government.

As you might guess, every department head wants to bring home the “bacon.”

As a Commissioner, this is the perfect opportunity to extract politic loyalty from the department heads, by giving your tax dollars to them.

This builds a Commissioner’s political power base to assure his or her own reelection.

As a Commissioner, it is very important to gain the favor of the County Attorney and the Sheriff.

If you think the County Attorney may prosecute you for your illegal contracts with the County, you should give her a big raise to assure her loyalty.

If the Sheriff is covering up your arrest for drunken driving, you may have to build a new forty million dollar jail to keep him on your side. After all, a DUI could be disastrous for your political career.

However, the Sheriff and County Attorney are at your disposal should you need to investigate, intimidate, harass or prosecute your political enemies.

A Commissioner is paid twenty seven grand a year. Not bad for a part time gig. You also get paid mileage and per diem for every county function you attend, plus free medical and dental coverage and a pension, all paid for by the taxpayer.

But the biggest perk is the monthly MCA (Minnesota County Association) meetings.

You actually get paid to attend a drunken orgy. The taxpayers pay for the County’s membership and you get free booze, all you can drink.

Of coarse, you wouldn’t want to risk another DUI, so you stay in the swankiest downtown hotels and run up a $500 tab on your County Credit card.

It’s also a good time to escape the “old ball and chain,” carry on extramarital affairs and spend some quality time with other drunken commissioners at the expense of the taxpayers.

But the best part of being a commissioner is the retaliation you can levy against your opponent’s supporters.

You get to instruct the tax assessor to reevaluate the property of all those folks foolish enough to put out yard signs for your opponents. To the victor goes the spoils.
I wish I could find a punch line for this story, but it’s really not very funny, is it?

Return Integrity to the County Board

Vote for Glassel on September 9th.

Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter Prosecutes Underage Drinkers as

County Wastes Your Money Jailing Teens
Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter

Prosecutes Underage Drinkers

asDrug Dealers Go Free
Opinion and Political Commentary by Jonathan P. Glassel

We live in a jail happy society. We focus on punishment as a some sort of perverted means of prevention.

In reality, we punish only ourselves and our kids.

One in one hundred American males and one in fifteen black men are in jail or prison at a staggering cost to taxpayers.

To assure their own reelection, Sheriffs, Prosecuting Attorneys and Judges justify their own existence by filling jails and prisons with less than evil, non violent people, at your expense.

Chisago County Attorney Janet Reiter specializes in jailing underage drinkers.

We are being asked to fund a Forty Million Dollar jail to house teenagers for “Minor Consumption” and other petty “crimes”.

In this day and age, a rich kid is one whose parents are still involved in their life after the age of 18.

Rich kids don’t go to jail, but poor kids do, with alarming regularity.

Jamie (not her real name) is a pretty, petite and intelligent young lady. Someone you would be proud to have as a granddaughter.

She is ninety five pounds (soaking wet) of pure “public menace,” recently sentenced to ten days in the Chisago County Jail by Judge Swenson for underage consumption of alcohol.

Rita (not her real name) is tall, slender and could have been a fashion model in another life. Rita ran afoul of the local authorities and moved to California, got a job and began to get her young life in order, only to be extradited back to Chisago County by County Attorney Janet Reiter, where she spent the next forty two days in our jail, at your expense.

Jamie’s boyfriend, Todd (not his real name), keenly aware that Judge Swenson lost a son to a drunken driver, has decided to waive his right to a public defender, take the prosecutor’s deal and spend the next thirty days in Stillwater Jail at the expense of Chisago County taxpayers. By entering a guilty plea, Todd has been allowed to choose Stillwater jail. His friends tell him the food and other conditions are much better there.

Butch (not his real name) has been in jail for nearly fifty days. Butch was at his own “going away” party before joining the Marines. Another young man started a fight. Butch lost control and beat the snot out of this kid.

Butch’s Public Defender and the Prosecuting Attorney want to get him out of jail and into the military. The County Attorney is willing to drop the charges, but Judge Swenson refuses and the young man is led out of the courtroom in handcuffs and chains.

Ages 18 to 21 are trying times for young adults. Old enough to vote, but too young to drink. Responsible for their own actions but often unable to comprehend the ramifications of those actions. Seeking equality and fairness, but jailed for drinking alcohol while drug dealers operate in full view of authorities.

As Jamie and Todd nervously await their fate, a lawyer in an $1,800 designer suit and $500 shoes enters the court room. A short time later, a 55 year old man, 6’ 5” tall, weighing some 350 pounds, handcuffed and dressed in prison orange fatigues is escorted into the courtroom by Sheriff’s Deputies to be arraigned on felony possession of narcotics.

The prisoner is cool, collected and unconcerned. He is not a user. He has been here before. He is a drug dealer.

Judge Swenson does not recognize the well dressed lawyer, but immediately recognizes the name of the firm the lawyer represents. Judge Swenson’s sour demeanor changes abruptly. The Court reporter stops typing as Judge Swenson and the drug dealer’s lawyer embark upon a witty and chatty conversation lasting 3 to 4 minutes. The pleasantries over, the arraignment continues.

The confiscated dope will be sent to BCA (Bureau of Criminal Apprehension) to be analyzed and weighed to determine, if, in fact, it is dope at all and if the quantity in possession results in felony or misdemeanor charges filed against the drug dealer.

Mere formalities as the deal has already been cut. County Attorney Reiter and her staff are completely out classed and ill suited to challenge the drug dealer’s $500 dollar per hour lawyer.

The drug dealer is too smart and self assured to have been caught with a felony amount of dope.

In a day or two, he will cop to a misdemeanor possession charge and walk.

Mercifully, Jamie and Todd are absorbed in their own thoughts and problems and do not grasp the significance of what has just happened.

Todd will go to jail, the drug dealer will walk, Judge Swenson will get his stock tip, Reiter’s Staff will “high five” and celebrate Todd’s conviction while you scrimp and save to pay for it all through your taxes, while your kids get hooked on drugs.

And the wheels of injustice continue to turn in Chisago County.