Former Maplewood mayor will challenge McCollum for DFL nomination

Diana Longrie intends to challenge U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum for the DFL nomination in the Fourth Congressional District. The former Maplewood mayor made the surprise announcement at Saturday’s Senate District 53 convention.

“If you’re happy with the status quo, then continue to back Congresswoman Betty McCollum,” Longrie tells PIM. “You know what you’ve got with the status quo. I feel very strongly about what we need to do as we move forward.”

In particular, Longrie cites the war in Afghanistan and the corporate bailouts of corporations such as AIG as two areas where U.S policies need to change dramatically. She expects to run against the five-term incumbent in a primary even if she fails to get the party’s endorsement.

Longrie served one term as mayor of Maplewood. She lost a re-election contest last year to Will Rossbach. Longrie also challenged incumbent state Rep. Leon Lillie in a DFL primary in 2008, but garnered just 20 percent of the vote.

McCollum has not faced a primary challenge since her first congressional run in 2000, when she easily defeated three other DFL candidates. The five-term incumbent has won at least 58 percent of the vote in her last three re-election contests.

“I know it’s an uphill battle,” Longrie says. “The chances of getting the endorsement may be slim.”

There is also expected to be a crowded Republican scrum to face McCollum in the general election. According to Bill Jungbauer, a vice chair of the state GOP and CD 4 resident, at least five candidates intend to seek the party’s nomination. The list of candidates so far: Brad Lee, Joe Blum, Teresa Collett, Anthony Hernandez and Gene Rechtzigel.

3 Responses to “Former Maplewood mayor will challenge McCollum for DFL nomination”

1. Thomas P. Riddell Says:
   February 22nd, 2010 at 8:55 pm

   As someone who has been a democrat all my life, I am especially unhappy with our elected Democratic leaders in both the House and the Senate.

   Corporate bailouts have been the norm in the last several years- it’s time to stand up to these entities who hold guns to our heads and bait us with fear. They’ve grown to big. It’s time to return the power back to the people.

   As much as I’ve appreciated the work Ms. McCollum has done- it’s time she step aside and let someone else represent the people.

   As a citizen of Maplewood, I KNOW that Diana Longrie has always been in politics to put “citizens first”- and I am confident that she would do a great job for all of us in the United States Congress.

2. david galchutt Says:
   February 23rd, 2010 at 4:49 pm

   Diana Longerie’s dream to unseat United States Representative Betty McCollum is a joke that no one should take seriously. Diana was a divisive and ineffective Mayor of Maplewood. She held meetings in the wee morning hours and installed one of her crony friends as the City Manager. The firings of long-standing key city employees and administrators resulted in wrongful termination lawsuits, raising insurance premiums for the taxpayers of Maplewood. The number of lawsuits were so high that the City almost lost coverage through its carrier. Morale of city employees plummeted during her administration.

   Diana takes herself and her cable television show too seriously, and unfortunately, some people actually buy into her thinking. Diana is quickly becoming the Ole Savior of Maplewood politics.

   On the other hand, Betty McCollum has shown she understands the people of the 4th District of Minnesota. As a former State Representative for Maplewood and North St. Paul as well as serving on the City Council of North St. Paul, she knows our area well. She has worked with elected officials throughout the 4th District and help land needed stimulus monies for light rail and the Union Depot project in downtown St. Paul. In other words, Betty delivers…Diana is doomed to fail.

3. Stephan Flister Says:
   February 25th, 2010 at 8:07 am

   This is the only meal ticket for which Ms. Longrie is eligible where a significant number of voters don’t know her. As compared to her initial election, her reelection bid in Maplewood saw an 11% increase in turnout but she received 18% fewer votes.

   It seems when voters get to know her they vote for someone else.