News

3/16/2008

Behling Endorsed for House District 15B

Joshua Behling was unanimously endorsed for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 15B Saturday. With former State Representative candidate Rand Olson giving the nomination speech and Kari Behling (Joshua's wife) giving the second speech, Behling followed with a speech about why he was running for office. He was greeted with applause and warm wishes from the District 15B delegates. "For too long now residents of District 15B have not had there voices heard at the Capital," Behling said to the delegates, "You can be sure that with your help, your voices will be heard once again."

A record attendance was on hand at the St. Cloud for the Senate District 15 convention. State Representative Steve Gottwalt (District 15A) was also endorsed for re-election in his seat. House Minority Leader Marty Siefert was on hand as well as, U.S. Congresswomen Michelle Bachman, and Republican State Party Chairman Ron Carey. "15A plus 15B equals a majority in the House of Representatives in 2008," said Siefert referring to his latest algebraic equation, "We need you all to get behind these candidates." Christian School

Behling will face off against Rep. Larry Haws this November in a seat that Republican Party Chairman Ron Carey said, "is a seat we will win."

1/3/2008

St. Cloud Times Newspaper Prints Story

By Lawrence Schumacher, lschumacher@stcloudtimes.com

Christopher Hage knows he has an uphill battle ahead of him.

"I think something like 76 students voted in the last city elections," said Hage, chairman of St. Cloud State University's Legislative Affairs Committee. "A few hundred voted in the last state election."

But Hage's group thinks it can attract one-quarter to one-half of the 16,500 students enrolled at the college to the polls this year.

Hage's not just working on a plan to get students involved in this year's November election. He wants to get them to the Feb. 5 political party precinct caucuses that mark the traditional beginning of Minnesota's political calendar.

While presidential campaigns start earlier and earlier, and Iowans are heading to their first-in-the-nation caucuses today, political activity in Central Minnesota has so far been confined to the background.

But it has been happening. Candidates for local offices filed paperwork before New Year's Day to let them run for office this year, and local party activists have gotten their feet wet door-knocking for candidates in Iowa.

And this summer, Republicans from nationwide will descend on the Twin Cities for the party's national convention.

Despite all the early political activity, most people probably won't follow or focus on candidates much earlier than they otherwise would, said Stephen Frank, political science professor at St. Cloud State University and co-director of the SCSU Survey.

"Increasingly politics appears to be dominated by political zealots who take a no-holds-barred approach to politics. I believe this is one reason why less and less attention is paid to problems that most Americans really care about, and why more and more Americans are becoming somewhat passive."

Raising awareness

There are important policy questions on taxation, health care, energy, the environment and civil liberties to decide. There are ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There is an open field for president.

With those factors, 2008 is shaping up as an important election year, Hage said.

All the more reason to get everybody involved early in the process, he said.

"We want our voices heard," he said. "And most people don't realize that the decisions that get made now in the caucuses are what really determines who the candidates are going to be, what positions on the issues people are going to take."

Hage and his fellow student government members are planning a meeting at the end of the month to explain how caucuses work and how to participate.

That's about two weeks after students come back from holiday break and just a week before the caucuses.

Getting motivated

Party officials have a lot of work to do between now and then just to get their longtime activists focused and motivated.

But local DFLers are already energized and have been traveling to neighboring Iowa to help out their candidate of choice, said Scott Wells, chairman of the Senate District 15 DFL Party.

Central Minnesota DFL chapters have been keeping a campaign office in downtown St. Cloud open year-round with volunteer help for about two and a half years now.

They are already examining candidates who are hoping to snag the DFL endorsement for 6th Congressional District and U.S. Senate races, he said.

"I think people are motivated because they're ready for a change and to get more work done on issues for our state and our country," Wells said.

Local Republicans prefer not to think about politics during the holiday season, said Jeff Johnson, co-chairman of the Senate District 15 Republican Party.

Getting ready for the early caucus date this year means party activists will have to "put it in high gear" now that the holidays are over, he said.

"I think people are a little fed up with the way things are going at the state, federal and local levels, so maybe the interest isn't there yet," he said. "None of the presidential candidates has really stood out yet, either, in my opinion. So a lot of Republican voters are still lukewarm."

Early start

That hasn't stopped Joshua Behling, Johnson's local Republican co-chairman. Behling has been an announced candidate for the House of Representatives since June.

A few other people announced their candidacies in 2007, especially for a legislative seat occupied by Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake.

Behling, a first-time candidate, said he needed to take more time to let people get to know him, especially given the well-known profile of his likely opponent, Rep. Larry Haws, DFL-St. Cloud.

Haws, who will complete his first full term this year representing House District 15B, said he won't focus on campaigning until after this year's legislative session, but welcomes the competition.

"It's always good for the public when you have an opponent, because you get the issues out," he said. "It forces you to get out and explain yourself."

10/3/2007

Local Website Posts Comments

A local website Let Freedom Ring recently posted a story about Joshua Behling and the new website Joshuabehling.com. Please click here to read the story. Below is a paragraph from the story.

Josh recently announced his candidacy for Minnesota House District 15B. I couldn’t be more thrilled because that’s the district I live in. I’m definitely in need of a representative who closely represents my values of limited government and low taxes. I want a representative who uses common sense in finding solutions to the issues confronting St. Cloud and the state. As a result of my many conversations with Josh, I’m confident that Josh will be exactly that type of legislator.

9/19/2007

Joshua Appears on Hot Talk Morning Show

Joshua was a guest today on 1450 KNSI's morning radio show Hot Talk with Andy & Don. Joshua discussed his new website, and gave an update on his campaign.

They talked about issues that are important to Joshua, such as job creation and the importance of families making their own financial decisions as opposed to the Government making it for them. There were some laughs when the host Andy Barnett asked Joshua why he was running for State Representative instead of another public office, and Joshua replied, "I would rather car pool with Representative Steve Gottwalt than Senator Taryl Clark." Joshua was invited back at a later date, to further discuss his campaign.

A special thank you to Andy Barnett and crew, for the invitation to appear on the show.

9/12/2007

Behling for State Rep. website goes live.

With a lot of time, energy and thought, www.joshuabehling.com went live on September 12th, 2007. While browsing the website you will find: information on upcoming events, news stories, pictures, videos, ways to get involved, and there's even a secure spot to contribute. A blog will be live on the site soon. 

Please look around and see why Joshua Behling should be our next State Representative for Minnesota House District 15B.

If you have any comments or questions please email us at info@joshuabehling.com.