11-15-2000 Legacy

Dear Countdown Diary,

I began the campaign this July with plans to make this the first of two campaigns for the Senate seat. Starting so late against a power like Doug Johnson with one hand tied behind my back (I promised my wife that I would paint the house no matter what) its not surprising that came in second. I must have made an impression however because, despite losing by a mile, people keep telling me how well I did. 

I woke up last night thinking about Kay Mierick and couldn't get back to sleep. I had gone to Kay's wake last night at St. Lawrence Church. Kay was 95 years old. She was one of the first people in Duluth I met. Her husband Carl was one of only two people in Duluth I knew before moving here a quarter century ago. The two of them were the Republican party.

Kay was Irish and she had a  quick, irreverent wit. A Republican in the Arrowhead would be ill equipped without one. Carl had encouraged guests at the visitation to tell stories about Kay, humorous ones especially. As strong an impression as Kay had left I couldn't recall a story or a quip. After the wake my good friend Edith said she had always regretted not taking a photo of me carrying Kay up the stairs to the beach house at Park Point. Back in 1990 when a small collection of GOP loyalists had organized the gubernatorial campaign in NE Minnesota for the renegade Republican Arne Carlson. 

Kay was wheelchair bound even then and the beach house was not easily accessible. Edith had decided that Kay would not want a picture taken. ( like FDR's refusal to permit photos of him in his wheelchair) I don't know about that.  I'm sure Kay wisecracked all the way up the stairs.

I'm still recovering from the campaign and I have yet to attack the piles of paper in my office. I had stuffed it all in boxes and carted it up to the attic for my campaign party. Now its back in my office. 

Although it was cold I decided to go agate hunting. I had wanted to do it many times during the summer but what with campaigning and painting I never managed to comb the beach.  I put on warm cloths and set out to clear my mind. After several hours of shivering and collecting I headed home with a few pounds of rocks and set about reconfiguring my web page for the 2002 election. 

It was a tedious project. I'd love a faster computer but Claudia informed me that since I put us a couple thousand dollars in debt that I'd have to do without a new computer. I did promise not to put much money into the campaign but I got a little spendy in the last weeks of the election. Those last minute dollars make a big difference. Its kind of like buying a bridge.

The news is full of information which I'll be able to take advantage of as I build my case to get elected to the Senate. I copied a story from the Mesabi Daily News about the IRRRB. Tommy Rukavina was criticizing the Board for spending money to build houses when massive layoffs are anticipated on the Range. Its not often that I agree with Tommy but this time he's dead on target.

Doug Johnson defended the addled spending by saying that new houses would attract people to the Range. Maybe he means to sell them to the laid off workers.

Email Harry: harrywelty

Go to Harry's primary website:   www.snowbizz.com 

or make a contribution to the campaign

This Web page is prepared and paid for by Harry Welty, Welty Volunteer Committee, PO Box 3613, Duluth, MN  55803