By Nancy Larson

Yesterday afternoon, over 750 people turned out for a different kind of political event – one that focused on values and a state-wide vision of governance rather than individual candidates or party politics-as-usual business meetings.

All the DFL candidates for governor attended the meeting organized by TakeAction Minnesota and the reNEW Minnesota Campaign. instead of pitching their cases to those gathered, they spent most of their time listening to stories told from the stage and by the people seated alongside them at tables in Saint Paul’s Arlington Senior High School meeting hall.

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By Dick Bernard

This past summer I met a young organizer who made a presentation on health care policy.  She did an impressive job, I felt, and we shared e-mail addresses.

Time passed by, and a few weeks ago she sent a note about a kickoff program on “A Vision for a reNEWed Minnesota.”  This Saturday afternoon, September 26, would have discussion, and all of the potential candidates for the 2010 Governors race had been invited.  I had a mild amount of interest, and after a reminder or two, I decided to attend.

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