Update from Wadena, MN
Minnesota Strong
Caucus goers show their support for Erik in Otter Tail County.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
All across Minnesota, people showed up to participate in the Democratic process Tuesday evening. Reports suggest MN DFL precinct caucus turnout was phenomenal. This pic was sent to us from one of the precincts in Otter Tail County. We heard of places that have seen as little as 4 people show up having 60+ show up. In our home county of Wadena, there were roughly 50 people in attendance. We heard there were 93 attendees in Kittson/Rosseau compared to 7 last time. The list goes on. Folks showing up in droves to make their voices heard. Tons of 1st timers as well throughout western Minnesota. This is what actions speaking louder than words looks like. Whether you were at your Caucus to support our campaign, or just get involved, we appreciate you. Keep up the good work! We are the change we seek.
The Path Ahead
Earning the DFL endorsement is a 3 step process.
- Step 1 was Tuesday night, the precinct caucuses. If you participated, thank you. If you became a delegate for your precinct, you will be part of step 2.
- Step 2 is the DFL County Conventions. These begin this weekend (Feb. 14th) and run thru April 11th. There are 13 county/SD conventions in February, 21 in March & 2 in April. At these County & Senate District Conventions, resolutions will be advanced (or not) and delegates will be chosen for Step 3. We will be sharing dates/times/locations soon to help you prepare.
- Step 3 is the Congressional District 7 Convention in Granite Falls on April 25th. This is where delegates from across all 36 county/SD conventions vote to endorse candidates.
If you are new to this process, don’t worry, we will do our best to help you feel confident in the next steps. More to come.
This weekend’s lineup:
Brown County • Sat. Feb. 14th, 9:30am, New Ulm Community Center, 600 N German St. New Ulm
Yellow Medicine County • Sat. Feb. 14th, 9:30am, Clarkfield City Hall, 904 10th Ave., Clarkfield
Todd/Wadena • Sun. Feb. 15th, 1:30pm, Wadena United Church of Christ (UCC) 11 Colfaz Ave SW, Wadena
On to step two of the endorsement process
Keep the fuel coming
Volunteers are the fuel that this campaign runs on. Join #TeamErik by clicking on the link below and help to create the community you want to see for all of us.
https://www.erikosberg4congress.com/get-involved
WE > ME #8 – Erik Osberg
So far we’ve introduced you to 7 of our team members. And even though we have a bunch more team members to introduce, we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the guy who brought this Team together in the first place. So without further ado, meet the Candidate, Erik Osberg.
Erik’s top 5 strengths from the StrengthsFinder 2.0 assessment are: Maximizer, Ideation, Developer, Includer, and Positivity.
Erik grew up in Upsala (Morrison County) and lives in Wadena (Wadena County). He currently serves as the Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator for Otter Tail County. The team he leads has been recognized at the state & regional level winning numerous awards from Explore Minnesota Tourism and the Economic Development Association of Minnesota, & even won a regional Emmy for the documentary series they helped create, “Rural by Choice” – check it out on YouTube! Erik has been asked to speak in Maine, Illinois, South Dakota & North Dakota as well as numerous places within Minnesota since piloting & overseeing the Rural Rebound Initiative in Otter Tail County back in Jan. 2017. His time as Rural Rebound Initiative Coordinator at Otter Tail County has shaped his understanding of what it means to be a public servant: leading & daring greatly while sacrificing time, energy & emotion to put the needs of the Team above your own.
Erik has also worked as a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones, Vice President/Branch Manager for Wadena State Bank, and an Agent/Advisor for Farm Bureau Financial Services. He’s also started his own small business, Whiskey Creek Media, which he ran for almost a decade.
Outside of work, Erik is a proud husband and father of 3 wonderful kids. He’s been active in his community, having served as a board member for Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wadena, volunteering as a coach for the Wadena-Deer Creek High School Fishing Team, 5th & 6th grade boys basketball teams, Varsity football team, and little league baseball teams. He was the Head Jr. High Football Coach for Wadena-Deer Creek the past 4 seasons. He is also a past president for the Wadena Chamber of Commerce.
This may be the first time Erik has ever run for political office, but that doesn’t mean this is his first political experience. In high school he was a page at the Minnesota Legislature during his Junior year and lobbied the legislature for an amendment to the Higher Education Bill in the 1990s.
When he’s not working his day job or campaigning, Erik enjoys spending time outdoors, particularly if it involves heading to the Tiny Cabin and dropping a line in the water, either from his boat or his pop-up ice fishing shelter. You’ll be hard pressed to find Erik without a Diet Coke in his hand, and if he’s listening to music you better believe there’s some Willie Nelson playing if he’s throwing it back or Sturgill Simpson if he’s going for something a little more recent.
When asked to explain why he decided to run for Congress now, Erik says his primary reason was a desire to defend Democracy and uphold the Constitution. On the campaign trail, you’ll often hear him say he’s also running to show his kids what it looks like to have the courage to stand up for your values even – and especially – when the odds are against you. That’s the funny thing though: courage is contagious, and when one person steps up, it makes it easier for others to do the same. That’s leadership. And that’s why everyone on this Team is working as hard as we are to get Erik on the ballot in November and flip this district – because his courage has shown us that we can do better!
ON OUR WAY TO $200k
We are humbled by the response to this campaign and we are proud to say 100% of our donations are from individuals who have decided to invest in the change they want to see in CD7. We are at $175k total raised, working our way to $200k. Forever grateful for all the support.
This campaign has raised $175k through Feb. 7th, on our way to 200k. THANK YOU!
If you have already donated – or even better, set up a recurring donation – THANK YOU! If you haven’t, please consider making an investment today. If you would like to host a private party fundraiser, click here: https://secure.ngpvan.com/SKQtMANaY0W8nGqHcpukXA2
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