Thank You All For Your Support!

We have run a highly effective and visible, first-time, third party campaign. There is no question that we could not have done as well as we did without the unwavering commitment of our core volunteers, donors, and those who have committed to proudly show our lawn signs. When Derrick Williams of ThisWeek Newspapers called me at 8:30 this morning to discuss my campaign, he was blown away by our powerful show of competency in getting out a clear message to a wide audience very early and very often from February until November.

650 voters in Lakeville signed my petition within the first two weeks of July to put my name on the ballot, then 1250 Lakeville voters followed up this November by voting for me for the fourth highest race in this election. Achieving this level of support required the committed volunteer effort of over two dozen volunteers at various points of the race.

1250 voters knew that their vote would most likely not result in my victory this time around, but that it would send a clear message to the Capitol about what they expect in competent political leadership. They want a candidate who is not for sale. Compare that number to a mere 377 voters in our district who voted for third party presidential or write-in candidates this year. There is a groundswell of support in Lakeville for transcending politics-as-usual and bringing in fresh voices that are free of the corruption and the "good ole boys" network.

I believe that this seat is winnable, that it may soon become open, and that the incumbent will tire quickly of running long and fierce campaigns against a dedicated and experienced opponent every two years.

We gathered 650 Lakeville signatures door-to-door in less than the required two weeks to start this campaign. We knocked on over 5,000 doors this election and spoke to thousands of voters. We placed over 100 lawn signs and delivered over 22,000 pieces of literature. We held four candidate listening sessions and spoke in six candidate forums. We marched in the Pan-o-Prog parade and attended Taste of Lakeville. We spent 80 hours meeting constituents in a barn at the county fair and another night at the state fair. We arranged and promoted a candidate speaking engagement for our candidate along with Ralph Nader, Jesse Ventura, Dean Barkley, and Rosa Clemente at Orchestra Hall during the Republican National Convention. We acheived almost double the private fundraising total of the Democrat. We did it all outside of my full-time job hours and I hope to write a book about it soon.

We have so many stories to tell and so much government reform work to continue to perform. I will not go away after this election. I have plans to continue my reform work this legislative session by directly supporting the work of Fairvote Minnesota, Minnesota Universal Health
Care Coalition, FreshEnergy, and many other good causes with my volunteer time. I would like to keep all of you informed about these causes in case you also wish to make yourself a part of the solution.

Please keep in mind that this is a beginning and that all good things in this world must begin somewhere. In this case, it begins with a force 1250 strong. A brigade for a better democracy.

Thanks to all of you,

Colin Lee