Is Senate primary a Red Plan referendum?

DULUTH - The 'Red Plan' is possibly the most divisive subject Duluth has seen the last few years.  And Harry Welty is counting on remaining anger over the Red Plan's lack of a public vote to carry him to the state senate.

One issue has dominated Harry Welty's public profile the last three years: the Red Plan.

Consolidating the school district while raising taxes without a public vote convinced him to run for the school board in 2007.  He lost, but is now running for the state senate district seven seat.

Says Welty, "To have a person who doesn't value the voters rights on something as big as the red plan, to have him run unopposed stuck in my craw."

The person he's accusing is one term Representative Roger Reinert.

Says Welty, "I sent Roger and email right after he got elected and I said, "Are you going to do something about the red plan?"  He said, "No, my primary responsibility is dealing with the state budget crisis."  Well, we saw how that worked out."

Counters Reinert, "I think we did pretty well in a really bad situation."

While not fighting the Red Plan, Reinert did meet with members of the more moderate Red Plan–Plus group who was looking for a compromise plan.

But, he does agree with Welty: this will be a single issue campaign.

"But, it's a campaign about the state budget," says Reinert.  "And, we're looking at a $7 billion dollar deficit come January 2011.

But, Reinert may have reason to worry if the Red Plan dominates.  In the last two school board election cycles – although Welty lost – three anti–Red Plan candidates did get elected (Tom Kasper, Gary Glass, Art Johnston).  Two were into city–wide seats (Glass, Johnston).  Most of whom will vote in the seventh senate seat race, which is basically a city–wide contest.

Says Welty, "I know the temperament of the people and there's a good chance I can win this primary."

Welty is a former two term school board member and former republican.  As a GOP candidate, he lost a challenge to Representative Tom Huntley in 2002.