Rudy Takala
| Rudy Takala | |
|---|---|
| 395px | |
| Born | Rush City, Minnesota |
| Residence | Pine City, Minnesota |
| Alma mater | Hamline University (B.A.) American University (MA) |
| Occupation | Writer, farmer |
| Political party | Republican |
Rudy Takala is a conservative writer.
Contents
Early life
Takala was born in Rush City, Minnesota and grew up on a dairy farm in neighboring Pine City. Takala was homeschooled for nine years prior to earning Bachelor of Arts degrees in Legal Studies & Economics in 2009 from Hamline University. Takala was 20 years old at the time of his graduation.
Political background
Takala was elected chairman of Minnesota's Pine County Republicans at the age of 18. He was re-elected against one of his party's former candidates for Congress in 2009 with 60% of the vote, and again in 2011.
In early 2009, Takala announced his decision to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives in House district 8B, which at the time encompassed all of Kanabec County and parts of Pine & Isanti counties. He was frequently referred to as a Tea Party candidate over the course of the campaign, at length by Politics in Minnesota in an article titled "Grand Old Party or Tea Party?"[1] and briefly in a featured story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune[2] published shortly before the election. Takala earned a reputation for fiery populist rhetoric and oratory ability during the campaign, winning a 55% majority vote by Republican delegates for endorsement by the Republican Party of Minnesota on March 23, 2010.[3]
Takala lost the primary election to Roger Crawford on August 10, 2010. He carried his own Pine County by 696 votes to 486 votes for his opponent, equating to a tally of 58% to 42%.[4]
It was also during the campaign that Takala began holding forum-themed meetings named "Simply Right," which were frequented by luminaries of the Minnesota Republican Party. Guests who have appeared at the meetings have included Tony Sutton, a former chairman of the Minnesota Republican Party; the Republican Party's 2010 gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer; Pat Anderson, Minnesota's state auditor from 2002–2006;[5] Republican Congressman Chip Cravaack; and Kurt Bills, the Republican Party's 2012 candidate for United States Senate. The group evolved into a political action committee in 2011. Takala served as its executive director.[6]
Commentator
After running for the Minnesota House, Takala wrote and provided occasional commentary on Minnesota politics. He was often critical of both major political parties for not doing enough to slow the rate of government growth in Minnesota. In 2011, he was quoted by Politics in Minnesota as saying of Republicans in the state legislature, "There was too much talk about the rate of growth [of spending]... we should have been talking about cutting."[7]
He remains a member of the Republican Party, having received 1,214 votes at the 2012 Minnesota State Republican Convention and placing 5th to become a delegate to the Republican Party's National Convention in Tampa.[8]
Electoral history
- 2010 Primary election for Minnesota House of Representatives – District 8B[9]
- Roger Crawford (R) 59.09% (1,820 votes)
- Rudy Takala (R) 40.91% (1,260 votes)
- Tim Faust (DFL), 100.00% (3,050 votes)
- 2010 Republican Endorsement for Minnesota House of Representatives – District 8B
- Rudy Takala (R) 55.5% (56 votes)
- Roger Crawford (R) 45.5% (43 votes)
External links
References
- ↑ Politics in Minnesota. Grand Old Party or Tea Party? July 28, 2010.
- ↑ Star Tribune. GOP Awaits Primary Tea Leaves August 5, 2010
- ↑ Pine City Pioneer. Republicans Can't Endorse Candidate April 4, 2010.
- ↑ Pine City Pioneer. Takala takes Pine, Crawford claims overall victory August 10, 2010.
- ↑ Red Rock on Air. Getting Back on the RIGHT Track July 10, 2009.
- ↑ Politics in Minnesota. Tea Party activist Takala starts political fund. August 19, 2010.
- ↑ Politics in Minnesota. Many in GOP Base Angry at Legislature August 5, 2011.
- ↑ Press Publications. Pine City Well Represented at Republican Convention June 14, 2012.
- ↑ Minnesota Secretary of State. 2010 Primary Election Results. August 10, 2010.
