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Kappler Wins 53A Primary Election

Big Victory over Former Legislator Creates Momentum into November General Election

Saint Paul, MN, September 10, 2008:  Representing a fresh voice for State House District 53A, local businessman, veteran and community leader John Kappler won the September 9th Republican Primary Election by a margin of 63% to 37% over former State Senator Mady Reiter.

 “I am most grateful to the many voters who exercised their right to vote and supported my message of new leadership and government accountability” noted first time candidate Kappler. “This election is just another sign that Minnesotans are looking for candidates whom they can trust to bring about  real reform.  There is a great deal of consensus on the important issues in our area and it is now clearer than ever that these matters are not being adequately addressed by our current representation.  We are ready for a new direction.”

Kappler and his wife Elizabeth are longtime Shoreview residents with two adult children and two young grandchildren.  He is currently an instructor at Northwestern College where he applies real world experience gathered during years of executive management in large and small businesses.  John was also a U.S. Navy Officer aboard USS Procyon and USS Dixie during the Vietnam War Era.

A noted fiscal conservative, Kappler foresees a spirited general election discussion with a focus on economic issues.  “The voters of our district are keenly aware of the rapid rate at which spending and taxation have been increasing,”  he said.  “They are ready for a more thoughtful approach to fiscal matters, one that recognizes that our families and businesses struggle financially.  For Representative Gardner to have voted multiple times to raise taxes over the past year, shows not just a misunderstanding of basic economics, but a general disconnect from the realities faced by the rest of us.”

kappler receives praise, support from merickel

Letter To Quad Press and Shoreview Press Outlines Reasons

Vote Kappler - Laura Merickel

SHOREVIEW — On March 10, I sought the Republican endorsement for State Representative in House District 53A. My motivation to run for the State Legislature was to provide the people in our community with a strong voice at the Minnesota State Capitol and help ensure fiscal responsibility for our State. I finished in a close second at the endorsing convention, which was disappointing, but fortunately the Republicans did endorse a candidate in John Kappler whose desire to serve is similarly motivated.

Unfortunately, the candidate who received the fewest amount of votes on March 10, former State Senator Mady Reiter, has chosen to ignore the will of the people at the convention and will challenge John Kappler in a primary election in September.

According to Reiter's campaign website, the main impetus behind her campaign is "name recognition," along with the facts that she "know(s) (her) way around both government and business" and had previously been elected to public office four times.

What Reiter fails to recognize is the reason she was soundly defeated in her re-election campaign just two years ago, despite this supposedly insurmountable advantage of "name recognition." The truth is that voters recognized Reiter's name as one of the politicians who stopped listening to their constituents on important issues, and the voters in Senate District 53 chose to vote her out of office.

What most public servants believe is that it is not enough to run for office because you like being in St. Paul. You need a vision and a connection to your district that runs deeper than personal aspiration and self satisfaction. This is what led many similarly defeated legislators to step aside and allow new voices within the party to step forward and serve. Reiter clearly did not learn this lesson and has chosen to run for the House seat in half of her former senate district.

Please join me in electing a fresh face and a man without a personal agenda on Sept. 9.

Vote for John Kappler, Republican, House District 53A.

kappler campaign at SLICE of shoreview parade

kappler files for state representaTIVE

Businessman, Veteran and Community Leader Represents a Fresh Voice for 53A

Saint Paul, MN, July 2, 2008:  After filing papers with the Secretary of State, local businessman and U.S. Navy Veteran John Kappler is now an official candidate to represent residents of Lino Lakes, Shoreview, North Oaks, Circle Pines, Lexington, and Blaine in the Minnesota House of Representatives. 

“It is an honor to have this opportunity to earn the trust and support of my friends and neighbors in House District 53A" noted Kappler after receiving party endorsement. “From listening to their concerns, I have learned that there is a great deal of consensus on the issues important to our families that are not being adequately addressed by our current representation.”

Kappler and his wife Elizabeth are longtime Shoreview residents with two adult children and two young grandchildren.  He is currently an instructor at Northwestern College where he applies real world experience gathered during years of executive management in large and small businesses.  John was also a U.S. Navy Officer aboard USS Procyon and USS Dixie during the Vietnam War Era.

A noted fiscal conservative, Kappler has cited the new gas and sales tax increases as key motivators for his campaign.  “The voters of our district are keenly aware of the rapid rate at which spending and taxation have been increasing,” he said.  “They are ready for a more thoughtful approach to fiscal matters, one that recognizes that our families and businesses struggle financially.  They're ready to go to the polls to express their values and to say that their patience with rising taxes has ended."

A first time candidate for state office, Kappler was endorsed in April at the local Republican Party Convention representing the largest caucus turnout in district history.

kappler wins district endorsement

In a long and exciting contest filled with enthusiasm, John Kappler has been endorsed by House District 53A Republicans to represent the district in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  The endorsement took place at the District Convention held on March 10.  The meeting continued that evening until nearly midnight.  Eight ballots were required as Kappler's vote count steadily increased until the required supermajority of 60% was obtained.

 

John's experience as an executive in business, his leadership in education, his current position as a college teacher, his dedication to family values and to his community, and his appeal to limit the power of government were all factors in his success.

 

Kappler's opponents were Mady Reiter, and Laura Merickel, both of Shoreview.  As the convention concluded, Reiter was warmly applauded for her years of service to our communities, including two terms in the Minnesota State Senate; and Merickel was congratulated and thanked for the many new faces she introduced to the political process and the Republican party.

 

In attendance as guests at the convention were State GOP Chairman Ron Carey, as well as House Republican Leader Marty Seifert.  All speakers stressed the necessity of lower taxes.   The idea that the current Democratic majority in the legislature would enact major tax increases at this time was clearly contrary to the common sense approach of the delegates.  In Kappler's addresses to the gathering, he stressed the erosion of our personal liberties that occurs as government grows, and as it seeks to extract an ever greater portion of hard-earned income.

 

The evening ended with a unified party looking forward to victory in November.

As Republicans we have a proud heritage, and with it, a great responsibility. Our vision is to value freedom. We want smaller government, fewer regulations, and taxes that are low enough that our economy will thrive and our citizens will reach their full potential. We respect life and we honor family. We value education so much that we want parents to make the critical decisions and we want control of our schools to be as close to the people as possible. The responsibility we carry is immense. It is to stand firm for our principles and lead.