Who do they represent?

Alexandria area State Representative Mary Franson has been in the news this week regarding her refusal to meet with a group of well mannered Alexandria high schoolers. My brother John sent the letter below to the Long Prairie Leader. It makes you wonder how many other politicians believe they represent only part of their constituency. -- ed.

Dear Editor,

It's a good idea to keep an eye on the legislators in order to see what kind of mischief they are up to.  Even if they are not from your district. You may remember Mary Franson; she was our representative until a few years back when things were redistricted and she was sent across the county line to Douglas County to represent the folks over there.

So I have more or less kept my eye on Mary. She caught my attention this week with a Twitter exchange she had with the Student Democratic Society at Alexandria High School.  The students wanted to meet with her at her office out of a sense of civic responsibility and a lesson in representative democracy.  It's a troubling exchange and illustrates why the Republican majority in the Minnesota House needs to be reduced by at least one in the coming elections.

The kids started the exchange:  "We'd love to have a meeting with you soon to address our concerns, and have a respectful productive talk.  Thanks".

Franson's office initially didn't reply, but after another query from the students, responded: "I don't meet with partisan groups in my office - besides, isn't your group actively campaigning against me. One of your members is soliciting funds for my opponent."

The students replied:  "Just because we are of different parties doesn't mean we shouldn't meet and talk out our differences.  We actually think that's necessary, regardless of what campaign some of our members are on!  We are constituents who had some concerns."

Franson rebuffed the kids once again saying she doesn't meet with "partisan groups.   Thanks for playing!"

The students persisted with an even-handed and professional reply: "It's a legislator's duty to listen to their constituents.  We're not sure how you hear all perspectives without such meetings.  You represent us, too!  Not just the Republicans."

Franson shut them down for good with a final tweet: "It's not a Legislator's duty  to meet with a 'proudly'  partisan group."

Franson, becoming aware of the jaw-dropping meanness of her exchange with the students, attempted to delete it from the twittersphere.  But it didn't go away.  KMSP TV in the cities got wind of her toxic Twitter and called her up.  At a loss for a plausible explanation as to why she refused to meet with the students, Franson told the reporter she couldn't "risk" meeting with minors for fear of being accused of sexual impropriety.  This transparent howler, this "Hail Mary" of an excuse,  alone disqualifies her for office.  Any politician worthy of my vote should be able to lie better than that.

John King

More on this story at:  http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/mary-franson-cant-risk-meeting-with-minors-roy-moore

Rep. Franson has regularly acted in dumb ways that should, as my brother suggests, disqualify her from representing the people of Minnesota. Below is her infamous food stamp comment clipped from Wikipedia. -- ed.

In March 2012, Franson was featured in a YouTube video in which she shared a statement made by someone she referred to as "a friend":

"Isn't it ironic that the food stamp program, part of the Department of Agriculture, is pleased to be distributing the greatest amount of food stamps ever. Meanwhile, the Park Service, also part of the Department of Agriculture, asks us to please not feed the animals, because the animals may grow dependent and not learn to take care of themselves."