I took the following information directly from Bob's Facebook page - see for yourself HERE
WEEKEND CHALLENGE: I believe that if every eligible voter read this over the weekend I would win the election on November 4th. Read the transcript of my unscripted response to the question of the proper role of the secretary of state and how it "appears" to be highly politicized by past elections. See my full response and my opponents' take on what I say. If it makes sense why this is so important, tell your friends!
Full transcript: http://theuptake.org/2014/10/20/video-replay-transcript-mn-secretary-of-state-candidates-forum-at-university-of-minnesota/
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DC: Thank you. Next question is for Bob Helland. Ah Bob you talk about how ah the legislature has a primary role in elections, in election law. And how the primary role of the secretary of state is to administer elections in the state. But ah as we’ve seen here in Minnesota, with really the two previous secretaries, as well as other secretaries around the country, the job also has a pretty strong policy component, I think just like the attorney general in many states who has a role in ah legal debates, the secretary of state appears to have a policy role in these debates. Ah how do you square that with your view of the proper role of the secretary and how would you carry out that policy role, if at all, if elected secretary?
BH: Okay, certainly. Well, I don’t know where that policy role exists in the Constitution. My foundation for making those claims, acting and choosing priorities of what I’d do as secretary of state, is based on the constitutional authority of the secretary of state. Article III, Section I, the Division of Powers, clearly says that no person belonging to or comprising one branch will basically do the duties of the other branch. So, obviously the secretary of state does work with the legislature, and they do need to identify those problems and come up with solutions and address them, or provide input, provide data from the election system.
So – ah you said the role appears to have that. And we have seen the politicization of the role of the secretary of state in Minnesota, and that is something that I would like to get away from. I think I can show a new type of candidate, a new type of constitutional officer, that really clearly addresses the constitutional role, works well with the other branches of government, but in in terms of my priorities, I’ve chosen business services because that’s where my five years of experience with the Department of Revenue was, was as a business registration expert downstream from the office of secretary of state. And there is a breakdown in communication between those agencies, and it was basically a trap for small businesses trying to get started in the state.
So it’s not that I completely oppose the secretary of state, providing input or analysis into the election law, it’s that I don’t want to stand on a bully pulpit. That’s a word that I really think we should really try to remove from our constitutional offices. Because it really it stepping outside of the constitutional role into the legislative role to – and and that would take a lot of effort, I’m sure, after seven years, you found that passing legislation takes a lot of effort. So, I’m gonna use my time to the best effect for Minnesota, and in my opinion that’s focusing on what’s roughly two-thirds of the office of the business services division. Thanks.
Simon: "... It’s true, that the secretary of state doesn’t have a vote, and shouldn’t have a vote. And if I’m secretary of state, I will no longer have a vote at the legislature. I won’t have a seat at that table..."
Severson: "And there are separation of powers, as Bob said. And part of that process is really about how do you execute the office that you are constitutionally sworn to uphold..."
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