Faith of Minnesota is contributing funds as well as volunteers to all three races. The group claims it has raised $21,000 in local money to pay organizers’ fees and other expenses, but Olivia Bergen, a paid staff member for the group, said the group He declined to say whether he is using additional outside funding to support his work in Rochester. Last year, the group spent $330,000 on lobbying, according to state records.
Joe Powers, a local businessman known for his political involvement, said his biggest concern is how Minnesotans’ religious beliefs will affect candidates if they win. He said it’s common for a variety of interest groups to support candidates, but he’s never seen a bloc of city candidates line up alongside outside groups with partisan ties. said.
“This didn’t end well for either party,” Powers said. “I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican or whatever. Are we happy with where we are? Why would you want to bring that to your city?”
To push back against Faith in Minnesota’s mobilization, Powers held a meeting last month to warn other hospitality industry leaders about “the potential for a council to be formed that is unfavorable to business interests.” Approximately 50 people attended the meeting. Concerns were raised about wage increases, unionization and other policy considerations that the Rochester City Council has typically taken a hands-off approach to.
“They’re anti-growth,” Powers said. “And if they win the election, all three companies will be owned by outside groups.”
Minnesota Faith organizers dispute those claims, arguing that the group’s Rochester agenda was adopted locally without partisan involvement and after interviews with more than 500 residents. They also point out that other groups are trying to influence local elections without the same level of oversight. In the primary, for example, the Minnesota Private Business Council, aligned with the Republican Party, spent $10,000 to support anti-faith candidates in the Minnesota bloc.
