As a former governor, I recently chaired the Minnesota Citizens Commission for the Preservation of an Impartial Judiciary. The commission identified and assessed current and prospective threats to the preservation of an impartial judiciary in Minnesota and options available for preserving an impartial judiciary. The commission issued a report recommending changes in judicial selection designed to safeguard Minnesota from the use of judicial election contests to advance political agendas. How judges are selected is itself a political issue to be debated in the political arena and ultimately decided by the Legislature and the voters.

Ironically, the political issue of judicial selection is being injected into the race for Seat 16 on the Minnesota Court of Appeals by a challenger to incumbent Judge Terri Stoneburner. The challenger disagrees with the commission’s recommendations and is using his campaign against Stoneburner to advance his own political agenda about how judges should be selected.

The only issue in this Court of Appeals election contest is which candidate is most qualified to be a judge on the Minnesota Court of Appeals. I am supporting Judge Terri Stoneburner because Judge Stoneburner has shown, for 10 years as a district court judge and eight years as an appellate court judge, the integrity, ability, work ethic and faithful adherence to the rule of law that the citizens of Minnesota require of an appellate judge. Judge Terri Stoneburner has been elected to the office of judge three times by the voters of Minnesota. Learn more about Judge Terri Stoneburner at her Web site: www.judgeterristoneburner.org.

Exercise your right to vote wisely by choosing the most qualified candidate for Seat 16 of the Minnesota Court of Appeals — Judge Terri Stoneburner.

Al Quie

Minn. governor 1979-1983

Minnetonka