Patty Wetterling

From dKosopedia

Category: Minnesota Democrats

Patty Wetterling (DFL) ran for Congress in the open seat race for the 6th Congressional district, but she lost to Republican State Senator Michele Bachmann.

In 2004, Wetterling was the Democratic nominee for the 6th Congressional district, but she lost to Mark Kennedy. In 2005, she initially entered the U.S. Senate race, but then withdrew in January 2006. She also turned down Attorney General Mike Hatch's offer to be his running mate on the DFL Party's gubernatorial ticket this fall. She won the Democratic primary for the open seat in the 6th Congressional district.

6th Congressional district voters are generally conservative on social issues, and Wetterling supports abortion rights.

Wetterling is a high-school math teacher from Minnesota. She and her husband Jerry have four children and one grandchild.

Protecting Children

The Wetterling family experienced the horror of having their 11-year-old son, Jacob, abducted on a rural road in 1989. He was never seen or heard from again. Following that she became a national advocate for missing children. Commenting on the Mark Foley scandal, Wetterling said, "Foley sent obvious predatory signals, received loud and clear by members of congressional leadership, who swept them under the rug to protect their political power. If a teacher did this and the principal was told but did nothing, once the community found out, that principal would be fired." "We need a new direction in Congress because our children need strong voices," said Wetterling in a radio address. "We need to stop the sexual exploitation of children across the country, and in Washington we must hold accountable all those complicit in allowing this victimization to happen." Source: Frederic J. Frommer. "Democrat Jabs GOP Over Foley Matter." (Why was it deemed only a "matter" and not a "scandal" in this headline?) Associated Press. October 9, 2006.

External Links

• Patty Wetterling for Congress] - campaign website.