You'll find a list of individuals proud to publicly support Melanie Ford for reelection below the following testimonials.
“We are grateful for all those citizens who step forward willing to serve the people in elected capacities, but when someone like Melanie Ford, who is skilled, prudent, and dedicated to the principles of fairness and justice for all takes on the challenges of public service, our commitment to her candidacy is assured. She has demonstrated she is tough and courageous and full of kindness.” — Jack and Nancy Bratrud, Duluth
“From 1996 to 2008, we were foster parents to 90 foster kids, most of whom were Native American and many of whom had special needs or came to us directly from the corrections system. As a result, we have watched with great interest as St. Louis County Attorney Melanie Ford has worked to address the inordinate number of minority youth incarcerated in St. Louis County. This has been a concern for many of us for over 20 years, but our concerns were ignored until Melanie Ford was elected.
Melanie Ford has brought openness and integrity to the County Attorney’s office. For the first time, the concerns of all of St. Louis County’s residents are being heard. We have been particularly gratified to see Melanie's efforts on behalf of children of color, troubled youth, and kids who have been having difficulty staying in school.
I applaud Melanie Ford’s efforts and urge everyone to support Melanie in reelection. The citizens of St. Louis County deserve a County Attorney who believes in justice for all of us, and that person is Melanie Ford.” — Rebecca Gawboy, Tower
Melanie Ford with Senator Al Franken.
“I am pleased to support Melanie Ford for St. Louis County Attorney. Since her election in 2006, she has kept her campaign promises and more. She has made the County Attorney’s office accessible and responsive to the needs of the people of St. Louis County. In her short term in office, she has taken on many of our long-standing problems, such as the need for creative approaches to crime prevention. Melanie Ford has the integrity and professionalism that we need in our public officials.” — Charles Gessert, Duluth
“Often times I have been disappointed with women who have been elected to office and then proceed to follow in the footsteps of business-as-usual. Melanie, on the other hand, has followed through on her platform of working with families and trying to rehabilitate young people, rather than simply incarcerating them. It takes many people working together to solve society’s deep-seated problems. Sometimes it takes only one person in the right position to begin that process. I thank Melanie for using her elected position as a means of creating positive change.” — Elanne Palcich, Chisolm
Melanie Ford with Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson (left) and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar
“For many years, I have worked in minority communities and schools and with all ages of minority youth and have worked in correctional education with the youth whose lives County Attorney Melanie Ford is working to improve. In addition, I have been working for 17 years in adult male correctional education in St. Louis County, where I experience first hand the effects of our disastrous policies regarding at-risk youth. The problems are severe and not diminishing. They are society wide, and too often the same old thinking that created the problem in the first place is applied. So I heartily support Melanie’s efforts to fashion new and creative approaches to these seemingly intractable problems.
I enthusiastically applaud as well Melanie Ford’s efforts at reducing crime in St. Louis County, in keeping juveniles out of secure detention, instituting a tutoring project to help those teens who are chronically truant and too far behind academically to return to traditional educational programs, and finding solutions and funding to reduce the disproportionate incarceration of minority youth. I know from direct experience how vitally important this work is. Furthermore, Melanie brings a much needed dialogue between the County Attorney’s office and the people of St. Louis County. She has brought the office out into the open, sought out various voices that had previously been silent or disregarded, and brought increased respect to and for law enforcement. County Attorney Melanie Ford has done much already for the County, and I look forward to seeing her carry on her work in a second term.” — Hal Moore, Duluth
“Reelecting Melanie Ford is important, both to continue the work she has been doing and to continue efforts to make the county government responsive to citizens from diverse backgrounds.
To remove Melanie from office now would send the wrong message, a message that government belongs to insiders, not to ordinary people. Reelection of Melanie Ford will show that the voters of St. Louis County believe that open, law abiding, and fair policies are important in Northeastern Minnesota.” — Gail and Pat Schoenfelder, Duluth
“Melanie Ford has maintained a visible presence in the community, particularly at events which address issues of poverty and race—factors which play a major role in people’s likelihood to become involved with the criminal justice system. She has made it a goal to reduce the incarceration rates of adults and youth who are struggling and who could better be served by prevention programs and services that build on their strengths.
I know from my 18 years of work as Coordinator of the Duluth Adult Learning Center that education, mentoring, and employment programs can lead people away from addictions and other troubles and into a productive life. To have our County Attorney affirm this, and engage many others in the county to work on this approach, is truly a positive move for our communities.” — Beth Tamminen, Duluth
“Melanie Ford has brought dignity, grace, and justice to St. Louis County over her first term in office. She not only meets the people’s needs, but she goes to the people to find out what their needs are. I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about supporting County Attorney Melanie Ford for a second term.” — Marlene Hart, Duluth
“I first met Melanie Ford years ago when we served as board members of the Duluth Art Institute. Because of her integrity, she earned the respect of colleagues. Melanie upheld the mission of the Institute during times of change and controversy, and her leadership through multiple transitions led to the restoration of the Duluth Art Institute’s cherished legacy. By listening and showing consideration, she built consensus with all involved parties, both private and public.
Melanie reached out actively to the citizens of the County during her first campaign for County Attorney. Once elected, she followed through on her campaign promises to bring attention to such important issues as reducing the disproportionate detention of minority juveniles and opening government meetings to the public.
Melanie Ford is the person I trust to represent all St. Louis County without compromising our cherished values.” — Koresh Lahkan
“Melanie Ford is a County Attorney who reaches out to the school districts in St Louis County to help prevent truancy and mitigate the high school drop-out rate. She is also a County Attorney who is concerned with the issue of minority arrests and imprisonments.
Melanie thinks in terms of crime prevention, while vigorously prosecuting criminals. Despite increasing budget restraints, she has reached out to the community in a myriad of ways, while simultaneously keeping the County Attorney’s office running efficiently and serving the citizens well. In addition, Melanie Ford knows how to work well alongside her Assistant County Attorneys.
We as citizens of St Louis County are fortunate indeed to have County Attorney Melanie Ford. She is patient, intelligent, thinks beautifully on her feet, and has more energy than women half her age. She is compassionate, caring, and loyal yet can be a formidable opponent when circumstances require it. She is a quintessential public servant who looks at problems from a fresh and innovative viewpoint that brings St Louis County into the 21st century. We need her to continue to move our County Attorney’s office forward and implement the work she has begun.
I am proud to support Melanie Ford for reelection as County Attorney and am grateful for the privilege of working with her in public service.” — Sharla Gardner, Duluth City Councilor
Drew Digby
Warner B. Wirta
Annette and Mike Jaros
John and Jan Green
Maureen Booth
Warren L. High
Don Kuznia
Jeff and Amanda Borling
Joseph and Terri Griffiths
Jim and Barb Lund
Scott and Phyllis Mead
Kathy Heltzer
Mike and Sue Nordin
David Rutford
Richard Wildberger
Rebecca St.George
Edith Hakala
Susan Gaertner
Carole Gerjets
Mary Dosch
David and Geiger Yount
Joel Sipress
Bill Hardesty/Georgette Sarkela
Henry Helgen
Dennis and Deb Frazier
Greg and Jenny Peterson
Larry Mayo/Christine Penney
Cathy Bergh
Pat Castellano
Lori Durant
Mary Engels
Aaron Bransky
Barb Parks
Charlene Brown
Janet Karon
Warren Howe
Ida Rukavina
Paul Bugge
Leo Plewa
Emily Gaarter
Mary Ann Houx
Phyllis Monsaas
