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Hanna, building trades target Hansen

Candidate under fire over comments to the Ely Tuesday group earlier this month

Marshall Helmberger
Posted 9/24/15

REGIONAL— The Bill Hansen campaign is facing criticism from building trades unionists for comments he made during a forum in Ely earlier this month.

His comments, which appeared heavily edited …

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Hanna, building trades target Hansen

Candidate under fire over comments to the Ely Tuesday group earlier this month

Posted

REGIONAL— The Bill Hansen campaign is facing criticism from building trades unionists for comments he made during a forum in Ely earlier this month.

His comments, which appeared heavily edited in last Sunday’s Mesabi Daily News, prompted the Iron Range Building Trades unions to blast Hansen in a press statement this week. The Iron Range Building Trades endorsed Koochiching County Commissioner Rob Ecklund weeks earlier and has been a strong backer of the proposed NorthMet mining project being advanced by PolyMet and its Swiss partner, Glencore.

Hansen has maintained throughout the campaign that he is “deeply skeptical” about the wisdom of undertaking copper-nickel mining in northeastern Minnesota, both for economic and environmental concerns. He’s also questioned Glencore’s record on worker rights and environmental protection. The United Steelworkers have also sharply criticized Glencore’s union-busting efforts and recently accused the company of a long history of “broken promises.”

Hansen, speaking before Ely’s Tuesday Group earlier this month, made note of frequent comments by Frank Ongaro, director of the Minnesota Mining Association, who tells audiences that copper-nickel mining could be Minnesota’s “North Dakota,” a reference to the oil boom that has transformed the western part of that state, for both good and ill.

Hansen noted that the North Dakota boom and the lack of housing prompted the development of large “man camps” which have been focal points for a number of social problems new to western North Dakota. Those problems, which include widespread drug use, prostitution and sex trafficking, have been well documented in newspapers across the country, including newspapers in North Dakota.

“Is that what you want?” asked Hansen. “Giant man camps that clear out the community, create a lot of crime, prostitution, and gambling? And create all kinds of community problems? And that tend to drive out other sustainable jobs?” Hansen asked. “Mining companies are very efficient these days, and in a very short time they’re gone, either the mine plays out, or the commodity market crashes, which is common in those markets, and they’re gone and what do they leave behind?  I just don’t think it’s wise economic development.”

Hansen’s comments were selectively edited by the Mesabi Daily News, to remove the reference to Ongaro and North Dakota. Hansen said without that reference, it takes his comments out of context. The Hansen campaign had argued as much when asked by MDN executive editor Bill Hanna to provide comment in advance of the story. At the Timberjay’s request, the Hansen campaign provided a copy of the comments they emailed to Hanna. The statement, prepared by Hansen’s campaign chair Nancy Powers, stated: “I believe Bill’s comment was made in the context of recalling a statement made sometime earlier by Frank Ongaro when he had stated that copper mining in Northern Minnesota “Could be our North Dakota,” responded Powers.  “Bill said, as I recall, ‘Do we really want to be the next North Dakota?  Have you been there? They have man camps, drugs and prostitution, not problems we want in Northern Minnesota.’”

But Hanna never included those comments in his story. Hansen’s video comments are viewable at Hansen’s website (www.hansenfor3a.org/ more-videos).

Hansen, in his comments captured on video, does not mention construction workers or building trades unions. But that’s not how Hanna reported the story, which begins: “House 3A DFL candidate Bill Hansen of Tofte has said the PolyMet copper/nickel/precious metals project near Hoyt Lakes will lead to “man camps,” “crime,” “prostitution” and “gambling” because of construction and building trades workers.” (emphasis added).

“I am shocked and disappointed to see such a flagrant misrepresentation of Bill’s comments,” said Powers, in response to Hanna’s portrayal.

Hanna, in response to questions from the Timberjay, said he stands by his reporting and believes that it provided the proper context. “Good luck with your story defending Mr. Hansen,” Hanna responded by email. But Hanna, when asked, could not identify any point in the video where Hansen mentions either construction workers or building trades unions.

Union president Mike Syversrud, nonetheless, accused Hansen of degrading members of his union. “He clearly has a delusional and skewed view of current-day construction workers and the value they bring to their families and community.”

Hansen, in a paid, written response published in several area newspapers, including the Timberjay, said he expected his questioning of copper-nickel mining in the region would make him a target. “There’s a lot of money at stake for some very powerful, multinational corporations that have a track record of playing dirty, whether it’s in their treatment of workers or of those who might stand in their way. These companies and their backers in the media think nothing of distorting my comments for their own purposes,” said Hansen in the statement.

While Hansen has been skeptical of copper-nickel mining, he reiterated his strong support for iron mining and steelworkers. “I will work hard to bring new value-added opportunities to expand employment in the iron mining sector,” said Hansen in the statement.