by Steve Timmer

Sep 12, 2014, 5:00 PM

Waiting for Dario, question 13

Here’s question 13 in the list of questions put to Dario Anselmo, Republican candidate for HD49A, that I started in May. To date, none has been answered. You can follow this link to see several other questions sent to Mr. Anselmo, and a brief discussion of the non-answers to each. Here’s the question:

Do you think life starts at and must be protected from moment of fertilization, and if so, do you believe hormonal birth control, emergency contraception medication, and IUDs cause abortions?

This is a question that is being asked of many Republican legislative candidates. It obviously has some currency, especially since the GOP endorsed candidate for governor, Jeff Johnson, has said that if elected he would sign any new abortion restrictions that landed on his desk.

Ron Erhardt, when he was a Republican, was the last — the very last — pro-choice Republican in the entire Minnesota Legislature. Rep. Erhardt was a now-extinct species: a Republican with a NARL endorsement. He still has it as a DFLer, by the way.

Many things about Ron Erhardt have never changed over the years. He’s as steadfast a politician as you will ever know. He’s not afraid to have a position, and he will tell you what it is.

Incidentally, since I have not gotten to all of the unanswered question posed to Dario Anselmo, I will publish a list here next week and in advance of the League of Women Voters forum for Erhardt and Anselmo. If anyone is trying to think of a question to ask the candidates, please feel free to crib from the list.