The reason is simple: The two Augsburg College graduate students are trying to juggle class and campaigning.

Franzen is the Republican candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in District 60A, an area of Minneapolis that includes Loring Park and Uptown. Linde is running for a seat on the Apple Valley City Council.

With less than a week remaining, the two Augsburg students — who both acknowledge they are underdogs in their races — are looking forward to having schedules that aren’t quite so packed.

“I didn’t realize how much of a toll it would take,” Linde said of the campaign and class combination. “I definitely learned that you have to have balance and that sleeping is important.”

Taking on the Speaker

Franzen was approached in February about running for the House of Representatives. There was a catch: His district is a DFL stronghold and his opponent is Margaret Anderson Kelliher, a five-term representative and the current Speaker of the House.

“It’s probably the most liberal district in the state,” said Franzen, a student in the Master of Arts in Education program.

Part of Franzen’s motivation in running was to ensure that the voters at least had a choice. In addition, his ability to raise $1,500 in $50 increments allowed his campaign to receive about $4,000 in state funds and kept that money from going to his opponent.

Franzen knew his odds were long when he accepted the nomination, but got a better taste of it when he talked to the Republican that ran in his district two years ago.

“I asked him, ‘Did you ever have a debate?’,” said Franzen, who joked that he has a mail stack that is several feet high. “And he said, ‘They wouldn’t even return our calls.’ They’re not really threatened.”

If he is defeated, Franzen has to decide if he is going to run again in 2010 and spend the next two years building a base in the district and gaining name recognition. Before that happens, he does need to spend some time catching up on his coursework.

“School has suffered in some respect,” Franzen said. “I’ve been putting out a lot of fires. Fortunately the semester doesn’t end Nov. 4.

“When you’re running for office, you don’t have a personal life, you don’t have a life. Weekends don’t exist. There’s always something more to do.”

Continuing to serve

Linde’s motivation to run stemmed from wanting to continue to serve the public in some way. That was missing after a seven-year stint in the National Guard.

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in history from Augsburg, Linde was empowered to run for office. That’s something that he doesn’t think would have happened if he had graduated from another school.

The 26-year-old Linde hopes that voters in the southern suburb see him as an alternative and a fresh voice. Linde said that while the average Apple Valley resident is about 35, every current member of the city council is 55-years-old or older.

Linde’s campaign strategy has to been to make connections with the families of soccer players he coaches. While taking graduate courses at Augsburg and running his campaign, he is coaching three 11-and-under club soccer teams and is the sophomore soccer coach at Eastview High School.

“I’ve asked them to go to their neighbors and and work their neighbors for me,” Linde said.

Linde, who is working on his Master’s degree while also getting a license to teach physical education, acknowledged he is fighting an uphill battle. His opponent, Sharon LaCombe, is a vice president at Dakota County Technical College and well known in the community.

“I’m really passionate about the parks in Apple Valley,” Linde said. “If this race doesn’t end up the way I hope, it has been suggested that I join the Parks and Rec Board. That’s something I would probably do.”

Read more about Josh’s campaign at .

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Minnesota’s participation in this aspect of the democratic process also brings opportunities to our Augsburg campus. Because of its commitment to civic engagement and service learning, Augsburg was chosen by the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars to host 250 students from across the country for a 2-week seminar in conjunction with the RNC. Twenty-three Augsburg students will participate in internships through the program, each working in the preparation and planning stages of this event to learn about the behind-the-scenes efforts involved with a national convention. Augsburg communication studies professors Bob Groven and Kristin Chamberlain are serving on the faculty of the Washington Center Seminar.

This week we feature Eric Franzen (pictured left), a graduate student in education, and Shannon Backes, a junior studying international business. Check back in a few days for more profiles

<!–, and go to www.augsburg.edu/getpolitical for more profiles and the most current report on Augsburg’s role in the RNC–>

Eric Franzen — Master’s in Education

After receiving a B.A. in piano performance from the University of Minnesota, Eric decided to pursue a master’s in education at Augsburg. Along with his love for music, Eric also enjoys politics. “I began my fascination with politics several years ago. I experienced some dramatic changes in my fundamental ways of living and soon began to question the rhetoric that we hear repeated so often around us.” This year, Eric has been involved in many different political events, including his neighborhood caucus, district convention, the state convention, and now the national convention. Eric is also a candidate for the House of Representatives in SD60a of Minneapolis.

“The process and power for the citizens of the United States to sway government and elect anyone they feel like is truly amazing.” Eric’s goal for the convention is to learn as much as possible about the process by immersing himself into it. “I hope to meet and learn from the respected leaders and thinkers of this country,” he said.

Shannon Backes — Junior

This Spring Lake Park native will begin her second year at Augsburg this fall. She began her college career as a PSEO at Bethel University and now studies international business at Augsburg. Shannon also has a minor in German and plans to study abroad in Mosbach, Germany in the spring of 2009. Shannon remembers her family’s tradition of discussing political issues at family gatherings. “I became interested in politics during long conversations with family members about controversial issues. When I heard different sides of an issue, I would research on my own in order to have my own opinion for the next debate.” While working in the summer, Shannon listens to talk radio shows, such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, to hear the latest news in politics. “They have great insight among others such as Ann Coulter, Jason Lewis, Bill O’Reilly and Laura Ingraham.” After graduation, Shannon hopes to live in Germany while working for an international firm.

Story by Amanda Symes, contributor

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