“Other then raising your three kids, this is the most important thing you’ll do”
January 26, 2010
This last Friday I had the opportunity and privilege to meet and talk with Mary Underwood Heller, a registered lobbyist and member of the MIC (Minnesotan’s for Impartial Courts).
Mary gave me some unique insights into the workings of a lobbyist and more then a few pieces of great advice!
One of my focuses for the interview, since it has been a main theme for my internship this January, was the impartial judiciary in Minnesota. When I inquired as to how Mary became involved with MIC, she told me that Former Governor Quie, a close friend of hers, approached her and asked what she knew about the issue. Referring to Impartial Judiciary Former Governor Quie told Mary: “Other then raising your three kids, this is the most important thing you’ll do”.
After a little conversation on how she got involved with MIC, we moved on to discuss the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that opened the door for corporate political spending on campaign advertisements. Mary offered a perspective that I had yet to perceive. One of the biggest hurdles with the issue of Impartial Judiciary is that it doesn’t have enough attention. “The fact of the matter is that this is not, and has not, been on the radar screen of a lot of legislators”, Mary told me, “It’s an eye opener, this is what we have been talking about folks”.
Mary went on to talk about the progress that MIC has been making: “The thing that is most positive that has come out of the last few months is the fact that we have been able to bring to the coalition (MIC) such a broad spectrum”. Included in this “broad spectrum,” she indicated, are JRLC, League of Women Voters and most recently, the Minnesota State Bar Association.
If there is one thing I can’t stress more, and Mary would agree with me, is advocacy, advocacy and advocacy! This issue of Impartial Judiciary needs to be given some serious attention before our justice systems get too corrupted with influences!
That being said, I had a wonderful time talking with Mary, and am very thankful I was given the opportunity to do so!
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