Star Tribune on 7-20-08 reported Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah avowing, "I have never talked to people about running against fellow board members."
But the Tribune also reported that Anoka Mayor Skogquist- now running for county commissioner- claimed "Rhonda approached me" about running against Dan Erhart.
Sivarajah confirmed to the Tribune that well, yes, she "did encourage him".
Hopefully the Tribune didn't have to resort to waterboarding to get these confessions.
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Sivarajah & Skogquist in cahoots and playing politics goes back to at least 2002.
"Elect Rhonda" was listed in the Coles Information Services Directory at 408 Van Buren, Anoka MN, Skogquist's residence. The phone number listed was Mayor Bjorn Skogquist's. Sivarajah's district is Lino Lakes in the far east of the county.
408 Van Buren was also the residence of a Bonnie McDonald. (Maybe currently 8-08 -signed a petiton 408 Van Buren #2) This is the renter-girlfriend-fiancee-ex-whatever of Skogquist's that was hired at the Anoka County Historical Society even though she did not meet the minimum requirement of five years experience. And, in fact, was a student back east at the time of the job posting. See McDonald's profile on www.LinkedIn.com.
Only two applicants were interviewed (ACHS board minutes 5-02). One man had the required five years museum management experience. The other applicant, the-girl-with-no-experience, was hired.
This was the year the Minnesota Historical Society's funding was cut 25%, sites were closed, many qualified historic types were forced into other jobs.
But McDonald was a tireless door-to-door campaigner for "Skogquist for Mayor". ( Also Dori Schumacher and Michael Gundlach's literature was tucked in with Skogquist's) She was in a close personal relationship with the Mayor of Anoka. It was determined she was a "better fit" for the job of executive director. June 2002.
2002 was also the year Skogquist declared his occupation: "to me, being your mayor is a full time job." Salary $6,800. He was somehow able to purchase 408 Van Buren. August 2002.
It was probably a helpful benefit to have county taxpayer money via McDonald contributing to Skogquist mortgage payments in those lean years.
Comment: Bjorn Skogquist recent job at ATC (Anoka Technical College) should be investigated. While we appreciate Anne Weyandt taking the little guy in, he's not exactly qualified for the job. Unless it's another one of those spoils hires. Being mayor the major qualification?
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