Rick Santorum Wins HD 39B Straw Poll in Inver Grove Heights

Rick Santorum won the House District 39B Republican presidential straw poll at Tuesday evening’s caucus.

The caucus was held at at 6:30 p.m. and included Inver Grove Heights precincts 1-10.

Santorum received 132 of the 313 total votes cast. Ron Paul followed Santorum, with 96 votes.  Mitt Romney came in third, with 54 votes. Newt Gingrich received 30 votes and other received one vote.

The caucus also hosted a range of lively debates and discussions.

“The most important thing is that people get out and have a chance to express their feelings on different political issues,” said , chair of the House District 39B Republicans.

The evening began with a gathering of all the included precincts for the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. Then, after a few announcements, the precincts divided in order to hold various internal elections, conduct the straw poll and discuss possible resolutions.

Although not every precinct had proposed resolutions, those that were brought to the table touched on a wide variety of issues. 

Precinct 6 passed a resolution in support of raising the gambling age to 21 and calling for privatized free market participation in all legal gambling.

After a revision, Precinct 2 passed a resolution supporting the abolishment of the Federal Reserve.

Precinct 1 witnessed a heated discussion regarding the separation of church and state, although the resolution that sparked the debate was eventually withdrawn.

Check back with Patch on Wednesday, for more detailed coverage of Tuesday’s caucus.