Minnesota Drive for Woman Senator Draws Criticism : Politics: Charges of sexism heard. Mostly Democratic group is trying to raise $1 million.

ST. PAUL, Minn. —  An effort to raise $1 million to help catapult a Minnesota woman into the U.S. Senate in 1994 has prompted rumblings about sexism that could prove troubling for state Democrats.

A mostly Democratic group calling itself the Minnesota Million intends to raise the money for a woman only, and may well not use it to help the party if it nominates a man. The campaign’s openly stated goal is that a woman, and only a woman, should win the Senate seat now occupied by retiring Republican Dave Durenberger.

So far the group has 275 pledgers (20 are men) who either are donating $1,000 or agree to raise $1,000 from friends and associates. In the coming weeks, the group will decide whether to endorse a female candidate now--two possible candidates have emerged so far--or wait until after the Democratic state convention in June.

Geri Ginder, a supporter of a male Senate candidate with a strong record on women’s rights--Democrat Tom Berg--has accused the group of trying to dictate whom liberals and progressives should support.

“I don’t think you have to be a woman in this office, in any office,” she said. “Gender should not be an issue, race should not be an issue.”

John Wodele, president of the Minnesota Democratic Leadership Council, said that the group has “created the perception that this Senate seat was reserved for a woman. I’m sure it wasn’t intentional, but the perception emerged that the men get the governor’s seat and women get the Senate seat, which makes me very uncomfortable.”

“My sense is that the vast majority of voters around the country are talking about crime, health care--substantive issues, and that is their main concern, not the race or gender of the candidate,” Berg said. “They are looking for substantive solutions and looking for the best possible person.”

Said Berg campaign spokesman Russell W. Peterson: “We know a great deal of pressure is being placed on women voters, and frankly, guilt is being placed on women to vote for a woman no matter what.”

Minnesota state Sen. Linda Berglin, a Democrat who will formally announce her candidacy in December, contends that such criticism ignores the qualifications of the female candidates.

“I think the insinuation by Tom Berg that I am not qualified is ridiculous,” said Berglin, who has helped author major state legislation, including a health care access bill. “He is implying that the women in this race are in just because they are women.”

Another female Democratic candidate is Ann Wynia, formerly Minnesota commissioner of the Human Services Department and former majority leader in the Minnesota House.

Wynia welcomes a possible cash infusion of $1 million, but adds that she hopes the race “will be decided without regard to gender. I don’t focus on Minnesota Million. I want to get the (state Democratic) endorsement.”

Supporters of Minnesota Million think their legitimate efforts to pry open a male bastion are being mischaracterized by male interests that have benefited from their own brand of gender politics for hundreds of years.

They maintain that since it costs upward of $3 million to run a Senate campaign, female candidates deserve a leg up. “Men own the capital in this country,” said state Sen. Carol Flynn, who is credited with coming up with the idea of Minnesota Million. “They own the money. And they’re still paid considerably more than women in employment, and they’re used to raising money and spending money for elections.”

If Berg or another man receives the party endorsement, Minnesota Million could buck the party and continue to support a female Senate candidate. Or it could route the funds to a woman running for another public office. But either scenario could be awkward for state Democrats.

So far, the state party chairman said he isn’t worried.

“Minnesota Million is doing nothing different than was done before, except it’s more open and not being done in terms of the old boys club,” said Rick Stafford, party chair for the Democratic Farmer Labor party, as the state refers to its Democratic party. “I don’t see this as an issue.”

Ellen Malcolm, president of the highly successful Emily’s List, which supports “viable, pro-choice female candidates” running for top offices across the country, said she finds the controversy over Minnesota Million surprising.

“Anybody who takes one look at the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives will realize that women are severely underrepresented. I think Congress will work better when our representative democracy begins to include women.” Currently seven U.S. senators are women.

The only Minnesota woman to ever serve in the House of Representatives was Democratic Rep. Coya Knutson. She lost reelection in 1958 after her husband lamented, “Coya, come home.” His complaint that their home life was suffering was picked up by media throughout the country.