Letter Writer to Post-Bulletin: Nelson Is Strong Advocate for Victims of Bullying

Shaun Uhlir (right) discusses bullying issues with Sen. Carla Nelson at an anti-bullying rally held in Stewartville this past June

From today’s Post-Bulletin:

This June, I, along with close friends, sponsored an anti-bullying rally in Stewartville. We held it because we felt frustrated trying to work within the system when it came to confronting bullying.

The purpose of the rally was to share our experiences with bullying and come up with solutions. We invited Sen. Carla Nelson, vice chair of the Senate Education Committee, and she spoke to the assembled crowd and offered the resources of her office to help out anyone who had negative experiences with bullying.

She was genuinely interested in making sure people didn’t just fall through the cracks and came as a friend to several of the attendees.

Although the rally was very productive, one part was not. Her opponent, Mr. Moen showed up and addressed the crowd. His focus was not on our concerns, but he mainly personally attacked, in fact bullied, Sen. Nelson over a vote she cast in the senate against an anti-bullying bill.

She explained the amendment came before the Senate without any debate, and that the governor’s task force report on anti-bullying would soon be released. And she said she would request a hearing on the issue.

But Moen would not let the issue go. We had to tell him our rally was not intended as a political rally and to take his campaigning elsewhere.

I want an advocate like Sen. Nelson back in the Senate!

Shaun Uhlir
Stewartville