RHONDA SIVARAJAH CONVENTION SPEECH AS PREPARED MINNESOTA SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT APRIL 12, 2014

Delegates & Alternates, Ladies & Gentlemen, Special Guests:

I am Rhonda Sivarajah and I seek your endorsement to be the republican

nominee for Minnesotas Sixth Congressional District.

I want to thank my friend, Rep. Peggy Scott, who is a real rock star in the

Minnesota House, for her kind words of support and her remarks on what I have

accomplished on the Anoka County Board of Commissioners. Im proud of my

achievements there.

I want to thank my wonderful husband, Ran, for his warm words about

who I am as a person. Without his 100% support and encouragement, I would

not be standing here today. Ran and I love our children Sonjay and Asha more

than life itself. All parents do and we are no exception. We are so proud of them!

They felt bad they couldnt be here today. Sonjay is attending college in

Rochester New York and Asha is taking her ACT exam as we speak. Say a little

prayer for her if you would as I am sure she is having a difficult time

concentrating.

Friends, I am here before you today to get every single vote possible for

the endorsement, and, if lightening strikes, the endorsement itself.

I respect enormously the time and energy you have given in order to be

here today. Please believe me when I say thank you: thank you to those who

support me, thank you to those who support my friend Tom Emmer, thank you

to those who support my friend Phil Krinkie. All three of us owe you a debt of

gratitude. Personally, I felt duty bound to be here to show you my respect.

Yet as almost everyone in this auditorium knows, I announced earlier in

the week that, should I not be successful here today, I would continue on with

my campaign to the August primary.

I do so for a number of reasons but the foremost one is that our fellow

republicans in the District deserve a voice, not a ratification of a well meaning

system which often excludes them.

To be sure, this exclusion is unintentional: I dont know a single person

here today who would not welcome more republicans and their involvement.

The reality, though, is that many concerned citizens simply do not have the time

this aspect of the process demands. In todays age, the endorsement process is

increasingly seen by many as a relic from a bygone era. Why should we exclude

those republicans, those other voices? I believe we should not. And I believe I

owe it to youwhether you approve of my decision or notto come here and

explain my thinking. Let me do so.

A primary offers more people the opportunity to be involved in selecting

those who govern them. For conservatives, that should always be a good thing

because it is a good thing.

Im going to a primary for the young woman who volunteered to

be secretary at her convention but was rebuffed because she didnt

support a certain candidate;

Im going to a primary for the senior citizen who couldnt drive on

icy roads that particular day;

Im going to a primary for the single mother working two jobs so

she doesnt have to be dependent on welfare;

Im going to a primary for the business owner who is struggling to

survive and cant afford to take time away

Im going to the primary to allow regular republicans,

independents and conservative democrats to have their voices

heard.

Finally, Im going to a primary so that our brave young men and

women serving in our armed forces can participate in the political

process which ultimately directs when and where they put

themselves in harms way for our freedom.

I want a big tent, ladies and gentlemen, not a small one.

Our base needs to be expanded, not constricted. Our Minnesota

Republican Party as a whole benefits from going to a primary with its wider

audience and increased voter participation. This helps republicans all around the

state, up and down the ballot.

This district is not a slam-dunk republican stronghold. We may hold an

edge but we can ill afford a candidate who can lose that edge. Michele Bachmann

won reelection in 2012 by the narrowest of margins. This congressional district

hasnt changed since then and we become complacent at our peril.

I am the candidate who can reach out to all voters in the district because I

have embodied what almost all of them want: lower taxes, streamlined but

effective government and personal integrity. My views are not for sale and never

will be. 5

Why should we fear a primary when this is the process we already have? I

believe far from fearing it, we should embrace it. Im looking forward to sharing

with voters my record of accomplishment on the Anoka County Board of

Commissioners.

Why? Because I believe most voters, not just certain republicans, want

government to be more efficient, less intrusive and much, much less expensive.

Independents and conservative democrats (whose party has left them) are

worthy of our outreach to them, not our exclusion of them.

I have to be candid with you: some have told me I should stay where I am

because I do a good job. Really? Since when are we the party that does not

reward good performance but instead penalizes it? I havent gotten to where I

am today by listening to those negative voices and Im not about to start now.

Instead, I want to bring people along with me, as I have done in the past. I

want to change hearts and minds, not draw battle lines. I want to listen and then

speak, because we republicans have the best ideas for what will make the most 6

people prosperous, successful, safe and happy. Ive removed government out of

peoples lives where it never belonged and reduced its footprint where it must

intrude. Thats the winning kind of republican message the people of Minnesota

desperately need to hear from us.

Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to share these thoughts with

you. I leave you with this commitment: going forward I will run an issues based

campaign on what I can offer this districts voters in Congress should I be so

fortunate to earn their trust. Because in the end, if you dont trust the voters, you

shouldnt be on any ballot.

Thank you very much. God Bless you and May God Continue to Bless

This Great Nation!