Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

Candidates in congressional district four GOP primary both have repeated run-ins with the law

St. Paul (June 16, 2010) - As news reports continue to uncover more information about GOP-endorsed candidate Teresa Collett, it's now certain that whomever wins the GOP spot in August will have a record of repeated legal infractions.

Collett, who admitted this week to having two driving-under-the-influence- related incidents in the past five years, joins fellow GOP candidate, Dr. Jack Shepard, who is a fugitive currently living in Italy under allegations of arson. Dr. Shepard has previous drug possession and criminal sexual conduct convictions.

"It's slim pickings for Republican voters in the CD4 GOP primary," said DFL spokesperson Donald McFarland. "We don't envy them a bit."

Background:

DWI past surfaces for Teresa Collett. "The Republican-endorsed congressional candidate in the St. Paul area, Teresa Collett, has had two run-ins with the law in recent years while driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police records." [Star Tribune, 6/16/10]

Fugitive Jack Shepard holds previous criminal sexual conduct and drug possession convictions. "Shepard made news in 2004 when Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer booted him off the 2004 primary ballot because she believed he was a fugitive felon, something Shepard denies...The Pioneer Press' Pat Sweeney reported in 2004 that ‘Hennepin County authorities said they believe the candidate is a former Minneapolis dentist who had already been convicted of criminal sexual conduct and drug possession when he was accused of arson in 1982.'" [MPR, 7/6/06]