I hate politics. I love politics. It varies from day to day and from politician to politician.
I spent the last few decades of my full-time career at this newspaper managing the opinion/editorial pages. In that job, you’ll encounter politicians from every local and state holding or running for elected office, including Congress, state government, city government, county government, and school boards. I’ve never met a dog catcher that I didn’t like.
They all come to the newspaper on an invitation from the newspaper to apply for a so-called endorsement interview. As a result, newspapers end up telling readers, right before an election, which candidate their editors think is best suited for the job they seek, rather than telling readers how to vote.
You knew it — at least I think I knew it — but I think in the last two decades of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century, just about every politician in the upper Midwest (we’re in Wisconsin) I wanted to repeat that to explain how we met (we also covered the north).
One of my favorites was Florian Chmielewski, who recently passed away at the age of 97. When Mr. Florian was a DFL state senator representing a district south of Duluth, he often stopped by the paper and spoke with us often.
Steve Kuchera / File / Duluth Media Group
I call him by his first name because that’s how I interacted with most politicians until they were elected to very high positions such as governor. However, I don’t know if he called Governor Perpich or Congressman “Rudy”) “Jim”
Of course, most people remember Kromielewski as an accomplished accordion player and leader of a polka band that included his family on the hit TV show. A versatile man.
Almost everyone has seen his performance in person or on television at least once. Not everyone had the opportunity to talk about public policy with him when he was a state senator. He was studying specifically in the field of healthcare, and I remember having a discussion with him. Very dedicated.
On a serious note, that big smile rarely left his face. That’s how I want to remember him. And how did he form a bond? There is no knot, just a regular tie arranged like a cravat.
One day I happened to be at WDIO-TV’s hilltop studio, where they were recording a segment of his TV show “Chmielewski Funtime,” and Florian was up front pumping the accordion.
Bob King / File / Duluth Media Group
Suddenly, one of the technicians said there was a problem with the recording equipment. They were filming the band but weren’t picking up the sound. What were they going to do? I was told that it would not be a problem and that they would simply fill the soundtrack with the group’s past recordings and would not try to match specific songs to the recorded performances. Hmm.
I’m not a polka fan, but I wish “Just Because” was included. This is a classic: “Because you think you’re so pretty / Because you think you’re so smart / Because you think you’ve got something / That no one else has.” / You tell me I’ll make you spend all your money/ You laugh and call me Santa Claus. / Well, I’m telling you, baby, I’m done with you / Just because. ”
Smile, you’re in for “Chmielewski Funtime.”
I remember often watching the “Funtime” ensemble drive past on flatbed trucks during the annual July 4th parade in Moose Lake. (“I don’t need her/You could have her/She’s too fat for me…” – they may have played an old non-PC polka.)
I almost gave Florian a nasty blow once when he was running for re-election to the Minnesota State Senate, a position he had held for just over a quarter of a century. All the candidates we interviewed in various offices said in their endorsement interviews that they were “working on” different things, such as lowering taxes, improving roads, and working on education. I was emphasizing it.
During one campaign, when Mr. Florian came for an interview, he emphasized that he was trying to support Moose Lake’s plans for a new high school and many other things.
Those of a certain age will remember that Moose Lake was once best known for having what could politely be called a mental health facility there, but over the years it has often been unceremoniously called a “mental health facility.” It was called a “mental hospital,” a term that would be politically incorrect today. Since then, I have taken on a completely different role.
In any case, in writing a paper supporting Florian, I highlighted his efforts to support Moose Lake, and inadvertently included the headline, “Chmielewski was committed to Moose Lake.”
Fortunately, it was never printed. until today.
I’m sad that Florian is gone. Even into his 90s, he continued to move forward with music, always with a big smile on his face, and seemed to be singing, Run. “
But not this week. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, May 7th at Sturgeon Lake, where he lived.
Jim Heffernan is a former news and opinion writer and columnist for the Duluth News Tribune. He maintains a blog at his jimheffernan.org and can be reached by email at jimheffernan@jimheffernan.org.
