Carlbom to direct group working to defeat Same-Sex Marriage ballot initiative

Minnesotans United For all Families has announced that it has hired Richard Carlbom to direct the group's efforts to defeat the constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage. Carlbom currently serves as Communications Director for St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. He was also campaign manager for DFL Rep. Tim Walz in 2010.Carlbom was also the Mayor of St. Joseph from 2005-2007.

Carlbom's experience stumping for votes in rural Minnesota played a factor in his hiring.

"That's a certainly a huge asset to any statewide campaign," Minnesotans United For all Families spokesman Donald McFarland said. "We need to win votes in every county to win this so that's a huge asset."

DFL Sen. Scott Dibble and GOP Rep. Tim Kelly participated in the hiring process of Carlbom.

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"I know that Richard Carlbom is the individual who can lead us to victory. His work ethic is excellent, and his intelligence and insight inspire confidence," Dibble said in a news release.

"Mr. Carlbom is a fantastic choice. From my perspective, this issue is not one of partisanship but rather, one of individual freedom and choice. Richard has the ability to bring this message to all Minnesotans in a clear, concise manner, and I look forward to being a part of that effort," Kelly said in a news release.

Carlbom will leave Coleman's office to take the job. He starts the new job on September 24.

Voters in the 2012 election will decide whether the state's constitution should be amended to require that marriage is defined between one man and one woman. If a majority of those voting in that election vote yes, the constitution will be amended.

Update: Minnesota for Marriage, a group working to pass the amendment, announced today that it hired Chuck Darrell as communications director. Darrell was a spokesman for the Minnesota Family Council.