September 12, 1997

YOUNGDAHL LEAVES COACT; WILL MANAGE FREEMAN CAMPAIGN

For only the second time in its 25 year history of citizen organizing, Minnesota COACT is losing its executive director. Jon Youngdahl, who has been administering COACT’s family farming and health care campaigns for seven years, is leaving to manage the gubernatorial campaign of Mike Freeman. "It’s unusual for a non-profit citizens organization to have a turnover of only two directors over so many years," said president Greg Simbeck. "This shows a strong, positive working relationship between our members and staff which we intend to maintain with the next director," he said.

In recounting COACT’s social justice accomplishments under Youngdahl’s directorship, Simbeck cites the organization’s coalition work with the Health Care Campaign of Minnesota to lower prescription drug prices for low-income people and protecting the rights of patients in HMOs. COACT also released two studies authored by its research director, Kip Sullivan, that document decreasing competition in health care services and prices due to the mergers of the state’s HMOs. In its campaign to save family farms, Simbeck points to the organization’s work with the state’s farm groups to get a dairy farmers and consumers board legislated to monitor how farmers are paid for their milk by the processors and what they’re charging consumers. Furthermore, milk produced by cows injected with an artificial bovine growth hormone must now be labled for consumer awareness due to COACT’s effort.

"Although these achievements are due to the hard work of our volunteer members, Youngdahl provided the overall guidance that led to the successes," Simbeck said. "That he was hired by Mike Freeman to run his campaign for governor is an indication of that success. Although COACT will miss Jon as a capable director and loyal friend, we’re looking forward to meeting with candidates interested in the job of carrying on the organzation’s social justice agenda," he said.

Applicants are invited to send their resumes to Minnesota COACT, 2233 University Avenue West, Suite 300, St. Paul, MN 55114. For more information, call COACT at 612-645-3733.