Your letters: Nominate your city for 'Capital for a Day'

A "Capital for a Day" competition has been launched on the Internet but the deadline to submit nominations is rapidly approaching.

The assignment is for local citizens to submit nominations, using 150 words or fewer explaining why their area should be Capital for a Day. An online vote will follow to determine which five areas will be named honorary "capital cities."

The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission is accepting nominations for the competition, leading up to the celebration of Minnesota's 150th year of statehood. Nominations may be made at www.mn150years.org but we need to act quickly since the submission deadline is Nov. 7. Online voting will take place from Nov. 11-24 and winners will be announced a week or so later.

I'm sure plenty of large cities around the state will be promoted in this competition, but why not make a push for more of a down-home place? Why not nominate the Capital for a Day to be in a place like Sebeka, Verndale or Parkers Prairie? The program is designed to showcase communities and regions across Minnesota, so let's highlight things that make this area special. We could write about how rural Minnesota is the backbone to the rest of the state, or how the hard-working people of this region have supported the local economy through job creation.

There are numerous ways to approach nominations since Capitals for a Day may be small towns, regional centers, townships, reservations, or entire counties. The only requirement is that we highlight that community or region of Minnesota. Each winner will be recognized as an honorary "Capital for a Day" during Statehood Week, May 11-18, 2008.

A winner will be selected from each of the five natural "biomes," or geographical regions that are divided according to environmental characteristics.

Capital for a Day winners will receive a visit from government officials and Sesquicentennial Commission members. They will recognize winners and a forum may take place to examine the Sesquicentennial Plan for Our Future, as well as other topics.

Rep. Dean Simpson

Perham