Betty McCollum is a hardworking Dem US representative from a Minnesota district that is mixed, if not somewhat Republican leaning. She's done pretty well. This time around, she's being challenged by Republican Obi Sium. His non-Norsky name is not the only disadvantage Mr. Sium is having to
deal with:
The daughter of a congressional candidate from Oakdale was arrested this weekend after she went to the West Fargo, N.D., police and attempted to buy drugs from a dispatcher, the department said.
Grace Sium, 20, is a student at North Dakota State University and the daughter of Obi Sium, a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hydrologist running as a Republican to unseat U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-St. Paul.
Police said a woman called the agency early Saturday inquiring about buying marijuana. The dispatcher repeatedly told the woman it was illegal, but the caller was insistent and the dispatcher told her to come to headquarters and he would "hook her up,'' said West Fargo police Capt. Mike Reitan.
Within the hour, Grace Sium showed up and gave money to the dispatcher, he said. She was then arrested for the attempted purchase of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both are misdemeanor charges.
The unusual circumstances around her arrest generated a buzz on the Internet and her case was featured on dumbcrooks.com.
Obi Sium, who did not want to comment on the allegations, did say they would not have an impact on his campaign.
"I don't see how it affects me. I'm running; she isn't,'' he said.
True. Kids do dumb things. I know I did.
Or maybe she's really just a McCollum supporter. I don't know.
In any case, I think this seat is safe.