Terrell Brown has vigorously objected to attempts to identify him with the
Republican Party state platform. He argues that he is pro-choice, has the
endorsement of pro-choice groups as well as the Gay-Lesbian Victory Fund
and should not be associated with party positions with which he clearly
disagrees.
I have no doubt about Terrell's sincerity on this. He clearly is a moderate, pro-
choice, pro-gay rights Republican . There is only one problem. If elected,
Terrell would cast his most important vote on the first day of the legislative
session. As a Republican he is obligated to vote for Republican organization
of the Senate. Let's suppose for a minute that he was the deciding vote that
gave control of the Senate to the Republicans. What would that mean for pro-
choice people, for GLBT people, and for the city of Minneapolis?
The majority leadership of the Senate would pass from Roger Moe (pro-
choice, pro-GLBT, a consistent supporter of Minneapolis interests) to Dick
Day. Day has consistently voted anti-choice, anti-GLBT, and against whatever
Minneapolis wants. Republican organization would also mean Republican
chairmen of every committee. Let me just indicate what that would mean in
three crucial committees - Crime Prevention, Judiciary and K-12 Education.
All are currently chaired by Minneapolis Democrats (myself, Jane Ranum and
Larry Pogemiller. With Republican control, Crime Prevention would be
chaired by Tom Neville. Neville is the leading spokesperson in the Senate for
the pro-choice position on abortion and for anti-gay initiatives like DOMA.
Judiciary would be chaired by David Knutson, more moderate than Neville, but
still stridently anti-choice and the only member of the committee to oppose
the GLBT rights bill in l993. And K-12 Education would likely be chaired by
Gen Olson, Norm Coleman's l998 running mate, strongly anti-choice and anti-
gay and a leading advocate of vouchers and home schooling.
It is well and good for a candidate to ask to be judged as an individual and to
not be dismissed simply on the basis of partisanship. I understand and
respect that. I think that Terrell Brown is an honest person of moderate
inclinations. But his party affiliations cannot be dismissed. So long as he is
committed to voting for Republican organization of the Senate, he will be
supporting right-wing leadership. He will be a freshman Republican with little
clout in his caucus. The ideas that he espouses will never even seen the light
of day if his party takes control.
Allan Spear
Ward 10
