Unfortunately, RT Rybak's mayoral announcement came during our server
switch, which probably robbed his candidacy of some discussion on this list.
But since the 2001 elections were a big reason I helped started this list
two years ago, I'd like to jumpstart the discussion.
Notwithstanding the incumbent and other possible candidates such as Mark
Stenglein - who I'm excluding, for now, for discussion purposes -- I suspect
the battle to make the final two will come down to between two list members:
RT and Lisa McDonald.
I was reading RT's announcement speech
(http://www.rtformayor.com/index.asp?Page=DISPLAY&GroupID=1&DTID=PR&ID=8857)
, and something struck me: there probably wasn't a whole lot here Lisa won't
also say or agree with.
For example, RT emphasizes 5 points. They include:
Setting Development Priorities, or no more cookie-cutter development - Lisa
has fought this battle pretty publicly.
Innovative Choices, or city managers be more creative and give us a fair
deal. Lisa can probably also point to several instances of badgering City
Hall bureaucrats to do it, or finance it, differently.
Environment. RT touts his aggressively battle against airport noise; this is
one where Lisa has been somewhat quieter, though nobody calls her the
polluter's pal. RT may have greater recognition for leading the airport
fight, though no one calls Lisa the polluter's pal. Her more visible
development battles may be a counterweight to RT's more visible
environmental battles, but this is probably an insider calculation.
RT Issues where I'm less certain of Lisa's agreement include:
Ethics, specifically campaign finance reform, including a ban on
non-election-year fundraising. Not sure where Lisa stands on that.
Build for a New Economy. Sounds to me like a city industrial policy favoring
the internet and high-tech. Not sure if Lisa is so prescriptive.
So here's my question for those of you who have already decided (and you
list-member candidates yourselves!): why him and not her? Or, why her and
not him?
If it doesn't come down to issue differences (and I'm not saying it won't,
but make the case, please), what does it come down to? Will it be RT as
Outsider Hell-raiser (albeit with Downtown Council experience and working
for some development deals in the past) versus Lisa as Insider Hell-raiser
(albeit antagonizing many of her colleagues by fighting battles lots of
outsiders want fought?)
Anyway, as Mike Meyers' Cauwfy Tawk lady once said, "Rybak versus McDonald.
Let's discuss."
David Brauer
List manager, Minneapolis-issues
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