Bill Dooley asks for comments on the Politics In Minnesota item touting Mark
Stenglein (which I've asked for permission to reprint in its entirety here):
In addition to the geographic analysis, the PIMmers base their "Sayles
Belton vs. Stenglein" November scenario on an insider argument: "Stenglein
plans to run on basic infrastructure issues, which he notes are galvanizing
younger city voters who pay high property taxes and high water and garbage
fees in a city that cannot manage to adequately plow the streets. ...
Stenglein has a good shot at preempting McDonald on the infrastructure
issue, if he can link McDonald to being part of the problem as a current
member of the Minneapolis City Council."
I don't think so. Is Hennepin County better loved in the
government-efficiency department than City Hall? (I'm not arguing what the
truth is, but what perception is.) Council Member McDonald is an extremely
mediagenic pol (see City Pages and Minneapolis-St. Paul profiles) and I
think she has done a pretty good job portraying herself as a daring
outsider. I don't think Stenglein will get much traction on this one.
However, there is irony in PIM declaring Republicans will support Stenglein.
PIM's Republican author, Sarah Janecek, was reportedly at a McDonald
fundraiser in late December aimed at city GOPers (not that there's anything
wrong with that...it is a non-partisan election, right?) Of course, Janecek
is a lobbyist and they don't have to limit themselves to one candidate. But
Lisa McDonald's husband, George Soule is an influential Republican (not that
there's anything wrong with that), so I think she has significant
connections to GOP votes that Stenglein doesn't have.
And while McDonald's base is more fractured than Stenglein's, I still think
she has a much bigger base to begin with and thus a better chance to reach
the final. While I can only guess at the mind of a Republican <grin>, I
think if I were stepping into the voting booth and had to choose the fiscal
conservatives most likely to beat the mayor in a still-liberal PC city, I'd
pick the brassy woman fiscal conservative with proven crossover appeal to
gays and southsiders necessary for a winning coalition, rather than the
white guy from the part of town with fewer people. Guess we'll see.
Last interesting note: in a city of 370,000, Politics in Minnesota reminds
us that in 1993 and 1997, Mayor Sayles Belton won with 14,163 and 15,329
votes, respectively. I didn't realize it was that few.
David Brauer
King Field - Ward 10
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
Dooley, Bill
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 2:40 PM
To: Discuss Minneapolis
Subject: [Mpls] Stenglein Candidacy
The "Politics in Minnesota" newsletter editors have just announced:
"Stenglein will be one of the two candidates to emerge victorious in the
nonpartisan mayoral primary in September." Stenglein will apparently file as
an Independent not as a member of Governor Ventura's Independence Party.
They base their prediction in part on the fact that Stenglein, as Hennepin
County Commissioner, represents 1/3 of Minneapolis and is the only candidate
from the north and northeast parts of the city. They continue with the
assertion that Stenglein can expect substantial Republican financial support
and that McDonald and Rybak are vying for the same south Minneapolis votes.
They end with: "Sayles Belton is in a considerably weaker position than she
has been in previous elections.
My comment: I do not see this as a totally North v. South contest. I believe
McDonald and Rybak can appeal to voters in North Minneapolis just as
Stenglein will appeal to voters in South Minneapolis, especially Southwest.
I also believe that incumbents who seek re-election are never as weak as
perceived.
Your comments.
Bill Dooley
Ward 13
Kenny
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