Former 60th District DFL Chair Scott Persons put a clever DFL reform spin on the Saturday 10th Ward result. He and other Nizolek campaign strategists worked hard to keep their supporters in place as long as it took to prevent an endorsement. There actions were a defeat for the DFL and its endorsing process for sure. But saying that no endorsement represents a "big win" is pure campaign rhetoric and ignores some key facts. Despite having declared his candidacy in advance of the 2000 caucuses and campaigning for well over a year, Dan only mustered about 45 supporters to the convention. Doug Kress, who led on each ballot until adjournment, began campaigning in January and former Mpls school board member Ann Berget started later yet. Dan's decision not to abide by the endorsement pretty much ensured that he wouldn't pick up many new supporters during the convention. Forcing an early adjournment was the best he could hope for. Ann Berget's gamesmanship and supporting role in this block can't be understated. She came into the convention with a long record of public service and far fewer delegates than either of the other two. After weeks of waffling, Ann made a last minute decision to declare that she would abide by the endorsement. With that, the wiley Ms. Berget was able to demonstrate her renewed loyalty to the DFL at the beginning of the day, get dumped in the third ballot and then take her dozen or so supporters to join with Nizolek and adjourn sans endorsement, just in time for the NCAA tipoff. A three-way DFL race against two men is exactly what she wanted. No doubt an endorsement for any of the candidates would have been difficult to overcome. This campaign will now be won on the doorsteps of the 10th Ward. Congratulations and condolences to all the candidates! Still a believer, Niel Ritchie East Harriet Farmstead 10th Ward > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of > Scott Persons > Sent: Tuesday, April 03, 2001 9:40 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [Mpls] 10th Ward win for Niziolek > > > The silence on this list about what happened in the 10th ward on Saturday > has been deafening. Saturday was such a big for victory Dan Niziolek > because he was able to block an endorsement with his hard work, > outstanding > experience, and strong support from the community. When a > candidate is not > abiding by the endorsement blocks it; a block is a win. (A big win!) > >> Scott Persons > Lyndale Neighborhood > Ward 8 (half a block out of Ward 10) > > > _______________________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls > _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
