A reminder: There will be a candidate forum for the three candidates seeking DFL endorsement at the May 5 convention, tomorrow (Tuesday), 7:30-9 p.m., Whittier Neighborhood Center gymnasium, 2600 Grand Ave. S. Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton, Councilmember Lisa McDonald and R.T. Rybak will take part. There will be an opportunity for questions from the audience. The forum also will be taped and then broadcast on MTN, Channel 6. The forum is sponsored by several neighborhood newspapers: Southwest Journal, Southeast Angle, Seward Profile, Northeaster, North News, Southside Pride, Longfellow/Nokomis Messenger and Whittier Globe. Several people have asked with concern why Dick Franson isn't included (he is not seeking DFL endorsement), or Mark Stenglein (if he runs, it will be as an independent). Have they been "shut out"? This was not intended to be--nor will it be--the only candidate forum before the September primary. It is something of an experiment, to see if it's useful to have a PUBLIC forum before the DFL endorsing convention, at which delegates and non-delegates can get a sense of the candidates. Because this is a city dominated by one political party, the endorsement of that party can carry a great deal of weight (for some races, it seems to be all that matters). Yet it's an endorsement that happens months before the filing deadline, let alone the primary, and usually without much opportunity for public view of the candidates. One person suggested to me that the DFL should be hosting a candidate forum like the one we're having tomorrow night. I think that's a wonderful idea, and hope the DFL considers it for the future. If you are a DFL delegate, the forum will give you a somewhat extended opportunity to see the candidates and how they deal with questions and each other. If you are committed to a candidate already, you can see how your candidate holds up. If you're not committed, you may get enough information to help you decide how to vote on May 5. If you're NOT already a DFL delegate, you also will have a chance to understand the candidates better. You will not be able to take part in the endorsement May 5, but you can express your views to any delegates you know. Again, there will be pre-primary candidate forums in which all of the candidates who have filed for the mayoral race can take part; the community newspapers are likely to host at least one of these. Linda Picone, Editor Southwest Journal _______________________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - Minnesota E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
