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As a candidate for City Council in the 8th Ward, I sought the Stonewall DFL
endorsement this year and was rated not acceptable. After my screening
interview three of the voting members (one-third) who participated in the 8th
Ward vote approached me and explained that the reason for my rating was
because of my decision to run in the primary with or without DFL endorsement.
All three Stonewall'ers apologized to me for the rating. They complimented me
on my presentation and my stands on issues. Two are DFL chair holders.
In his recent post Tim Bonham, Stonewall DFL Board, implies that I was rated
not acceptable because I don't "have a serious chance of being elected" or
that I wouldn't "do a good job in the office". He lauds the Stonewall DFL
endorsed gay male candidates for their "solid background in their ward &
neighborhood". I, too, am a long time, hardworking community activist with a
history of helping and participating in ward issues. I have known Tim Bonham
since I was a lad. I have always known him to be fair, but here I think his
strong party leanings are coloring his judgement and words.
As the only openly gay man running against an endorsed DFL candidate (and
incumbent) it is now the duty of Stonewall DFL to exclude me on party
principles, I know that. I was excluded from a recent Lavender Magazine cover
story about the "four gay men" running for City Council in Mpls. I am
mentioned at the very end of the article, I believe after the GLBT candidates
for Assistant to the Assistant Dogcatcher : ) Ironically, it is this type of
exlcusion that GLBT activists have been working for decades to eradicate.
This is my first campaign and I am learning a lot. My outsider status means I
will need to work harder to win. I think people in the 8th Ward will
appreciate a hardworking candidate. I supported the ammendment to create City
election year endorsing conventions as a step toward engaging more DFL folks
in the process. I know I would have benefitted from this. I respect the DFL
endorsement, for sure, but I will be running in the primary to give people in
the 8th Ward a choice and because I believe I will be a true community
representative on City Council.
I'll see on the campaign trail and at Gay Pride, too!
Yours,
Robert Lilligren
Candidate for City Council
Ward 8, Phillips West
www.VoteRobert.com
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