Megan Thomas Wrote:
>I can say with confidence that I have not seen any effort to promote
>unqualified candidates who are also members of the GLBT community within the
>DFL. This past spring the Stonewall DFL chose endorse a highly qualified
>straight candidate, Brian Herron, over another candidate, Robert Lillegren,
>who we did not feel was prepared to be a city council member.
I'm having some trouble with this thread, specifically relating to
Robert's "qualifications" or perceived lack. I believe that every candidate
in the city, especially in my own city council race is not only qualified,
but represents a certain constituency that would not be heard otherwise. I
really think that anyone who suggests that these people not run and throw
their support to someone close to their ideology, or should not be
supported, does not truly believe in democracy. According to the city
charter, the qualifications for serving as an elected official are that you
be 21 years of age, and that you are elected by a majority of voters. This
says nothing about experience, which agenda people will promote, or how they
sound as a public speaker. During the sixth ward candidates forum held last
Thursday, almost everyone touted their experience and their "qualifications"
and ended up sounding like political insiders playing an insider's game. I
know that many people will see faults in me as well and I would encourage
them to support the candidate that best represents them and is closest to
their ideology. I suppose I'm in a cynical mood right now, but it seems to
me that part of what our system is supposed to be about is giving any
citizen a chance to try and represent her or his people in the government
and run for office. Webster's Ninth Collegiate dictionary defines
government by the few, or the system of keeping out the "inexperienced," (my
words) as oligarchy. Unfortunately, Minneapolis often doesn't look much
different.
----------------------------------------->
| Tamir Nolley
| Candidate for Mpls City Council, Ward 6
| Independence Party Endorsed
| Hop on the Nolley Trolley !
| http://www.nolleytrolley.org/
----------------------------------------->
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