[Mpls] (no subject)

[Linda Higgins]

JHarmon stated: <start> It has pained me for some 8 years now listening to the mayor stumble and mumble through various "sorry I was late" public speaking engagements. Her constant "and um..." ramblings leave much to be desired. I've always felt that part of the draw of any politician is the ability to speak concisely, if not eloquently about what they plan to do during their tenure. I've never heard a politician with such a poor command of the language and of public speaking in general. And as far as her rustling in some 40 minutes late, I'm reminded of a post during the last week or so lamenting about how the 'poor thing' works such long hours and has children to care for..... Should have thought of that before she took the job. <end> I'd like to remind people that the mayor doesn't get the opportunity to schedule events so they don't conflict with another one. I often have 3 or 4 events that I'm requested to attend all going at the same time. And my district is only one-sixth of the city of Minneapolis! Obviously, the mayor's scheduler must tell lots of groups that she won't be there, others that she may be there, and others that she will be there. Then she goes from event to event -- on time for the first one, a little late for the second one, quite late for the third, and so on. Therefore, a lot of "sorry I'm late" happens.   It would be great for elected officials if only one event could be scheduled for a particular time. Then we could be on time and stay for the entire event. But that's not the way the world goes.   This year, for instance, the senate's committee schedule included the Finance Committee and the Tax Committee from 4 to 7 PM, 4 nights a week. At first I tried to get out to some of the neighborhood meetings in my district, arriving no earlier than a half-hour late, but as session wore on, I found I couldn't even get to them that early, and usually not at all. And now during the interim, I'm still faced with 3 neighborhoods meeting regularly on the same night and a couple other sets of neighborhoods who meet at the same time on opposite ends of the district.   And on the comment about families, may I only comment that it would be a pretty awful world if every meeting were more important than your family. Do I think an elected official should use their kids as an excuse to not attend something? No. But some events happen in your child's life that you shouldn't miss, regardless of whether you're the mayor, an account exec, or a bus driver. And this comes from a person who doesn't have any kids.   I know legislators from the Range who drive home some nights to see their kids play hockey, then get up before the crack of dawn to be at committee meetings the next morning. It's about priorities. That kind of commitment to your family shouldn't disqualify you from holding office. It probably makes you a better office holder.   Linda Higgins North Mpls - Old Highland