I think that the most important quality that a City Council member needs to have is the ability to work effectively with ward residents who are trying to get something done in their community. Of course basic common sense, good judgment, integrity and a basic knowledge of City systems is important. However, without the ability to effectively work with and develop leadership in diverse groups of stake holders in a community, a Council member lacks the most important tool to achieving their communities goals. That is, an involved community.
There seems to be a lot of candidates this year who have worked effectively with their own neighbors on a variety of projects. Many of whom I am confident can and will be a partner of their ward's residents as they work to achieve their vision and goals for there community. Dan Niziolek, 10th Ward Candidate, is a prime example of a candidate who has the people skills necessary. I feel this way because not only does Dan have a long record of working in teams of residents to do good work in the Lyndale neighborhood but also because all of Dan's literature recognizes and references his Lyndale based achievements as the outcomes that he partnered with other community members to realize. He does not claim responsibility for others countless hours work but has instead "committed to community" in not only word but also in deed:-)) In contrast, 12th Ward CM Colvin Roy has distributed literature in which she claims responsibility for a myriad of community initiatives that are actually to the credit of the neighbors who worked tirelessly to achieve them. I would encourage those living in the 12th Ward to check out the lit, if only to see a map of the outstanding achievements of their neighbors. CM Colvin Roy's response to community members issues has been mixed at best. She has now sent out a piece of literature that in effect takes away credit from those who actually deserve it. This does not encourage the community members of the 12th Ward to get and to stay involved. I am very well aware of who did the work in my community and know that residents associated with the achievements of the Ward deserve acknowledgment. In addition, those who have not yet participated deserve to know that the " ...Real Results" referred to on the first page of Colvin Roy's lit were achieved by community residents and that they can do it, too! Finally, CM Colvin Roy has in fact stood in the way of a number of citizen lead initiatives but, of course, these issues are not alluded to in any of her literature. Again, I encourage all Minneapolis voters to weigh the important value of effective citizen involvement as they cast their votes. Carol Kratz, Ward 12 Nokomis East _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
