I have no idea what's been published about Dean Zimmermann, but from Jenny's response below, I'm guessing it is some all too typical negative junk emitting from a desperate foe. As a lifelong DFLer, I've been pretty ashamed of my party in the last decade or two with its ability to abandon it's perceived and self-acclaimed mandate as the party of peace and humanity to not only engage in democracy-debasing slashing and burning of opponents of other parties, but even of those within their own ranks. Never mind the damage done to the political process along the way, the cynicism engendered in otherwise participating voters, keeping them away.
I have known Dean Zimmermann for years. This man is among the most dedicated, ethical, committed hard-working people persons I've ever encountered in my 62 years. He is among the most selfless political animal, let alone human beings this region is privileged to have on its side. I do not know Dean Kallenbach; I have had great respect some of his supporters in the past as I read them here, but any allusion to Zimmermann's lack of knowledge or qualifications or motivations for serving in public office should be allayed by the record - a real record of accomplishment as laid out so well by Jenny Heiser. I'm guessing that whatever his opponents want to cite as lacking in overall knowledge of just one neighborhoods in Ward 6 is a pittance compared with the potential he brings to a City Council desperately in need of Dean's politics. Andy Driscoll Saint Paul ------ "The hottest place in Hell is reserved for those who, in times of moral crisis, remain neutral" --Dante > From: "Jenny Heiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2001 12:01:12 -0500 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], > [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [whittier] 6th ward race > > What a shame and a sadness to read these posts on the Whittier > Neighborhood and Minneapolis Issues lists bemoaning the lack of clear > choice in the Ward 6 race for City Council. While I'm not certain > which candidate is being referred to as the "worst," I can attest to > who would be the best for Ward 6 -- Dean Zimmermann. > > Zimmermann has an admirable -- some would say enviable -- record of > accomplishment while in public office with the Minneapolis Park & > Recreation Board. And he's accomplished this record not by sitting in > an office but by being out in the parks connecting with Park Board > workers and staff at all levels, forging the coalitions and links > needed in order to get the job done, especially with the Park Police. > Thanks to the work Dean's done with the Park Police a person can now > feel safe in Powderhorn Park. This was not the case 8 years ago. He > has worked diligently with both the staff and the police and the > communities surrounding East Phillips Park and Peavey Park. Today > there are strong, community-supporting programs at Peavey Park with > more to come, thanks to Dean Zimmermann. East Phillips is slated to > have a brand new community center built at East Phillips Park within > the next 1-2 years, again, thanks to the hard work, over time, of Dean > Zimmermann. While serving on the Park Board, Dean Z has had to deal > with a budget in the millions of dollars, he has overseen major new > and renovation projects from start to finish, he has helped negotiate > contracts with developers for Park projects, he has helped negotiate > labor contracts with Park Board workers and staff. But above all else > he has maintained excellent constituent contact: returning calls > immediately (including giving out his personal e-mail address and both > his private and public phone numbers so he can be reached in a > moment's notice), listening carefully and thoughtfully to constituent > concerns throughout his Park Board district, and acting promptly. He > has been accessible, he has displayed thoughtfulness and fair > deliberation, he has been responsive. (Please see David K. Porter's > 'Letter To The Editor,' in today's edition of the S'trib.) > > Thanks to the tireless work of Dean Zimmermann -- who is still known > as "Mr. Co-op" -- Ward 6 has the finest co-op in the Twin Cities, The > Wedge. There are now restaurants in Ward 6 serving natural foods > thanks to the groundwork laid by Dean Zimmermann with the Midwest > Natual Foods Distribution. What started out as a rag-tag operation > thirty years ago has blossomed into what we have today. All of this is > thanks to the vision, the perserverance of people like Dean Zimmermann > who played a pivotal role in the natural foods movement. > > As a small business owner who has specialized in custom home repair > and construction projects throughout the southside of Minneapolis (in > his usual self-effacing manner, Dean refers to himself as a > "handyperson"--but his customers will attest to the fact that Dean's > abilities and expertise are far beyond those of the average handyman), > Dean has hands-on experience with many of the issues surrounding homes > and housing construction. He has done the drawings, prepared the > specs, done the bidding, and executed the plans for almost every > project he has worked on. He has saved countless homeowners thousands > of dollars in home repairs that other bogus repair firms cited as > needing to be done. And, again, he has done so by using his skills as > a creative problem-solver, being inventive, and above all, being > honest and fair. Dean has many hundreds of customers, all of whom sing > his praises -- all of whom are saddened to know that while our fair > city is gaining a gem on the City Council, they are losing this city's > best small construction/repair person. > > Dean Zimmermann believes very much in the importance of educating the > upcoming generation of young people. He has served as mentor to them > in his business, in the parks (both among the staff/workers as well as > park users), in the political realm, and in the schools. Yes, the > schools. For almost 15 years Dean Z has served as a high-demand guest > lecturer to middle school and high school classes in Minneapolis, > focusing on two areas: civil rights history and on government > offices/functions. He has not done this for purposes of > self-aggrandizement but because he truly believes in nurturing the > next generation to help prepare them for taking their rightful place > in our political and civic arenas. > > Does Dean Zimmermann have the depth of knowledge about Whittier > neighborhood concerns that Barb Lickness or other Whittier activists > has? Of course not. But is he a fast learner? Does he listen? Will he > listen? Does he have the skills, knowledge, abilities, and life > experiences that will enhance and enlarge upon the issues of > importance to all Ward 6 residents? You betcha. The morning > immediately following the primary elections on September 11th, Dean > contacted each of the losing candidates. Why? To thank them for having > been outstanding, worthy opponents. To let them know that he considers > each and every one of them invaluable community assets. To ask them to > stay involved within their communities where they are much needed as > leaders. To assist him, should he be elected to the City Council, on > issues where each has acknowledged expertise, so that Ward 6 continues > to prosper and grow and improve with their input and help. > > Re: the so-called 'mud-slinging' and 'fighting': Dean Zimmermann > rightfully defended himself from a baseless politically-motivated > charge with ONE letter and this constitutes a "fight"? Regarding the > letters in the Whittier Globe: there are four letters -- only one of > which is from Dean Zimmermann. His opponent, and a few vocal > supporters who groundlessly fear a lack of support for their favored > development projects, have initiated one baseless rumor after another > trying to tear Dean Zimmermann down and malign Dean's outstanding > public reputation and integrity. Are the Kallenbach people staying on > task about issues? Are they taking the so-called 'high road'? > Obviously not. But they are showing the true colors of their > character. There is a truism in the political world that when you > can't win an election on your character or your issues then it's time > to use rumors ungrounded in fact against your opponent to get the job > done for you. Dean Zimmermann, despite being given plenty of > 'ammunition,' has refrained from attacking his opponent's character or > integrity. He has, however,taken Kallenbach to task on the issues and > for Kallenbach's total lack of 'footprints' in our ward -- despite the > fact that Kallenbach has lived in this area for 15 years. > > Partisan politics being just that, partisan, is not and should not be > the focus of the Ward 6 race nor any other race for that matter. > However, when underhanded, untruthful, unfair tactics are employed by > one candidate in order to impugn the good reputation and character of > their opponent, a stand must be taken. When one candidate puts out > spurious information about their own campaign such as having already > worked with the City Council in creating "thousands of affordable > housing units" (a claim called "Absurd!" by our current City Council > rep), someone must speak up. The use of such tactics are, to my mind, > and no doubt that of others, a sign of desperation. Is Dean Zimmermann > perfect? No. Has he made mistakes? Yes. Has he consistently failed to > advocate more effectively on his own behalf? Again, yes. Anyone who > takes the time to know Dean Zimmermann understands immediately that he > is humble almost to the point of ego-lessness. Make no mistake: he is > not in this race out of personal or political ambition. The whole of > Dean Zimmermann's life work stands as testimony to his selfless > devotion to the betterment of all communities, for the betterment of > the natural world in which we all live, work and play. Is his "agenda" > a narrow one? No. It is inclusive, it is fair, it seeks balance for > competing needs and wants which are great in our ward, it is > even-handed. His curriculum vitae is not inflated nor filled with > puffery. It is substantial. Just like the person. > > Make no mistake, there is a clear difference, a definitive choice, > between the two candidates in this Ward 6 race. Dean Zimmermann stands > head and shoulders above his opponent. In his thoughts, actions, and > character. > > Jenny Heiser > Campaign Coordinator > "Friends for Dean Zimmermann" > East Phillips resident > > > _______________________________________ 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
