2. When I was interviewed, there were NO designated Green Party individuals. I do not know the reason for that. My initial understanding was that the Green Party would be allocated two representatives since they had achieved the 5% requirement for major party status. Perhaps my facts are wrong, but I did think there would be two representatives.I have been told that the “major party status” applies only to parties getting over 5 percent in a Senate or Governor’s race (NOT presidential). If this is right – and the Greens really don’t meet that standard (didn’t James Gibson get 5?) – that would explain why there are two Independence party people and Republicans but not Greens.
I must say as a city resident I find it appalling and perverse that the Greens – unquestionably a major party in the city with two council members – will have one representative on the redistricting commission while the Independence Party and Republicans, with no council reps, have four! (By the way, the non-elected equivalents of Barret Lane – the small I independent – have no reps, and that is also a travesty, since I suspect the non-party-affiliated make up a substantial bloc of voters.)
If this is all written in the charter (as I’m guessing it is), we need to redefine what constitutes a major party for city purposes. It’s great that the DFL does not have a majority – that’s very appropriate in drawing the electoral map. However, the Greens are getting robbed, and by extension, so is fair representation on this commission.
If Mayor Rybak is looking for items on his ethics/reform checklist, let’s get this one fixed before the next redistricting.
David Brauer
King Field – Ward 10
