Went to the candidates fair at Lake Harriet
School. First thing of that type I've ever seen.
The League of Women Voters people present said
they thought there had only been one other.
Anyway, a very useful experience that I hope gets
repeated a lot. I spoke to two judicial
candidates who were running against each other.
I've never really spoken to a judge in my life,
so it was a brand new experience. They were
running for a family court position, so I got
contrasting opinions on what was or was not wrong
with our family courts. I told them of my
limited courtroom experience and how different it
was from any of the courtroom shows on TV.
Basically in being a lot more rapid and a lot
LESS emotional than anything on TV. I also told
them how hard it is to do a good vote for a
judge. The information that we get on judges is
so scant that we end up either not voting or
going with bar association polls. So I felt I'd
gone to a new level by talking to candidates.
I also spoke to two of Mary Kiffmyers opponents.
Dean Alger of the Independence Party was pretty
scorching about her, but Buck Humphrey seemed to
measure his words more.
I held a short chat with Doug Mann before working
the room. I think he's the least inflammatory
socialist I've ever met. I hope if he gets
elected he can hold his own in board arguments.
He seems awfully apologetic about his views. You
aren't really that way, are you, Doug?
Personally, I think a leftwing candidate should
be able to open his mouth and level a city block.
But, hey, just my prejudice on the matter.
Anyway, on leaving I gave a strong endorsement to
the League ladies, saying I want to do a lot more
of this type of thing. It is really helpful to
have so many applicants for public jobs in one
room. And it is a big break for the minor
candidates to be able to meet the public one to
one. It humanizes them as nothing else can.
They handed out a lot of literature. On the way
home, I was wishing I could get on an email list
alerting me to voter education events. When I
got home and read the material I picked up at
the door, I found an inset that says "For more
information on the candidates, visit the League
of Women Voters of Minnesota web site at
www.lwvmn.org. The web site has a comprehensive
list of League of Women Voters candidate forums
for elections at all levels throughout the state.
The League encourages voters to attend in person
or to watch the re-broadcasts on local cable TV
stations." (That was the second time of the night
I wished I had a cable hookup).
Consulting the Leage of Women Voters list, I see:
Senate candidates debating in Stillwater, October
14, 11am-1pm in Stillwater Area High School Gym.
5th District Congressional Candidates, Monday,
October 21, 7pm, Golden Valley City Hall Council
Chambers 7800 Golden Valley Road
Golden Valley, MN 55427-4508
Other than those, go to:
http://www.lwvmn.org/EdFund/Election2002DebateSchedule.html
On pay for Superintendents and Library Directors,
Michael Atherton said:
"Yes. It takes much more skill to be a
superintendent than a short order cook,
librarian, or a school teacher. They all involve
different skill sets and the skills necessary to
be an effective superintendent are not held by as
many people as those who can be cooks,
librarians, teachers, cops and fire fighters.
However, one would hope that superintendents
would actually be able to show that they have a
significant impact in their role before they are
granted a new contract."
I think a cook that can make a good meal is more
skilled than a library director that makes
expensive decisions with taxpayer funds that buy
public monuments instead of better resources.
You're right, Michael, a GOOD director that
makes sound decisions may need to know more, but
how does raising pay guarantee that? Are the
best-paid doctors the best doctors? And how do
you know that?
WizardMarks said to Vicky Heller:
"WM: Maybe the judgement of the library board was
"no" and they're willing to pay extra to find
one"
Wiz, I assume you pay property taxes and, as
such, realize the Library Board doesn't "pay
extra", they take extra from US to pay. And what
we're saying is that in our judgment, an entity
with a budget shortfall shouldnt be spending as
if they had their books balanced. I was afraid
that this "8 percent inflation cap" was going to
become a license to spend extra money. It's like
getting a notice of a raise in your credit limit.
"Oh boy, what can I buy with my 8 percent?"
Jim Mork
Cooper Neighborhood
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