[Mpls] 58B House Race

[Eva Young]

Hi Folks:

I live in 58B now -- where there is a vigorously contested house race. Keith Ellison is the DFL contender, strongly supported by the old guard, Jackie Cherryhomes crew. Duane Reed is running as an independent and has gotten the support of Natalie Johnson Lee among others and is being attacked because he has also gotten the support of some people from the Property Rights Action Committee. PRAC also helped Natalie Johnson Johnson Lee in her race.

During a recent PRAC meeting, Duane got up and asked County Commissioner Opat about why the county paid $25,000 for Spike Moss and City Inc to do trash pickup in the Jordan neighborhood. This expenditure was too small to come for approval of the county board, but Stenglein pushed this one through -- as an effort to help -- and according to Opat, Stenglein now regrets that move.

The publisher of Insight is a big supporter of Ellison. There is some race baiting going on in the campaign even though many of these debates have between two African American candidates. The race baiting going on says that Duane Reed is the tool of the Property Rights Action Committee - white landlords, and the story is this is somehow whites trying to "choose black leaders". Well the problem with this is this -- isn't Jackie Cherryhomes -- *****gasp***** white? Aren't both Reed and Ellison African American? And since when does the Spike Moss/Randy Statten crowd speak for ALL African Americans?

Duane said it very well on his site:

A CHANGE MUST COME
(Tell the Truth and shame the devil)
�I�m sick and tired of being sick and tired.� Our people have paid a dear price for freedom and the right to vote. In the year 2002 some of our own people have been hoodwinked, tricked or paid into allowing a partisan party to control the destiny of our community representation. (Shame on them)
On Tuesday, October 1, 2002 a candidate forum for 58B House of Representative was held at Lucille�s Kitchen, sponsored by Insight News/KMOJ Public Policy Forum. This forum was an excellent idea to allow the public to see, hear the views of candidates and exercise their right to vote accordingly. However, the Insight News, in my opinion, used this forum as a vehicle to support Keith Ellison (DFL endorsed candidate). On October 7, 2002, the Insight News printed an �EDITORIAL� front-page story depicting Keith Ellison as the clear favorite of the forum. The other candidate�s quotes or rebuttal were ignored or minimized. (Please view the video on cable and then read the article). You will discover for yourself the bias, unethical, non-professional journalism that was boldly printed to control the opinion and subsequently the vote.
What�s wrong with this picture? Well, I will let you readers determine the validity of my comments. First, the Forum was sponsored by Insight News whose President/Editor-in-chief is Al McFarlane (also facilitator) and the campaign chair of the �Committee to Elect Keith Ellison. Oh, it gets better! Batala-Ra McFralane (Al�s daughter) is Co-manager for Keith Ellison campaign and Publisher for the Insight News, Inc. Let�s not stop, Clarence Hightower, President/CEO Mpls Urban League and editorial weekly columnist for Insight News, is listed by Secretary of State as Keith Ellison�s Deputy Treasurer. But, the October 3, 2002 edition of North News campaign ad list him as Treasurer. To complete the Posey the former 5th Ward DFL City Council President Jackie Cherryholmes is listed as contact person for Keith Ellison. All of these people have one thing in common, they did not support the community choice for last year�s city council victor Sister Natalie Johnson-Lee . Ok, enough I think you can answer the question without any more facts .
Check out the facts at http://www.cfboard.state.mn.us/campfin/rpdetail/rp14902.html
Folks, A CHANGE MUST COME. We can�t allow a few people (who call themselves leaders or stewards of the community) to manipulate information by using a front page Editorial vs. reporting the news in an unbiased, objective and professional manner.. Everyone has their right as a person to support any political candidate or party they please. But, no one has the right to use news media to bias the minds of our community.
This concern is larger than the 58B House race or me personally. It is a matter of how we respect and treat each other (brothers and sisters) in making our community strong, and ready to make an informed decision for representation.
A CHANGE MUST COME�.
Yours in the Struggle,
Duane K. Reed, Independent Candidate 58B

Check out both sites:

http://www.duanereed.org

http://www.keithellison.org


Eva Young
Near North
Minneapolis

_______________________________________

Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy
Post messages to: mailto:mpls@;mnforum.org
Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls