RT is indeed correct. He did not block DFL endorsement. He actually would have won the DFL endorsement had it gone a couple of more rounds. We had the commanding lead, we had more delegates coming, and Sharon's delegates were leaving. Rick Stafford, and possibly some others, simply out politicked and bluffed Jim Niland into accepting an adjournment of the Convention. I remember John Crammer and myself pleading with RT Rybak to not listen to Niland, that Sharon was dead if she lost here, and assuring RT that we would win if he held on for just two more votes. We were correct. Rick knew they had lost, but scared Jim Niland into accepting the small victory instead of the decisive one. That choice also probably changed both the nature of the race and the nature of RT's first Mayoral term. A draw was snatched from the jaws of victory by timidity. Niland and RT had not expected to win, so thought of it as a great victory.
John Crammer and I knew what was coming. So did anyone who came knowing the power of the neighborhood organizers, they absolutely were expecting to win. The night of the election victory RT in delight asked me if I could believe it had happened. I told him I not only believed it, I knew it would happen from the start; on that day many months before in Roger Bargouthi's store. The Neighborhoods and the political leaders from those Neighborhoods had been so disturbed at even a hint of Sharon and Jackie taking their NRP authority and centralizing it "Downtown", (to help their development cronies). The Neighborhoods were also demanding more input into Planning and Regulatory reform. It is amazing, but these are the exact criticism now partially leveled at RT, but especially aimed at the present Z&P Committee and City Council. Hopefully, we will get a 3rd Ward Council Member who will dedicate him or herself to supporting "Neighborhood Empowerment". RT you need not worry "we are going to have few and fewer good people going into public service." I think more than 10 have thrown in for this race. Our problem is the quality of people, not the number. We need two-year terms so that Council Members remain responsive. The only time they are responsive now is when they are within a year of the next election. It also allows less time to create the "political favors" funding that make incumbents near impossible to remove. Four years make CM's much more valuable to contribute to (buy) by "Political Friends". Ward "privilege" becomes much less of a privilege if you must run every two years. Jim Graham, Ventura Village ----- Original Message ----- From: Rybak, R.T. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: mpls-issues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, December 08, 2002 12:11 PM Subject: [Mpls] Third Ward politics and endorsements A minor clarification to an earlier post that included this statement: "And two candidates who were perceived as blocking DFL endorsements: Rybak and Niziolek went on to win." I can't speak for Dan but when I was running for Mayor I did not set out to block DFL endorsement. I set out to win it but also said I would run in the primary. My goal was to respect those who spent the time to show up but also give those who could not spend all that time, or who felt shut out, or simply did not know about the process....a chance to also have a voice. I did the same with the Green Party, where I showed up, made a case for endorsement but would not be bound by it. I can't honestly remember what I was thinking about the Republican and Independence Parties, but if I thought the campaign had the time and money (which we did not) I probably would have done the same for those parties, too. (If I remember right I didn't know about the Independence Party convention until I read about it in the paper.) Some people may argue that this was a good strategy for a candidate like me who seemed to have no chance of winning any of these endorsements....Even though I did well at the DFL and Green conventions, it seemed like a long, long shot going in. Expedient or not, as I look back over that strategy it seems to make some sense in a period like today when I believe we should respect those who are active in the very time consuming process of party/interest group endorsement....but also give voice to the vast majority of potential voters who for whatever reason are not. My advice to candidates in the 3rd Ward and others: Go to the convention and the screenings, talk about your issues, make your case to those in the process and very knowledgeable in the issues. Even if you lose some votes because you aren't bound by the process, you will learn a lot, and probably pick up supporters. (I have to say I learned so much from this process...on the phone every night with delegates who really know their stuff, who gave me great ideas....Some people trash this process as litmus tests and ideological straight jackets but to me it was one of the best learning processes I've ever gone through. (I should also add that the fact that I came within a very few votes of actually winning the DFL endorsement...in spite of running against an incumbent and in spite of saying I would not abide by the endorsement and in spite of very strong opposition from labor... proves wrong all those people who so willingly trash the DFL as having a closed process that is not being open to new ideas and candidates. Most delegates I've come in contact with are smart, have minds of their own and are not led around by the nose by any interest group.) Then no matter what happens at the convention or screening, go door to door, try to identify the people out there who haven't been part of the process, go into detail with those who are very knowledgeable but turned off....and try to excite those who have given up, or who just aren't paying attention. This may not be the perfect world for parties and interest groups....but it isn't so bad for them either. They can grill the candidates about issues that matter to them and if the candidates respond in a way they like, the groups and parties can swing their support behind them. The candidates who want their support have to respond to them but the candidates should not feel obliged to drop out if they don't get endorsed. (For example, the Central Labor Union and several other unions told me they were endorsing Mayor Sayles Belton before I even sat down to screen. I used the screenings as ways for me to give my views on labor and learn something along the way. Some life AFSCME were very engaged and asked sincere questions....Others like the Central Labor Union were polite enough, gave me a little pat on the head and sent me on my merry way. Their strategy to endorse one person before they even heard from me was not, in my view, very smart, but I hope my victory in spite of this has helped illustrate for them and others that there is a danger in not giving emerging voices a fair chance to make their case...If candidates see this kind of behavior from interest groups trying to shut you out, feel very free to use this example as a cautionary tale.....It's about time we were rid of this old style politics.) I go into all this to encourage the candidates running in the Third Ward to show some respect for those who spend all that time to learn about issues and show up....Go to the conventions and the screenings. It can't hurt you, you can learn a lot, all but the most doctrinaire will listen to you and...if you're really good, and/or lucky...you may even get endorsed. But also show respect for those who aren't in the room. Those people who are at home, or driving their kids to something, or working, or volunteering on something else worth while or who simply don't know about the event....also deserve a chance to be heard. R.T. Rybak East Harriet Happy it's not ME going door to door at the Holidays and thinking we all have to do a lot to make this all work better or we are going to have few and fewer good people going into public service. _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
