As for the debate, fifteen of the candidates took part, which made for an unusual event.
A debate with 15 candidates borders on the ridiculous.
One wonders if they have learned from their experience- especially Valdis, who will be lucky to get a couple hundred votes. I hope he's at least having fun.It was fairly obvious watching the candidates that Shane Price and Valdis Rozentals have an advantage due to their experience from running in last year's election. Both showed a good ability to connect with the audience, which I would have to guess numbered close to 100 or so, but please don't hold me to that as I sat up front and didn't really have a chance to try and count.
You have a point there- perhaps Don Samuels is avoiding issues other than crime because he isn't familiar with them. Our City Council deals with a lot of issues besides crime, and there's no time for on the job training.Also, now that I have seen him in person, I'm better understanding the support that Don Samuels has garnered. I can't really speak to his familiarity with all of the issues, but the man definitely has charisma.
Having been in the publishing business, I fully expect Margo to litter the 3rd ward with her lit. Perhaps after the primary we could collect it up and return it to her home outside the 3rd.The most creative lit award probably would have to go to Margo Ashmore, who offered a two-page sheet summarizing her goals and experience that opened up to a window sign. I must admit it looks pretty slick.
Sorry to disappoint you, but Olin isn't much for the theatrics. If you want a stirring sermon, hire Shane or Don Price. Our city council requires a bit more substance, and Olin is the kind of civil servant that can fill that role.I do have to say that I'm still struggling to understand what the big deal with Olin Moore is. Other than apparently having enough insider backing to nail down the DFL endorsement, nothing really seems to stand out about the guy. He didn't really appear to connect with the audience, his lit was poorly-designed and didn't say anything particularly impressive, especially compared to several of the lesser-known candidates and from what I could hear, he didn't really have anything new or exciting to offer for solving the problems Minneapolis and particularly 3rd ward, faces. Even when he was hand-shaking before and after the debate, he gave off a vibe that felt to me like he was going through the motions. Maybe he was tired or something, but he didn't give me an impression that he really wanted to be there.
I've known Shane for years, but have to admit that his campaign is still ignoring a lot of issues like crime control. Don understands crime and livability issues, but doesn't seem to have a position on much of anything else.I'm not sure it's possible to declare a "winner" of a fifteen-person debate, but I do think Shane, Valdis and Don did the best jobs at garnering positive responses from the audience and as far as I could tell, there wasn't any overwhelming group of supporters present for any candidate, so I do think the audience responses were sincere. I personally thought Shane did the best job, but I'm also have to admit I am biased since he's been a friend from the days when I worked in Hawthorne several years back and I'm a supporter of his campaign.
In balance, Olin Moore is still the best candidate. At the DFL convention he entered as an underdog- the assumption was that Kari Dietzic would walk away with the endorsement. Olin won away the uncommitted delegates with his ability to understand and unite the 3rd's disparite communities. Typical was Olin's response to a question on the upper river plan. While the other candidates seemed enamored with the plan but had little ideas on how to implement it, Olin, drawing on his broad experience in Congressman Sabo's office, suggested that federal funding might be available. Every other candidate had missed that possibility... except Olin Moore.I know there were others on this list who were at the debate and I hope they'll be able to share their thoughts as well.
Do you need any further explanation of why a DFL disident such as myself has been won over by Olin Moore?
from Hawthorne,
Dyna Sluyter
Mark Snyder Windom Park _______________________________________ 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
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