Ooooops..... forgot to sign my post.
Dyna Sluyter in Hawthorne
Date: Sun, 29 Dec 2002 11:53:23 -0600
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: dyna <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: Re: [Mpls] 3rd Ward race- does the Gay community have a
friend in this race?
Cc:
Bcc:
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Dyna,
Very interesting post, and a bit revisionist I think.
Not at all, I'm applying the same principles now that I did
to criticize the endorsement process- we need an fair process to
pick a council member of the highest character.
You mention how only 3 candidates screened with Stonewall and OM
is the only candidate to have won the approval of the Stonewall
Caucaus, yet during the time of that three week ago challenge you
also said:
"I'm a member of the Stonewall DFL board, one of 2 board members
that live in the 3rd ward. Why was I given no notice of this
screening? Why was no notice given on the Stonewall DFL's board and
general membership mailing list? Were all the DFL candidates given
notice of this screening?" -[Mpls] RE: Minneapolis Third Ward
Politics, December 8th
That was then, this is now. I have talked to folks who
attended the screening and they have satisfied me that Olin Moore
deserves the endorsement.
and
"Also, some of the candidates apparently weren't invited to screen
for the Stonewall DFL endorsement. At this time (sunday evening) I
have yet to receive a request as a Stonewall DFL Board Member for a
vote on an endorsement. It will thusly be impossible for Stonewall
DFL to endorse before the convention tomorrow. Any alleged
Stonewall DFL endorsement before the convention tomorrow is thusly
bogus. " -[Mpls] Third Ward politics and endorsements, December 8th
Stonewall DFL did not endorse before the convention, or
attempt to do so.
Which was the post where you made the request of candidates to fill
out the questionnaires. I specifically commisserated with you
regarding this at the 3rd Ward convention, because despite also
being a Stonewall member I have never received any notice either.
And despite mentioning this to Andy at the convention, still have
received no reason or notice.
After being denied the Stonewall DFL endorsement in 2001 R.T.
Rybak took his responses to the Stonewall DFL screening
questionnaire and publicly posted them. By doing so he proved that
he was just as much a friend to the gay community as Stonewall DFL's
endorsed candidate. Don Samuels and the other candidates have had
every opportunity to post their responses to the same screening
questionnaire Olin Moore gave positive answers to here. Why hasn't
Don Samuels answered that questionnaire? Why can't I find anything
in writing that Don Samuels has written supportive of the gay
community?
So my question to you is how do you go from calling this
endorsement bogus to OM is the "friend of the Gay Community" Did
another endorsement arise in the meantime? Did someone pull you to
the side and twist your arm, or have you adopted the Norm Coleman
strategy? Because as I read back over the stuff that you wrote
around the endorsement it was insisting on a Northsider, calling
for a blocking of then endorsement, and refuting the Stonewall
endorsement, now you're calling it "the Truth"....
Once in a while one has to admit that they were wrong. Over
80% of the delegates turned out to endorse Olin Moore. Given that
mandate, I would be foolish to support a candidate who defies and
insults the wisdom of those 70 some neighbors who turned out to
select a DFL candidate for the 3rd ward seat. If Don Samuels had any
real community values he'd respect the choices of his neighbors and
join them in supporting the DFL endorsed candidate, Olin Moore.
Is this what Moore of the same old thing is about? Is that really
what the 3rd Ward needs?
No. Don Samuels' campaign by it's own admission has been
playing fast and loose with the election laws. We just got rid of a
criminal council member, we don't need another.
Going to the convention you spoke of how the stink of the "machine"
was already there and made an impassioned plea:
"The Northside is not Nordeast. The Northside end of the 3rd Ward
is challenged by unemployment and devastated by addiction. We have
been red lined to near obscurity on
the political and economic maps. When was the last time the
Northside had a 3rd Ward Councilman? I don't even remember...
So for all the dynasties, you've had your chance to govern. For
all the hacks, the 3rd isn't going to switch any majorities on the
council.
please step aside... and select candidates that call the Northside
half of the 3rd Ward home, against all odds. Select candidates that
reflect our working class traditions and diversity.
Select candidates that will shape Minneapolis future rather than
wallow in it's past."
-[Mpls] 3rd Ward- the Northside needs representation, November 25th
That was posturing, basically I was doing some bargaining. I
knew the chance of electing a Northside candidate in a low turnout
special election was zilch. So I used my vote and voice as
bargaining chips to get a candidate that would be supportive of the
Northside. I voted for Vanessa Freeman on the first ballot and Don
Samuels on the second. But on the 3rd ballot I and the Northside got
a good deal with Olin Moore, a candidate that his lived in and
understands both the Northeast and Northside.
And yet a little over a month later, you're hailing OM as the
greatest gift to the 3rd ward and backpedalling. I don't care that
you found someone else to support, that's each individual's choice,
but the statements are inconsistent, and the logic does jibe.
The logic is simple and consistent. For a while after the
convention I considered supporting Don Samuels. But I looked at his
platform and found a lot missing. Don Samuels is pretty much a
single issue candidate, and if he hadn't been available for sound
bites on the night of the riot we wouldn't be discussing his
candidacy.
Given the questionable way Don Samuels has conducted his
campaign I'm glad I moved my support to Olin Moore. Don Samuels'
campaign has litterd the ward and our mailboxes with tens of
thousands of lit pieces, yet we still don't know who paid for or
what company donated the printing of what now looks like 70,000 or
so full color double side lit pieces.
In a state that demands honest and fair campaigning Don
Samuels has some questions to answer. And his answers have not been
forthcoming.
The Gay community has a lot of friends in this race, many of them
are candidates, and many of them have said openly that they support
such things as Domestic Partner benefits, including Don Samuels.
How about we stick to the issues, and keep our logic consistent.
These scare tactics are unbecoming of anyone, least of all, that
which is "supposed" to be the best the DFL has to offer in this
race. But I can understand the reason for the panic.
Historically the 3rd ward candidates have been the last to
speak to the gay community in their campaigns. With the exception of
Olin Moore and maybe Valdis Rozentals that sad tradition continues.
There's nothing that OM has that I can see says he knows how to
deal with the issues that you mentioned. Don Samuels has it all.
And as you requested, he's a Northsider. Don has what it takes to
bring an authentic community voice to the City Council rather than
a recycled bureacratic one bogged down in red tape. So with one
day to go, I want to invite you to come on home Dyna. Come back to
your roots and the words you said and support someone who fulfills
them: Don Samuels. Stand up for him in Hawthorne.
Don Samuels may "have it all" with regards to a middle class
life, which he freely admits. But as a candidate that would have to
deal with a myriad issues as a council member Don Samuels is sorely
lacking in depth and breadth. The city council does have to deal
with a few other issues besides crime...
I have thusly come back to my "roots" and am supporting the
candidate who best represents Democratic Farmer-Laborite values,
Olin Moore.
One day to go and then we'll know.
Don will probably win his own ward but be lucky to survive
the primary. As always, turnout in the Northside will be low and the
little old ladies of the Northeast will decide the race. The little
old ladies aren't dumb (you should hear my Farmer-Laborite
grandmother!) and will advance Olin Moore to the general election.
The other survivor will most likely be Margo Ashmore, Shane Price,
or Don Samuels.
Jonathan Palmer
Consistently supporting a consistent candidate
in Victory
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