Re: [Mpls] Hizzoner RT;- I must render my apologies Suh, I can not run

[JIM GRAHAM]

Jim Mork writes, >"> Who could run to replace Mayor Rybak?  How about Fast Eddy Felien?  Or > Jim Graham could run.  Then we could complain about his administration."< Thank you, Mr. Mork, Ah do thank you, Suh, for your endorsement, and for the suggestion that Ah run for Mayor. I must, however regretfully decline. I am not possessed of the eleemosynary resources (Ah say, ain't got the money) to successfully compete for that position. Nor do I possess  a willingness to participate in the open influence peddling and pandering that is necessary to do so. Pandering to so many interests at the same time requires one to lie out of both sides of one's mouth. And while I might be able to manage one side with some political coaching, both would require ethical standards of an order to which I will not willingly descend.  Alas, I usually end up saying what I really think (not what others wish me to think), and that unfortunate weakness disqualifies me from aspiring to a political office as lofty as the mayoralty.  I am sorry, Suh, but there are limits, I say LIMITS, to the depth of my hypocrisy. On the other hand, Suh, the lowly position of City Council Member might be fun. Yes, I could be your huckleberry. Sounds like just my cup of tea. Several constituents have already come asking me to run for the office (though, truth to tell, I am not sure if it's because they hold me in high esteem, or because they have a correspondingly low regard for the incumbents.) In fact, three different groups of Minneapolis' finest have knocked upon my door and importuned me to throw my hat into the ring. Now, City Hall does need an independent thinker, one who is not afraid to get down in the trenches for a fight. Having been a Master Instructor in the martial arts and once labeled the dirtiest fighter anyone had ever seen in the ring, and latterly been a bloodied but unbowed veteran of the "Phillip's" wars, I do admit to a lofty contempt for the  petty, fratracidal wars that transpire in City Hall.  Hell, anyone willing to go eyeball to eyeball with a Wizard Marks or Anne Young ain't gonna be intimidated by no #$%@&& city council members. You know Suh, Minneapolis does badly NEED someone with both planning and fiscal expertise--what one list member referred to as an understanding of "Real Property" values. Being a Licensed Real Property Appraiser (as I am) would probably come in real handy when reviewing some of the crazy deals Minneapolis gets suckered into. And yes, Minneapolis does need a street fighter to champion the cause of "Impacted Neighborhoods".  But after due consideration, I have come to the conclusion that I can have far more fun trying to create housing, affordable homeownership, and giving Minneapolis creative solutions to its urban planning problems. So I do not believe I will accept a nomination to the post of CM at this time. However, I might change my mind in the next few months, so ask me later. Who knows, I could win the lottery or lose some ethics along the way and find a "Dutch" uncle and then even Mayor could be, Ah say could be, a possibility". Jim Graham, Ventura Village >  "The only time some people are not hypocrites is in their sleep. I try to remember this when awake."