On Tuesday, October 21, 2003, at 11:27 AM, Dave Piehl wrote:
David Piehl notes: It's interesting to me that the only non-white Minneapolis council members did not have the support of the DFL in obtaining their positions.
Natalie Johnson-Lee ran as a Green against a powerful DFL incumbant
After failing miserably in her bid for the DFL endorsement, she flew the Green "flag of convenience".
and Don Samuels ran against a DFL endorsed white male candidate.
And is now a member in good standing of the DFL party and caucus of the Council.
Robert Lilligren has Native American heritage, and he also did not receive DFL assistance, despite generations of DFL support within his family.
With no time for a ward convention, the Minneapolis DFL Central Committee wisely didn't feel it appropriate to endorse a new candidate in that election.
As I recall, DFL activists dismissed Robert as "Not ready for prime time".
I heard no such comments about Robert, and many of us were impressed with his speaking ability and platform. Clearly some of his father's skills were passed on to Robert.
Could part of the problem of institutionalized racism be within the DFL itself? The Green Party certainly challenges assumptions and structures better than the DFL; will the Green Party become the only true advocate for minorities? In any case, I'm glad that the "DFL endorsement" hasn't succeeded in ensuring an all white city council!
Don Samuels will probably get the DFL endorsement, and Robert Lillegren is a shoe-in. Don will easily end Natalie Johnson-Lee's undistinguished Council tenure and we have plenty of qualified DFLers of color waiting in the wings in the 6th Ward.
handicapping 'em in Hawthorne,
Dyna Sluyter
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