Linda Higgins wrote: (Mon, 17 Nov 2003 19:55:29 -0600) > Subject: [Mpls] redistricting > >... On another note, someone keeps asking why the Greens weren't represented on the >redistricting panel. It seems to me that the Greens on the city council booted this >themselves, since they control the "minority caucus" and a Green Party council member >is the "minority leader" of the council. The minority caucus appoints someone to the >redistricting board, and they did not appoint a Green Party member, nor did they >appoint a person of color. The way I see it, there is no one to blame for this one >except themselves. You certainly can't blame the dems for this. > > linda higgins > senator, north and downtown mpls
Actually, sure we can blame the "dems." The point is not that the Green Party didn't have any representation--they did have the one minority caucus appointed member. But as a major party, they should have had THREE members--the minority caucus appointee and two nominees from the Green Party. The DFL, Independence, and Republican parties all had those two positions. In addition, the DFL had their majority caucus appointee, giving them three members. The Charter Commission, headed by a DFLer with a clear conflict of interest (she had political ambitions to run in a restructured third ward), made the flawed decision to limit the Greens to their one minority caucus seat and deny them the two additional seats they should have had as a major party. The Democrats, with three seats at the table, had the greatest opportunity to include people of color on the Redistricting Commission. None of the parties, however, did a very good job at this. Bruce Shoemaker Holland Neighborhood REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
