megan goodmundson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: jeanne harris: I am simply unable to understand what would motivate an incumbent to abandon his seat to challenge the only other minority member on the council.
Ken Bradley writes: Council Member Samuel's was redistricted OUT of his ward, and needed to make the decision to either move back into the 3 Ward, or stay in the 5th Ward. I am fairly certain his long struggle working with the people of Jordan Neighborhood played a significant role in deciding to stay and run against Natalie. I agree with others that is really too bad, that two African American city council members have to run against each other. As of the census of 2000, there are 382,618 people living in the city of Minneapolis, 162,352 households, and 73,870 families residing in the city. The racial makeup of the city is 65.13% White, 17.99% African American, 2.19% Native American, 6.13% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 4.13% from other races, and 4.36% from two or more races. 7.63% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. City of Minneapolis has about 35% people of color. The 13 member Minneapolis city council has three members of color. Natalie Johnson, Don Samuel's, Robert Lilligren, three members that are gay, Gary Schiff, Scott Benson, and Robert Lilligren, four women, Barb Johnson, Natalie Johnson, Lisa Goodman, Sandy Collvin Roy, nine men Ostrow, Zerby, Samuel's, Zimmerman, Lilligren, Schiff, Niziolek, Benson, Lane. Besides men, a good argument that several groups are under represented on the city council. According to ePodunk http://www.epodunk.com/ The Minneapolis Gay index: 287 Gay male index: 309, Lesbian index: 263, National norm: 100 The gay index is a comparative score, based on the percentage of people reporting in the 2000 U.S. Census that they lived in a same-sex partnership. A score of 100 is the national norm. A number above 100 indicates that the local proportion of same-sex unmarried households is higher than the national average. For example, 140 would mean that the proportion was 40 percent higher than the national norm. A score of 60 would be 40 percent lower. This statistic is not an absolute measure of gay households. As our population becomes more, and more diverse we should expect to see people of color running against each other, as well as other currently under represented groups, that will eventually become the majority in our city in the next 20 to 30-years. While it is too bad Council Members Samuel's, and Natalie Johnson had to run against each other, it is also could be viewed as a sign of progress. In the future we might even have two people of color running against each other for mayor, or two gay candidates challenging each other for office. Ken Bradley REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls --------------------------------- Sell on Yahoo! Auctions - No fees. Bid on great items. REMINDERS: 1. Be civil! Please read the NEW RULES at http://www.e-democracy.org/rules. If you think a member is in violation, contact 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 Civil City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:mpls@mnforum.org Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
