Dear forum readers,
The pre-primary forums are over and thanks to all of you who have followed
the forums and discussions here. Special thanks to Colin Hamilton and the
Friends of the Library. They arranged these discussions within a tight time
frame...and thanks to the FOL moderators who gave their time for these
forums...and, to the library staff at each of those libraries (they went
beyond the "call" welcoming us and giving us brief tours of the facilities).
This mn forum was instrumental in fostering interest in the library's
challenges. Hopefully the Park and bd.Est/taxation will also hold
discussions (in the past, Nokomis East neighborhood association and
Minnehaha United Methodist Church have been active participants with the
League of Women voters in holding local and city-wide forums).
We're all busy but, hopefully, voters (and residents) will find out for
themselves which candidates best serve their families' interests and their
vision for a better Minneapolis.These decisions are too important to depend
on the 30 sec. time bites or the ubiquitous sample ballots.
The impressive thing about library users and those supporting the library
mission is that they tend to be independent investigators and
researchers...reaching their own conclusions.
All of us should thank the 19 candidates who registered and the 17 who
participated in the forums.
It takes alot of guts to plop down your $20, fill out your "personal"
paperwork for public record, and put your self on display for praise,
investigation and criticism.
Many of these candidates are not professional politicians.
They are ALL enthusiastic, honest and committed believers in the democratic
mission of the Library.
They have a diversity of experience which qualifies them for citizen
participation.
They are (extra)ordinary people who may not have the speaking skills to
cover complex questions in 1/30...as readers and thinkers,they may not be
able to easily give a simple answer to a question...so be patient with their
presentations.
Like participation in community meetings/town hall/Neighborhood assns,
this is what it's all about. I'm sure many of us have seen the recent trend
(especially during the past four years) away from local input and
enpowerment and to more centralized decision making models. The
pseudo-corporate models employed have failed to take into account MBA
101--EFFICIENCY ISN'T ALWAYS EFFECTIVENSS. Top down isn't always the best
model, even if it saves a few bucks.
When you cast your primary vote(s), choose carefully...What do you
value...what is your vision for Minneapolis? It will take time on the part
of each of us to evaluate each candidate on the means they will choose to
further that vision.
Thank you,
cheryl luger
.
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