As our city primary election draws closer I have been wondering about
something strange regarding one of our more obscure municipal races,
that for the Board of Estimate and Taxation. For the first time in many
years, there will be a primary for these two seats as seven candidates
have filed to run. Four will proceed to the general election. One of
the candidates, incumbent Gordon Nelson, has served on the Board since
1974. Dr. Nelson is a retired Augsburg College professor of
sociology/urban studies, an aide to Martin Sabo, and a long-time loyal
DFL activist and supporter.
Despite thirty plus years of service on the Board, the DFL failed to
endorse Dr. Nelson for this election. Why? In many cities such
positions are either appointed or the work is done by civil servants.
Much of the work involves "due diligence" -- examining and analyzing the
details of whether our city budget are sound and sensible. It seems
like the type of position in which experience should count for a lot.
There should be a good reason for dumping somebody with this much
experience. I fail to see what the reason is in this case. Did the DFL
convention attendees think the two candidates who did get endorsed have
some different vision for how the Board of Estimate and Taxation should
be run? In what way? Did the DFL delegates have some dissatisfaction
with Dr. Nelson's work on the board that justified denying him the
endorsement? Somehow I doubt it. I'm guessing it had more to do with
political connections and who was more out-and-about in activist circles
than it did with any real analysis about who is actually most qualified
for the job.
When I had Dr. Nelson as a professor at Augsburg I found him to have a
deep commitment to the city of Minneapolis and an exceptional ability to
analyze issues and problems. I still remember his descriptions of the
construction of I-35W through Northeast Minneapolis and how it destroyed
the sense of community in ethnic enclaves like the Beltrami
neighborhood. While he has retired from Augsburg, he is still active in
many pursuits, still works in Martin Sabo's office and still coaches a
softball team at Nokomis Park on which I occasionally manage to make an
appearance at first base. He's still as sharp as ever. As a homeowner
and property taxpayer in the city of Minneapolis, I would like to see
him keeping his experienced eye on our finances for another term.
Bruce Shoemaker
Holland neighborhood
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