I wasn't aware that these staffing issues were campaign issues for either incumbents or challengers. Do any of the candidates publicly support hiring over 30 full-time workers? For that matter, if these decisions were made by the current board members, why does labor endorse every incumbent (save Berry Graves?)
aaron klemz cooper "Park and Recreation Board: Park Board's Incumbents Cite Progress Where Critics See Only Problems, Lively Debate Results." Steve Share, editor, Minneapolis Labor Review, September 1, 2005, p. 9 Talk to most of the incumbents on the Minneapolis Park Board who are seeking re-election and they'll boast of new public-private partnerships generating funds for the park system, a new headquarters that is saving money, and a new superintendent of parks, Jon Gurban. The board's critics, however, cite these same examples to raise concerns about privatization of the parks, ill-considered spending, and the board's decision making process. Voters will get their turn to weigh in on the often-contentious park board debate, beginning with the September 13 Primary Election. [... section not typed that describes the primary process and which seats are contested...] The AFL-CIO endorsed candidates for the at-large seats include: Annie Young, who is a 16-year incumbent; Mary Merrill Anderson, who is a former superintendent of the park system; and Tom Nordyke. The AFL-CIO endorsed candidates for the district seats include: Walt Dziedzic, the incumbent in District 1; Jon Olson, the incumbent in District 2; Tracy Nordstrom, who is seeking the open District 4 seat; Carol Kummer, appointed to fill a vacancy for the District 5 seat and now seeking election; and Bob Fine, the incumbent in District 6. Park Board critics have established a website - www.mplsparkwatch.org - and continue to question incumbents at Park Board meetings. For Park Board employees, however, the debate "has little to no effect on us," said Mike Perniel, a member of the executive board of Local 9 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). "The main issue at the Park Board is maintaining wages and benefits, keeping the Park Board independent, and keeping doing the great job that we do," he said. "The Commissioners have been pretty supportive of the workers and the work we do," he added. He said Jon Gruban (sp.), the new superintendent, has improved employee morale. For Laborers Local 363, stopping staff proposals to replace full-time, year-round benefited positions with seasonal, non-benefited workers is a concern, said Todd Pufahl, legislative director for the Laborers District Council. "We are working hard to elect the Labor-endorsed Park Board candidates who support restoring some of the over 30 full-time benefited positions that were cut due to vacancies at the time of the Local Government Aid cuts," Pufahl added. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Aaron Klemz, Minneapolis, Minnesota [EMAIL PROTECTED] +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com 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:[email protected] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
