--- Eva Young <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> > I don't think it's fair to lay all the
> > responsibility on the fifth ward.
> > The eighth, which had been represented by African
> > Americans for 20 years
> > running, did not, in the end, support another
> > African American in the
> > primary this year. In some ways I'm at a loss to
> > understand this, since
> > African Americans have been a mainstay of the DFL
> in
> > this ward for much
> > longer than a generation. However, some of the
> "old
> > heads" who could
> > rally the troops did not appear at the DFL
> > convention this time. Truth
> > to tell, some of the elder statesmen and women did
> > not choose younger
> > people to train up in how to work for votes, how
> to
> > work the caucuses
> > and convention, and how to find the ones most
> likely
> > to be electable to
> > put up for consideration. Thus, some of the old
> > heads who supported SSB
> > and Herron were not able to muster the
> wherewithall
> > to support new
> > candidates. That's sad. It means that these elders
> > are passing on.
>
> The 10th Ward has an African American candidate for
> office - Ralph Remington. Why is it only the 8th
> and
> 5th wards where African Americans are expected to
> run?
>
>
> > By this time in history, both the sixth and the
> > ninth wards as well as
> > the eight and fifth, should be able to produce
> more
> > than one credible
> > candidate for council member who is either African
> > American and/or
> > American Indian.
> >
>
> I find it interesting how people don't talk about a
> ward where an African American candidate came
> through
> a contested primary.
>
> Remington sounds like a good qualified person for
> City
> Council. He's running against Scott Persons - who
> is
> also known as the person behind SMART - the front
> group supporting the 35W Access Project.
Because Ward 5 and Ward 8 are the traditional and
historical Black neighborhoods(Northside/Southside).
Four of the Five African Americans that have served on
the council have come from the Wards Five and Eight(2
each).(Technically speaking, since Don ran after
redistricting, that would make that number five. He
was living the Fifth representing the Third.)
The priority issues are going to be different. A
position on the 35W Access Project is important, but
that issue takes a backseat to issues like safety,
police response and immediate economic development(I
hear you, Empowerment Zone). Those latter issues rank
higher than the 35 Access issue, unless you live in
Ward Ten. So, Ralph is addressing the issues that
affect his ward, but may rank lower in priority in the
two wards that have historically elected African
Americans and have a high number of African Americans.
Eric Mitchell
Saint Paul
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