RYBAK ISSUES CHALLENGE FOR PRE-ELECTION DEBATE
Says debate with himself will bring out full range of ideas
MINNEAPOLIS (NTO) -
Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak who is facing a tough re-election challenge
demanded the opportunity to debate himself prior to the November 8th
election.
A mayoral spokesperson said the Mayor was still negotiating a time and place
for the debate. "We thought we had it nailed until an afternoon breeze
changed from the west to the northwest while he still had his finger in the
air on this one and he changed his mind again," she moaned, "hopefully he
can come to an agreement before the election."
Like the Mayor's opinions, reaction at City Hall was mixed. Seventh Ward
Councilmember Lisa Goodman, taking a break from raising more campaign funds
than any other Council candidate in city history said, "He's still my guy,
as long as he keeps doing what he is told." Council President Paul Ostrow
offered the Council Chambers as a debate site saying "this may be the best
entertainment since Cirque du Soleil left town after last weekend's
performances, I want a front row seat." Views of other city hall insiders
were as varied as thoughts going through the Mayor's ever changing mind.
As recently as last week, Rybak was refusing to debate saying "it just gives
ammunition to my opponents." Reminded that there are only 2 names on the
ballot his concern lessened. "We just might be able to make this thing
work" he remarked. Listeners weren't sure if he meant pulling off the
debate or winning the election.
Asked to comment, challenger and Hennepin County Commissioner Peter
McLaughlin laughed "if he were on a TV game show he could buy a vowel, we're
just not sure where he can buy a clue." McLaughlin agreed with Ostrow that
there could be some good entertainment value especially if it were done in
one of the slow news weeks leading up to the November sweeps. "After that
he's got no chance, 4,5, 9 and 11 are to busy hyping their own
investigations and there's nothing in the Mayor's mind worth investigating"
were the words of one Councilmember who asked to remain anonymous.
Since Rybak who has been promising 8% annual increases in the city's
property taxes is now telling the Minneapolis StarTribune "We have the seeds
of a property tax rebellion in this state," Rybak vs. Rybak could be a good
show.
Terrell Brown
Loring Park
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