Thanks to Brad Hartle for posting Robert Lilligren's letter to Lavender.
Here's what Zimmermann said in the previous Lavender issue:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/10/6th-ward-candidates-and-gay-voters.html
Zimmermann, in answer to the statement that the choice between him and
Lilligren will be tough for many GLBT voters, remarks, "Tough? What's tough
about it? I have a history of being outspoken on questions of civil liberties.
"When the issue of equal benefits for spouses/partners came up at the
Council, I and Council Member Lisa Goodman were the only ones who spoke up
about how the gays on our Council were being short-changed."
Zimmermann adds, "Robert just sat there on his hands. I think this shows
the clear difference between Bob and me.
"Whether it is GLBT issues, policy issues, or constituent service, I'm not
just a vote; I am an advocate."
Lilligren Clarifies
http://www.lavendermagazine.com/artman/publish/article_1577.php
Thank you for your fine coverage of the upcoming local elections on
November 8 in the October 14 issue of Lavender. However, I want to correct
the record on a statement made by my opponent in the Sixth Ward race.
Dean [Zimmermann] said that I "just sat there on [my] hands" during a
debate about council member equal benefits for spouses and partners.
As most people know, the City of Minneapolis is prohibited from offering
domestic-partner benefits by the State Legislature.
The debate Zimmermann refers to was actually about the inequity in council
member compensation packages due to single versus family health coverage.
The issue was first raised on the Council by openly gay Council Member
Scott Benson. Council Member Lisa Goodman (always an active ally of the
GLBT community) and I developed the discussion further from the City's
Executive Committee, on which Zimmermann does not serve.
Ultimately, we settled on a solution that involved creating a more
equitable way of budgeting in our offices. As the Council Vice President, I
was directly part of crafting that solution.
In the end, Zimmermann did support this measure, but for him to state that
he took an active leadership role and that I did nothing is untrue.
Sadly, this inaccurate statement by my opponent is typical of the
misinformation he and his campaign workers have been spreading throughout
this campaign season.
We, the people of the new Sixth Ward, deserve better.
EY: What's interesting is Jenny Heiser's response to this letter very
quickly moves to other issues.
<<Brad (and Robert Lilligren vis a vis his Lavender Magazine 'Letter To The
Editor'), Robert either spoke at the City Council meeting for equal
benefits for
spouses/partners, or he didn't. Which is it? Minneapolis City Council
proceedings are a matter of public record.>>
That's true - the council meetings are a matter of public record. Without
talking to other council members who were there, this seems to be a he
said, he said situation.
Eva Young
Near North
Minneapolis
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Lloydletta's Nooz
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com
Dump Michele Bachmann
http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759,
US author, diplomat, inventor, physicist, politician, & printer (1706 - 1790)
http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/1381.html
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