Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:53:26 -0500 From: "brian bates" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sue Haigh ( correct sp.) would be a good addition. Yes, but she's already declared for Finney if he decides to run. I believe Corky has rounded up several potential candidates' support which preempts their running themselves. As I've said here before, I have a grave concern that the DFL will be in such a mood to unify behind one candidate so early to assure Kelly's defeat, we'll have no one with whom Corky can and should debate - if that be the word for it - and discuss the city's burning issues. This is not to disparage my old Finney friend, just to keep the options open until all candidates are adequately vetted for voters. My personal experience here is a bitter one. When, in 1997, having run a close race for the Ward 2 seat in 1993, I decided to go once more, this time for the open seat vacated by Dave Thune, the man who was my client, and, I thought, close friend, Chris Coleman, decided to see the seat himself, despite having lived for less than 18 months in the ward. Friends became opponents and not easy ones, but I remained willing to seek the DFL endorsement and to agree - idiotically - to support the endorsed candidate coming out of the Ward 2 convention. After it became clear that much internecine dirty tricks had been wiring the endorsement for Chris, I toyed with challenging him in the election. I'm guessing I could have won. Not easily, but won nevertheless, through much the same coalition I had in 1993. But I had given my word, and, dirty tricks or no dirty tricks (including the whisper campaign that I, a recovering alcoholic, had starting drinking again - a lie that turned many delegates against my endorsement), I would not enter the election fray after that. To my everlasting regret, Chris Coleman went to the City Council in his first election ever completely unopposed and unchallenged as to his various issue positions in what should have been a robust campaign on his fitness for representing the ward and the city. Absent debates and forums where his positions and knowledge of government could have been tested, Coleman was a mixed bag at best on the council, each year growing more self-centered and distanced from his theoretical progressive base - supporting stadiums and other insider development, playing both sides in the ethanol battle and a variety of other issues which betrayed the trust of his closest supporters let alone his Ward 2 constituents. Ultimately, of course, he ran for the 4th District DFL Congressional endorsement in the wake of Bruce Vento's death only to run himself against the endorsed candidate when he couldn't muster enough delegates to get much past the first ballot. In this he was supported by the likes of Dan Bostrom and Pat Harris and together the three of them with Jim Reiter in tow, voted against most decent city legislation, setting up a personal system of feuding with what should have been his DFL colleagues on the Council until deciding not to run again (knowing he'd never again be endorsed, of course). He then supported Christine Nelson, who ran against Dave Thune, the endorsed candidate who had thrown his weight and his supporters behind Chris' first council run only to be later betrayed. I contend that had Chris Coleman been forced by competition to reveal his knowledge or lack of it of city government and its machinery and mission while speaking to his positions in the public forum before his first council term (had he even won it under these circumstances), he'd at least have had a record of saying one thing and perhaps or not, doing or voting the opposite thing. No seat should go unchallenged. And that goes double for nonpartisan city and county races. No one should walk in unopposed, no matter how revered they may be among their constituents - or potential ones. Robust debates and public statements prior to an election are a critical measure of a candidate's worth to serve the office for which he or she is running. Never again will I watch that happen if I have to file myself every time just in order to force the debates. This is no playground activity, it's the people's business and all candidates should be put to the test *before* they're elected - or not, as the case may be. So, no, I won't be running to any coronations today or next week or next year. Kings and queens are nevertheless elected in this country and elections are only as good as the competition makes them. Andy Driscoll Crocus Hill/Ward 2 ------ _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
