St. Paul Topics - This Week: Light Rail http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul-topics -----------------------------------------
Erik's post raises some interesting questions. Anyone who remembers the City Council elections last year, will identify with Erik's shorthand (explained below). Republican Norm Coleman aside, this has to date been basically a one party town. As Erik describes, different candidates represent different political coalitions, within the "big tent" of the Democratic party. The endorsement of these two groups -- Progressive Minnesota versus the Chamber of Commerce -- is shorthand that implies a certain perspective, much as a political party might in other circumstances. To review, basically, the "Progressive Minnesota Party" supports property taxes being pegged to inflation; supports a more strongly enegaged City government; is skeptical of corporate and stadium subsidy; and supports labor. (Progressive Minnesota once was an actual political party). The "Chamber of Commerce Party" supports keeping taxes very low, in part by focusing very heavily on economic development; supports a leaner City government; gives developers more leeway in setting their own standards; and is more likely to support subsidy for big projects, like a downtown baseball stadium. Before we have candidates who are clearly tied to these "parties", I thought I would raise some key questions. Do the political and economic realities of campaigning mean candidates need depend on one organization or the other for support? Are we guaranteed to have our two Mayoral finalists represent a choice between those groups? Or is there some other path to the Mayor's office we're not thinking of? (ie Does Progressive Minnesota endorse a Green candidates?) Is this situation desirable? Will the fight between these two "parties" be as bitter as it was in the last City Council race? How and when did we end up in this position? -- Progressive Minnesota isn't that old. And what does centrist mean in terms of policies? In my confusing previous post, I tried to argue Randy Kelly is reasonably centrist in terms of the statewide political spectrum. But what would a centrist candidate look like in a city that mostly votes Democratic? Do you raise the property tax levy just a tiny bit? Do we already have elected officals who are "City Centrists"? Or does our split City Council mean elected officials fall reasonably clearly into one camp or the other? Healthy or no? Fairly or unfairly, the Chamber of Commerce in particular took a beating on this forum for spending so much money on their candidate in the Ward 2 race last year - a race ultimately decided by less than 80 votes. Is the Chamber likely to change their approach with the Mayoral race, or can/will/should Progressive Minnesota raise money to more agressively to match the Chamber? Just some honest questions in search of some discussion. Bob Spaulding Downtown Saint Paul --- Erik Hare <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > St. Paul Topics - This Week: Light Rail > http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul-topics > ----------------------------------------- > > > I swear, the DFL is irrelevant in city elections. > This isn't necessarily > a point of weakness -- look at these election > results. This is a DFL > town. We're nearly all Democrats. > > Of course, when it's just us talking, we fight. > It's like a family -- or > a really bizarre one. > > The sides are drawn as Progressive Minnesota versus > the Chamber PAC. > People could call them Greens versus Republicans, > but this is Saint Paul > -- we're all DFL. It's a point of strength. > > Erik Hare [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://home.comcast.net/~wabbitoid/ > Irvine Park, West End, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, > North America, Earth > > Fine Amish furniture, cedar chests, and crafts > http://www.harmonycedar.com > > > > _____________________________________________ > 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/ > _____________________________________________ 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/
