For the sake of our ongoing discussion on the election, I thought I would post this press release that the Coleman campaign forwarded with their endorsements...
Bob Spaulding Downtown
CITY COUNCIL LEADERS LANTRY, HELGEN ENDORSE COLEMAN FOR MAYOR
Lend critical support on the eve of caucuses, citing need to work together for city's best interests
SAINT PAUL - Saint Paul City Council President Kathy Lantry and City Council Member Lee Helgen today announced their support for Chris Coleman's campaign for Mayor. With just one day before DFL caucuses, these key endorsements add momentum to Coleman's bid for the DFL endorsement.
"I'm excited to endorse Chris Coleman for Mayor. Saint Paul needs a Mayor who will work honestly with the city council," said Lantry. "We know Chris will be that kind of Mayor."
"We've got to change the tone of leadership in this city," said Helgen. "Chris has a demonstrated ability and desire to work with people, not against them."
Lantry and Helgen join City Council Member Pat Harris, who previously endorsed Coleman for Mayor.
"These endorsements underscore that I will be a Mayor who can pull people together to get a job done. I will be a Mayor who builds bridges - to the people, to the neighborhoods, and to the City Council," said Coleman.
"The adversarial relationship perpetuated by the current Mayor has alienated those he must work with to do the business of the City," said Coleman. "We may not agree on every issue, but Kathy, Lee and Pat all know that I put Saint Paul first. They know I will work with them to make sure every neighborhood gets what it needs from our city, state, and federal government."
As an example, Coleman and the Council members noted that while the Council has loudly decried recent state and federal cuts to Saint Paul's budget, Mayor Kelly has done nothing to stand up for Saint Paul's interests. In the month since the budget's release, Kelly has yet to address the cuts and their affect on the city.
Calling it "a disaster for Saint Paul," Coleman noted Bush's numerous proposed cuts to Saint Paul include Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), AMTRAK, local government aid, and near elimination of the COPS program.
"While Mayors across the country have decried this budget and the damage it does to cities, our Mayor has been silent," said Coleman. "I am ready to stand with the City Council and put the interests of our city ahead of political loyalties."
-------------------------------------------------
JOIN the St. Paul Issues Forum TODAY:
http://www.e-democracy.org/stpaul/
-------------------------------------------------
POST MESSAGES HERE: [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/
