I just finished reading the posts from the weekend regarding Mayor
Kelly's decision not to seek DFL endorsement. It appears we have a
lot of "You have to play the game by my rules" here.
It has been pointed out that the DFL endorsed candidate has not won
in recent elections. Heck the DFL endorsed candidate for Governor
hasn't won in years. In fact, the endorsed candidate has come close
to not making it through the primary. I wonder why that is.
We have discussed the importance of party endorsement in the past.
Many comments have been made regarding the elitism of those who have
the time to attend endorsing conventions. Yet we now are concerned
about the label Randy Kelly will use during his reelection bid.
Many are upset that Kelly endorsed President Bush in the last
election. I am disturbed by this also. I always feel betrayed when
someone I support isn't supported by others. That said, I need to
say, that if I found an endorsed candidate not to my liking I will
support his or her opponent. Just because a candidate receives
enough votes at an endorsing convention or votes in a primary
doesn't mean I must support their positions. It should be obvious
to the DFL that there are a lot of voters out there that feel the
same way.
I have seen many posts regarding the Mayor's positions that support
business in St. Paul. It is usually couched in terms that indicate
this support is in opposition to issues related to the common
citizen. In reality many issues of concern to business also is of
concern to the local citizen.
There is one thing I have learned over the years on this list.
That is we all are pretty much activists. Many people on this list
are very active with their own issues. This has a tendency to
create greater discussion and disagreement regarding a specific
issue then might be found on the street. It also has a tendency to
narrow and define the issue through the eyes of the activists, not
necessarily the individuals in the affected neighborhoods.
Lets just take the discussion on the Holman Field flood wall. The
mayor wants one built. he tried to use public money from a fund the
city council controls. Is this correct? He was stopped and then
went to the legislature. So what is wrong with that? Nothing.
That is exactly how everyone of us would do it if this project was
one of our priorities. The issues with alleged threats to other St.
Paul projects and the St. Paul delegation is another issue. Yet,
while undesirable, that is exactly how politicians have been getting
things done in the last 15 to 20 years. Just look at the make up of
chairmanships in the House or the rule changes being made in
Congress. until the citizens get upset enough to vote the bums out,
this is politics.
We have discussed this issue from folks about the increased noise
over their homes. A valid argument. Yet it has been pointed out
and has not been contradicted, that the flight plan for this airport
does not take planes over residential areas. It has been pointed
out that pilots, especially instructors, do take planes, in
violation of flight plans, over residential areas. If this is the
problem correct the problem.
There have been a posts regarding the issues of increased flooding
as a result of the new flood wall. Yet information on supposed
studies posted here really hasn't shown how serious this issue
really is.
While these issues are valid, what are the other reasons this
project should be scrapped? The only thing that seems to be
prevalent in the opposition to this project is that Randy Kelly
supports it.
The same can be said of Chris Coleman and his support for this or
that project or candidate that doesn't fit with how we think.
Obviously these may be valid reasons not to vote for a candidate.
But is it a reason to discount the candidacy over another candidate?
Who would you vote for if Chris Coleman was successful in beating
Raphael Ortega in a Primary and the two candidates were Coleman and
Kelly? What? Are you going to stay home and not vote because you
would have to vote for someone who challenged the endorsement
process? I certainly hope not.
While this is considered a DFL city, the DFL has done a lousy job
of selling its endorsed candidates, except in legislative races,
where there is seldom a viable opponent. Yet party activists want
to hold candidates to a purity test.
If I were a candidate for any position, and if I thought I was the
best candidate for that position, I would not seek DFL endorsement.
If I did, I certainly would not agree, before hand, to support the
endorsed candidate. As has been posted this weekend, organizations
that endorse candidates expect something for the endorsement. While
I may support everything a party of organization supports, I would
not want to be criticized for looking at what is in the public's
best interest. After all that would be my job.
Mike Fratto
Payne Phalen
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