WHITTIER, STEVENS SQUARE, LORING HEIGHTS, VENTURA VILLAGE, and PHILLIPS WEST
Sustainability, conservation, and economy in Minneapolis government

January 10, 2009 seems to be about the day I decided to run for City Council.  That was the date I wrote a document describing “What I want from my government”.  It is still on the back of my brochures and on this website as the home page.  I am proud to say that it has hardly changed at all.

Had I been changing it would suggest that I was tailoring my message.  That has not been the case.

At someone’s doorstep last summer I was told, “I always appreciated Paul Wellstone not so much because I agreed with him, but because I always new exactly where he stood on an issue”

I hope I am living up to that standard.  This website is an in-depth review of my philosophies, Everyone who looks at it will be able to find something they disagree with.  However, now you know what I am about.

I don’t know what I will do, politically speaking, if I lose the election.  I may just concentrate on being a very good Refrigeration and Maintenance Mechanic, or I may take up a specific cause.  I think it might be good someday Minneapolis were to have a Part-time City Council.

But, win or lose, it has been interesting!

I want to win because we in Minneapolis simply have not been well served by our City Government.
HOME      A PART-TIME COUNCIL?

HERE IS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT!

What if the City Charter were re-written, either by the Charter Commission or the State Legislature, to make the City Council part time like the Park Board and the Board of Estimate and Taxation?

This would take the City Council out of the limelight somewhat, and would be more alike the organization of St. Paul.  The Mayor and the City Staff would have to be granted more authorities to do this.  Perhaps the City Council would be tasked only with reviewing contested issues.  I do not know exactly how it would shake out, and it would be a significant change in governance of the City of Minneapolis.

Truly, it is not likely that if the concept were to originate from the Charter Commission the City Council would approve, especially since Charter changes have to be passed unanimously by the Council!.  However, the Legislature could do it and the Governor might probably sign the bill in an instant.

Certainly fewer Minneapolis City Council members would find themselves in going to prison, that which two out of the last three Ward 6 Councilmen have done.  Having the polished and smooth City staff professionals deal with developers and landowners wanting special easements would likely put the City less risk for law suits, as occurs with increasing frequency.  With regard to the City Budget there would be some savings of course, but maybe not a whole lot in the big picture.

There may be negatives of course, but I don’t know what they are right now.
    
SOME DISAGREEMENTS IN POLITICS ARE PERSONAL, SOME ARE PARTISAN, AND SOME GO TO THE HEART OF THE MEANING OF A CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY.
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