It's the last day to file for office in Duluth

Calk

about 15 years ago

This will be interesting. . .

heysme

about 15 years ago

What do you find to be important when voting for an individual?
I hope most would say the issues but what happens when we have those seeking a seat or those currently in office that bring "issues" with them such as non payment for delinquent taxes or other personal issues less than political. Does that make a difference?
...just remembering past scandalous political races in our area.

Sun Dog Press

about 15 years ago

I think both the issues and the person are important.

Calk

about 15 years ago

I agree with Sun Dog -- it's the issues first of all, then the person. Like, Robert Wagner may be a very nice man, but he's got some serious issues with not getting the proper permits for out-of-control parties. I won't be voting for him, he doesn't sound like he has the gravitas to represent my district on city council. Though he may provide some excitement.

Paul Lundgren

about 15 years ago

Calk, are you talking about issues or a person "with issues"?

(I wish a differently shaped question mark existed for rhetorical situations.)

wildgoose

about 15 years ago

I'm relieved that I don't live in the 2nd district.  I like Rob Wagner on one hand and he has been a good friend to me over the years AND, he has some pretty solid positions that I agree with on the issues according to his website (http://www.wagnerforduluth.com/).  He also has some demographic appeal for me as a citizen given his youth, and his diverse life experiences and, I know this may seem shallow to some, but also his ancestry.  I believe that if Wagner were to win he would be the only person of any color other than white to sit on the council that I can remember. And I don't want only white, middle and upper class women and men representing our community on that board anymore, that's not an honest representation of our community.  Also, he will definitely provide some excitement, splash, and joie de vivre, because entertainment is so important to him, and that is fantastic.

On the other hand ... I do agree with Calk that he lacks some of the so-called gravitas, ie maturity and polish that the position apparently requires.  Also, he does have a problem with not being thorough enough, I can easily imagine an unpaid taxes, or conflict of interest scandal blowing up in his life, not because he is corrupt, but because he has a lot going on and doesn't seem able to keep track of it all. (I'm just sayin' not pointing fingers because I am the same way and that is #1 of about 50 reasons why I will never run for public office).  Also, he has an apparent relationship problem with the DPD that could render the whole campaign dead in the water. If he is considered a serious contender with a chance of winning I suspect that the police and (maybe firefighters) union will come out against him because of his "rave" orientation and past permit controversies. Most Duluthians, and nearly all of the 2nd district (except maybe some UMD students) are likely to side with the cops and the firefighters over Rob if it comes down to that.   

--

So that's the 2nd district race.  I am wondering if people can provide some background, pontificating and/or analysis of the at-large city council race, which I WILL be voting in.  Also, I don't know much about those school board candidates.  Will the "red plan" or "let Duluth vote" camps be a factor in these races? How and why?

Calk

about 15 years ago

Paul, I meant a candidate "with issues."

Wildgoose, I am actually happy to be able to vote for Patrick Boyle in the second district. He's also a young guy (in his mid-30s, I'd say), a homeowner, a family man with a cute daughter. He's also Frank Boyle's son -- and, if he's anything like his dad, he's going to be a progressive voice of reason and intelligence on the city council just like his dad in Wisconsin. I agree with you about the demographics of the city council not reflecting the population, but I don't think Robert Wagner is the person to break that color barrier. I am happily voting for Patrick.

At large races. . . Dan Hartman is running, a really good guy, young, a consensus candidate who seems to be able to bridge the gap and appeal to both conservatives and lefties. He seems very smart and very politically shrewd. He's in charge of the Veteran's Hall at the Depot. And Beth Olson is also running, another very smart candidate with some good ideas who seems to be able to bridge the gap between conservatives and lefties. She worked at PAVSA for a number of years, and is very familiar with making things happen with limited funds, as most people involved with nonprofits have to do. She too is young. Mike Akervik is running, he used to be on the school board, don't know much about him, he seems to be a pretty middle of the road kind of guy. Becky Hall and Jim Stauber are the two right-wing candidates running. You know who Stauber is, he's the incumbent. Becky Hall is very involved with the Duluth Republicans, and has run for office several times before. She tried to be appointed for Roger Reinert's seat, and said then that she was going to try to win a city council seat until she succeeded. I I do know that she supported the shutting down of branch libraries, b/c she went to one one day and there weren't many people there. That's a total turn off for me, I feel like she doesn't understand the importance of libraries to a community. I'm actually surprised she's running for at-large, she doesn't strike me as someone who understands anything about Duluth and Duluthians west of Mesaba Avenue. But she does have a lot of energy, that's for sure. She rather reminds me of Martha Stewart.

Dulusion

about 15 years ago

Wildgoose, Jay Fosle is Red Cliff Ojibway, and a bus mechanic, close to middle class income I suppose (union working class) but definitly not upper class

wildgoose

about 15 years ago

Thanks for the correction, Dulusion, I am wrong often, but not always corrected so graciously.  Especially not by Mrs Goose ... but that's getting off topic ... Anyway, sorry I missed that.  My apologies to Councilor Fosle, too.

tamara

about 15 years ago

Kerry Gauthier is Native American, but more importantly, Kerry has long been involved with progressive local, state, and national politics. He has a track record of getting things done, both in the public arena and at his job as the director of Mash-wa-kisen. He has identified several issues (city financing, streets, police/fire departments, youth development)  that he wants to tackle as city councilor and provides solutions that I think are viable. (You can read his positions at http://kerryforcouncil.webs.com/PositionPapers/PositionPaperMar29,09.pdf)

I think that he would make an excellent city councilor for those of you living in the Fourth District. 

Disclaimer: I do not live in the Fourth District, but I believe Kerry has the interests of not only the Fourth District but the City of Duluth as a whole at the forefront of his mind and I like what I hear and see when I listen to him talk.

huitz

about 15 years ago

eHarmony for the politically inclined.

That's a bad joke.  In reality, I believe it's important to be interested in what's going on in the community; have a vested interest.

The city council has been ok in the past, but it would be cool to see somebody step up to the plate this next year, a new Lance Armstrong persona, if you will.

I effectively don't live in Duluth, but I still care about the darn place.

huitz

about 15 years ago

In other words -- in case that wasn't clear -- go out and do stuff for the community!  I'm serious!  You should know that, because I'm very terrible at humor, subtle or otherwise.

@ndy

about 15 years ago

I don't live in the 2nd district so I won't comment on that race. I will (as a lefty) naturally be inclined to vote for Beth and Dan in the at-large race. I'm a bit surprised at the number of candidates that filed for the 4th district race. I'm leaning towards Kerry, but I honestly don't know much about the others. I think one of the problems with such small races is that it is fairly difficult for candidates without name recognition and some sort of public persona to get their foot in the door. As much as I was a fan of Stover, my hat is off to Jay for his feat in the 2007 election.

That being said, I will be reviewing the candidates carefully and I would strongly encourage everyone else to do so as well. If they haven't commented on an issue you care about, email them and ask for their position. Most importantly, don't just vote for a candidate because you feel you know them better than the other candidates. Take the time to actually learn a thing or two about each of the candidates, particularly their stance on issues rather than their personal life, before making your decision. I know I am preaching to the choir here and frankly there are some candidates who are simply terribly unprepared for a city council race, but nonetheless, do your part. 

On a side note, I find it a bit bemusing that www.HeathHickok.com is down (already}.

Calk

about 15 years ago

I've known Kerry Gauthier peripherally for many years. He totally rocks.

Tim K

about 15 years ago

Cut and Pasted from DNT:

District 1

# Gary Glass, 69, retired and an adjunct professor, incumbent; against red plan.

# Marcia Stromgren, 61, operator of a storage facilities business; against red plan.

# Ann Wasson, 49, homemaker and volunteer, incumbent; for red plan.

District 4

# Laura Condon, 59, retired, incumbent; for red plan.

# Art Johnston, 58, engineer; against red plan.

At Large (two seats open)

# Maureen Booth, 79, retired; concerned with parts of red plan, won't try to stop it.

# Mary Cameron, 58, associate director of human resources, incumbent; for red plan.

# Bryan Jensen, 40; did not provide information about occupation; unknown on red plan.

# Tom Kasper, 49, Duluth city gardener; against plans for Ordean, undecided on entire red plan.

# Nancy Nilsen, 49, chief deputy auditor for St. Louis County, incumbent; for red plan.

Jorn

about 15 years ago

Surprisingly  only 2 candidates are running for the 2nd district spot.  I'm going to guess that Wagner will be a shoe-in with the young voters(that is if he can get there interest to actually vote)  District 2 contains both college campuses.  However Boyle has the $$$.  District 2 also houses all the rich folk. it will be an interesting race since Wagner has controversy always looming over him.  Personally I will be voting Wagner.  I think he will be someone who will actually do something positive for this assbackwords town. (and yes, provide some excitement in city hall too) I also like his position on priorities/issues on his site.

i am hoping the red plan opponents get into the school board seats.

& right now, i'm leaning towards Jim Stauber and Beth Olson for the at-large seats.

My 2 cents

Chad

about 15 years ago

I doubt Wagner will come even close.  The only demographic he might appeal to is probably the least likely demo to actually come out and vote.

Calk

about 15 years ago

I know Patrick Boyle. He seems like a sensible guy, calm and level-headed, wants to do something positive for this city. While Mr. Wagner might provide some excitement on the city council, I think he would prove to be more of a distraction than anything else.

Jorn

about 15 years ago

Quite possibly.  But don't count Wagner out.   I know first hand of what he is capable of.  Especially in organizing large amounts of people together, & not to mention his promotional experience, which basically all running for a govmt seat boils down to is good promotion.

@ndy

about 15 years ago

We all know he's capable of organizing a rave, but we've witnessed his political organizing skills at work previously, and they were not impressive.