[Mpls] Commissioner Stanek resigns - back to Minneapolis?

[Jim Bernstein]

The SPOKESMAN has it wrong - Stanek was Gov. Pawlenty's first choice and
his hiring was never in doubt.  Stanek never "forced his hand" - he
didn't have to because he was the choice all along.  

When Mr. Pawlenty was elected, there was the usual speculation about who
was going to get what commissioner positions but nearly all the
handicappers believed Stanek was a lock to get Public Safety!

Jim Bernstein
Fulton

-----Original Message-----
From: mpls-bounces at mnforum.org [mailto:mpls-bounces at mnforum.org] On
Behalf Of Eva Young
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 5:30 PM
To: David Brauer; mpls at mnforum.org
Cc: mn-politics-discuss at yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [Mpls] Commissioner Stanek resigns - back to Minneapolis?

At 04:19 PM 4/16/2004, David Brauer wrote:
>Public Safety Commissioner Rich Stanek, a former Minneapolis police 
>officer, resigned today after a 1992 deposition revealed he has used a 
>racial slur about African Americans.
>
>http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/4725826.html
>http://www.twincities.com
>
>Question: can Stanek regain his old job in Minneapolis? Did he quit or
did 
>he take leave to serve in the Pawlenty administration?
>
>If Police Chief William McManus has to consider taking Stanek back, it 
>would be a very hot potato.

I talked with Chief Olson and mentioned these allegations - and the
lawsuit 
against Stanek - Olson claimed not to have heard about them.

None of this is news.  This was an issue in Stanek's campaigns for
office.

EY:  MPR was reporting that Pawlenty said he had not heard these 
allegations before.  I called Pawlenty's office last year when Stanek
was 
first appointed to express my concerns.  I mentioned the lawsuit naming 
Stanek - and that the lawsuit was over beating up African American 
motorists - and calling them racial slurs during the process.  I talked 
with Ryan Kaess in the governor's office about this - and Kaess's
response 
was that if the plaintiffs only got $50,000 the lawsuit was probably 
without merit.

I wrote and called Pawlenty's office when Stanek was first appointed 
expressing my concerns about this appointment.  I also wrote Rep. Keith 
Ellison about this subject.

Good for Pawlenty for taking quick action on this after this press 
conference.

 From the article:

Stanek, appointed by Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, faced a contentious 
confirmation in the DFL-controlled Senate. Lawmakers were prepared to 
question the Minneapolis police officer about police brutality lawsuits
he 
has been named in, as well as his comments about racial minorities.

``The people of Minnesota need to know that justice is color blind.
There 
can be no basis to question that commitment in our commissioner of
public 
safety,'' said Pawlenty.

EY:  I also brought Stanek up to many democratic Senators - including
Scott 
Dibble last year during Pride.  What outraged me is the Democrats - led
by 
Matt Entenza made a huge deal over Lindner's words - while turning a
blind 
idea to Stanek.

I remember Tavis Nolley (remember the Nolley Trolley) raising concerns
on 
this list and MN Politics Discuss on this.

I for one am appalled that Stanek was able to continue to rise through
the 
ranks in the Minneapolis Police force with this record.  It speaks
volumes 
about the department.

The Spokesman's most recent article on Stanek mentions that Pawlenty
didn't 
want to appoint Stanek - but Stanek forced his hand by getting police 
officers to write letters on his behalf.

Hopefully Minneapolis doesn't have to take him back.  This does put
McManus 
in the hot seat.


Eva Young
Near North
Minneapolis
eva at usucceed.com
Blog is up:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com 

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