[Mpls] RE: Rep. Kahn Obstructing Democracy???

[Anderson & Turpin]

Wizard Marks wrote:
I'm one of the Eighth Ward people; I did get cheated of an 
opportunity to vote for city council in a reasonable time after the 2000 
census. I resent it. In my mind it's an unfortunate fallout, the result 
of changing from two year council seats to four year council seats in 
city hall. It was a technical error sprung from not having thought 
through the consequences of making that change.
 
Kahn's bill presents my ire to the legislature. That it also discomfits 
both Greens and Independents is another case of fallout. The mistake was 
changing to four year terms without also providing clear direction for 
the census results. If Kahn's bill addresses that issue, then good. 
Otherwise, we have this same question every 20 years. I really don't 
want to go round and  round about this when I'm 80, which I will be for 
the next one.

Mark Anderson adds:
As another Eighth Ward resident, I'm with Wizard on this one.  I don't know
if I agree with Kahn's bill that the redistricting should be done now, or if
it should be only prospective.  But to say that her bill shows her to be
anti-democratic is absurd.  And I'm about as far as you can get from a DFL
apologist.

By the way, I think that Kahn's theft of opposing literature was pretty
despicable, but not something to resign over.  If she makes a habit of it,
then sure, but not for a one-time job.  I'm all for cleaner elections, but
people aren't perfect.  If we only vote for perfection, we'll only get those
who are best at hiding their bad side.  Hopefully, Phyllis' embarrassment
will have some deterrent value to others.

Mark V Anderson
Bancroft