[Mpls] Caucusing in the Second Ward

[Erik Riese]

Greetings!

After reading from Earl about the south side of Senate District 62 I=20
was disappointed to realize that a Mayoral race is not enough to fire=20
up all DFL activists. Or, maybe some parts of the city need more=20
organizing. Perhaps a good council race is the missing factor. (Are=20
folks in the 12th Ward completely happy with Sandy Colvin Roy?)

The Second Ward had all its precinct caucuses at Anne Sullivan=20
Communication Center =96 a K-8 Minneapolis Public School. My estimate of=20=

turnout =96 based on a plenary session where we heard from candidates =96=20=

is about 700 folks (for 11 precincts). I would guess that 85% of these=20=

folks were caucus attendees with the remaining 15% from campaigns,=20
observers and candidates.

Precinct 2-1, where I live, had over 70 in attendance. Our initial=20
canvas revealed 47 or 48 folks wanting to be delegates. We had 43=20
allocated. Some of these folks agreed to stand as alternates and we=20
were able to get a slate elected by acclamation. We had seven letters=20
from absent neighbors asking for delegate positions. We put them at the=20=

top of our alternate list.

We took up two resolutions:
1) To remove police authority from the Park Board and combine it with=20
the Minneapolis Police Department. This failed.
2) To oppose the Strib's proposal for a city manager system and reduced=20=

number of Wards. This failed (on a tie vote.)

A wide range of ages and ideologies were represented although I did not=20=

see any of my republican friends. (Oh! it was a DFL caucus, no wonder=20
they weren't there.) Many first time attendees were welcomed, spoke and=20=

were elected delagates. The grizzled old veterans seemed to run the=20
show.

The Mayor's race did not come up in our discussions which surprised me=20=

a little. I expected there to be more talk about it. It was clear that=20=

having three strong candidates for Council is a factor in turnout.

I worked the crowd for my Park Board Candidate, Scott Vreeland, who is=20=

running for the 3rd District seat currently held by Marie Hauser, a=20
candidate for 8th Ward Council.

I'm so glad we held city caucuses. I hope even more folks will=20
participate in the future. Local issues are most important, vital and=20
useful to people's lives. Talking about them face to face with=20
neighbors who care is really invigorating.


BTW=96 It turns out that both the Deputy Mayor and Deputy Police Chief=20=

live in my new Precinct.
Last year it was really hard to see who was there when our 250+ caucus=20=

met in a classroom designed for 30.

--
In cooperation,

Erik Riese
Seward US@:
A great place to live, work, learn, create and play.

(612) 724-3217
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mailto:riese at tcfreenet.org
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