Sorry for the delay but I've been having serious problems uploading the videos I took at the convention and have just now gotten them to upload after hours of debugging.
Anyways. The Ward 10 DFL Convention this last Saturday was one of the most hotly contested races so far this campaign season. Local business owner Meg Tuthill won the DFL endorsement on the second ballot over progressive activist Matt Filner. Kudos to Rick Stafford, and the entire DFL team for a well run event. My observations and video of from the day are below the fold.
The DFLers in Minneapolis Ward 2 held their convention today. I was wondering how that was going to go as the one DFL candidate, Charles Carlson, dropped out amid controversy.
They passed a resolution that did two things: first, no endorsement: second, stated their support for incumbent Cam Gordon.
Update: That was fast - first ballot has Tuthill with 58%. Unlikely to go on much longer.
Just spoke to The Big E by phone -- he and Populista are both at the convention, and will have video for us a bit later. From E's description, it sounds like Matt Filner has the edge in delegate support (judging by the population onstage with him during his speech) but it's difficult to tell because only staffers are wearing t-shirts.
More updates as the day goes on -- should be very exciting!
Update 2: Populista here, I'm having some technical issues uploading the video from the convention so I may not be able to get that up tonight. Sorry about that. Meg won endorsement after 2 ballots with 62 percent of the vote. A more detailed wrap will be posted once I can resolve the video issues.
Today is the Ward 10 DFL Convention where Meg Tuthill and Matt Filner will face off for the DFL endorsement to replace Ralph Remington on the City Council. Tuthill is owner of Tuthill's Balloon Emporium and a longtime community activist who's been endorsed by Stonewall DFL, the DFL Feminist Caucus and former 10th ward councilwomen Lisa McDonald. Filner is Minnesota State Director for Progressive Majority where he helps get local progressive candidates elected and has built up a impressive network that has won him endorsements from Rep. Keith Ellison, Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mayor R.T. Rybak, SIEU, ACORN, TakeActionMN and a long list of others.
Both are impressive candidates who have many advantages. It will be an interesting convention and likely the last contested DFL endorsement race of 2009. I'll be there to cover it along with Big E, Joe and possibly others. If your there come up and say hi. We will try to post live updates as the day goes on and a roundup of events afterwards.
Kevin Reich endorsed by acclimation before second ballot was announced. Congratulations to Kevin and his campaign.
Doron Clark made the motion to endorse by acclimation and Jose Velez seconded it.
Rumor is Kevin was going to have 63% on the second ballot.
*** Pictures from convention after the fold ***
(Thanks to Grace Kelly for the updates)
Update 3:12 In case, you are wondering what changes Kevin Reich might be advocating for, here are the key points from his website:
# Develop a community centered approach to public safety - Continue to develop community centered policing with real partnerships between residents, businesses, institutions, government and police to improve relations and make this a safer city for everyone.
# Protect our natural environment - Make Minneapolis the national leader of environmental sustainability and a cleaner, greener, more walkable, bike-friendly, healthier city for ourselves and the generations yet to come.
# Foster a thriving small-business climate in Northeast - Support and preserve locally owned, independent businesses in Northeast Minneapolis and maintain its unique community character, provide continuing opportunities for entrepreneurs, build economic strength, and create an environment where locally owned, independent businesses grow and flourish.
# Support youth opportunities and quality education in Minneapolis schools - Work with all stake holders to make Minneapolis' public school system strong, safe and effective, not only to support our state's economy long-term, but also to make a difference for Northeast families and in the lives of young people.
# Promote the Arts community and the needs of increasingly diverse Northeast - Make Minneapolis a place where everyone has access to the rich economic, educational, and cultural opportunities our city has to offer.
Update 2:48 Kevin Reich is within 10 votes of endorsement. Of 297 total votes, 179 was needed for endorsement. Kevin Reich has 169 for 56.9%, Doron Clark has 73 for 24.6%, Jose Velez has 45 for 25.2% and Susan Howitz had 6 for 2.0%. It should be easy for Kevin to reach endorsement at this point.
Update 2:17 Whisperings on the floor say that Kevin only needs ten votes for confirmation. Actual vote numbers coming soon.
Update 2:02 The first vote is happening now. There are 301 credentialed delegates, with ten alternates not seated. That means 180 votes needed for endorsement. Kevin Reich is reported to have sounded good in the Q&A. There are about 50-60 undecided votes that are likely to be affected by the Q&A. Later, detailed reporting of all events is promised!
Update 1:19 A long question and answer session is happening. There about 110-115 Kevin Reich yellow shirts when about 160 votes are needed for endorsement.
Update 11:15 One source says that on the first ballot, that Kevin Reich will be first, that Jose Velez will be second, and Doron Clark will be third. Then Doron Clark votes will swing to Jose Velez. We will see if this is wishful thinking or actually predictive in one hour.
Update from Big E, recorded by Grace Kelly: Populista and The Big E are covering the convention. There are 256 delegates, with 28 alternates, all likely to be upgraded. Visually, the convention is dominated by yellow shirts of Kevin Reich. More to come!
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I'll be heading over to Edison High School in Nordeast for the Minneapolis DFL Ward 1 City Council convention. This contest pits Jose Velez, Doron Clark, Kevin Reich and Susan Howitz Hanna are all vying for the endorsement. Velez and Clark have the advantages of multiple endorsements, but Reich surprised me by how well his campaign was organized for the Take Action Minnesota screening.
The big question is can any candidate get 60% to pull out an endorsement. Are there enough undecided delegates to make a difference?
In a city that's as heavily tilted toward one political party as Minneapolis, an elected leader saying he won't run for reelection usually sets off a flurry of activity.
Minneapolis' 10th Ward was no exception: when Councilman Ralph Remington said late last year that he would not run for reelection, several DFLers started making noise about running to succeed him.
Now that the Ward convention is less than three weeks away, the race has come down to two candidates -- local business owner Meg Tuthill and Progressive Majority state director Matt Filner.
The two are competing for the DFL endorsement, which figures to be a major factor in the ward, which includes several diverse neighborhoods from Lake of the Isles to the Lyn-Lake area near 35W. The differences between the candidates aren't huge -- both put a strong emphasis on reduction of poverty and homelessness, as well as ensuring that constituents are connected to their elected leaders.
In speaking with both candidates, I found their biggest differences in style and emphasis: says Tuthill:
Candidates for this job need to remember what the job is - it's nuts and bolts. Potholes, garbage collection, zoning, and then you add in parks and schools -- those are the issues in this ward; they're issues I've worked on for 40 years, and this is what the city council job is. If you want to be on the city council, you'd better be interested in all of them, because they overlap frequently.
And says Filner:
I don't think of the job as only a representative for the ward. I'll certainly be an advocate for the ward, but there are no at-large members on the Council, so important that members have a citywide vision and fight for their ward within that vision. The job is 'Ward 10 Plus.' Ward 10 can't thrive unless city thrives - our ward has unique qualities, but we need to make sure that the entire city thrives.
Not exactly the titanic disagreements you'd expect from a GOP-vs-DFL throwdown, but the decision before delegates is nevertheless an important one. Minneapolis is the biggest city in Minnesota, and represents a big piece of the state's economy. The choice between the neighborhood activist and the political professional, the business owner and the academic, figures to have wide-ranging effects on decisions that affect the lives of Minneapolitans in immediate, palpable ways.
And both candidates know it. Filner said "We have to have progressive leaders committed to making our city more dynamic, and running to push a progressive agenda. We have to have a clear sense of the kind of city we want to have." Tuthill: "It's about working hard, attending meetings and staying for the whole meeting and really paying attention to what residents are saying. I've owned a business for 30 years, I know how to set priorities...I want to serve on the Council, and I won't be looking to use it as a stepping stone to something bigger. It's the job I want to do."
Will the Ward convention be the biggest factor in the race? That remains to be seen. But as in any big race, there are several milestones, and if it's not the milestone, it's a pretty darned big one.
The Ward 10 convention will convene on Saturday, April 18th at 10 AM at Jefferson School, 1200 W 26th Street. MPP will be there to cover the whole event.
Update: I was asked last night whether I thought the race in Ward 1 might be as competitive if not moreso than Ward 10. It might sound counterintuitive, but I think the fact that the Ward 1 race has more candidates -- four at last count -- vying for the DFL endorsement means it will be less of a show than Ward 10. More candidates means that each will likely walk in with a lower percentage of delegate support, meaning more room for movement, maneuvering, and momentum. Observe the recent convention fight for the chair of the Republican National Committee: six candidates were reduced to one within six ballots. With just two candidates, I think there's a significant chance that the Ward 10 convention will be a tough, tough fight.
(I was also at the forum. Great write-up, dude. I appreciate you jumping in on this. - promoted by The Big E)
Senate District 60 hosted a candidate forum for Ward 10 in Minneapolis today, introducing City Council candidates Meg Tuthill and Matt Filner to the voting public. The event took place in the auditorium of Uptown's Jefferson Elementary, with the candidates not using microphones and sitting at a table just in front of the first row.
Audience members were treated to approximately an hour and fifteen minutes of pre-screened questions and answers presented from the audience to the candidates. The candidates each got a little bit of time to answer the question and each got a one minute follow up.
Matt Filner and Meg Tuthill generally agreed throughout the forum, with only a few notable position differences. The general vibes that the candidates were giving off were strikingly different. Filner focused on the Ward as a part of the City and the City as a part of a region, and the approach should be in politics and policy that take those layers into consideration. Tuthill focused on her life-long commitment to the Ward and a specific commitment to putting the Ward first and foremost and then the City.
Below the break is a continuation of their approaches and some highlights on their positions. More!
Tonight I attended the Take Action Minnesota screenings for Minneapolis City Council Wards 5 & 10. In Ward 5 incumbent Don Samuels faces Kenya McKnight. In Ward 10, Matt Filner, Lara Norkus-Crampton and Meg Tuthill are all vying to fill the seat that Ralph Remington is vacating after one term.
Matt Filner won endorsement in Ward 10 on the first ballot garnering 68% of the vote (it required 60%). Meg Tuthill decided not to screen.
After three ballots, Don Samuels failed to gain endorsement. Many people in attendance argued for no endorsement. Here's the breakdown.
The race for the 10th Ward City Council seat in Minneapolis is getting a new candidate: Progressive Majority state director Matt Filner.
Speaking by phone Thursday night, Filner said that being a candidate would definitely be a change, but that several people had already asked him to run for the seat, and he's excited for the opportunity.
Filner has previously managed numerous races across the state, including Steve Kelley's unsuccessful run at the DFL gubernatorial endorsement in 2006. Under his leadership, Progressive Majority has assisted many candidates up and down the ballot, including freshman State Representatives Gail Kulick Jackson, Paul Rosenthal, and Mike Obermueller, as well as Hennepin County Commissioner Jan Callison.
Now Filner will be the candidate himself in a race almost certain to be decided on the floor of the local DFL convention. Precinct caucuses are less than a month away, and the ward conventions will be held in early April.
Incumbent Ralph Remington announced last month that he would not seek reelection to the seat he won in 2005. Already involved in the race is local business owner Meg Tuthill. Doug Kress, who is currently Council member Lisa Goodman's policy aide, reportedly is considering the race as well.
Update: word is that Kress has decided against a run. Patrick Ness, cousin brother of Duluth Mayor Don Ness, also screened recently with AFSCME along with Filner.
Meg Tuthill, who's running for the 10th Ward City Council Seat in Minneapolis, has a rough campaign site up -- and the wording of the text is interesting...
Tuthill owns Tuthill's Balloon Emporium and lives in the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood (aka "The Wedge"). Her store on Hennepin Avenue has been there for over 20 years. In a conversation with her before the campaign begun, Tuthill said she was active with starting a recycling program within her neighborhood before the City had such a program.
Tuthill owns Tuthill's Balloon Emporium and lives in the Lowry Hill East Neighborhood (aka "The Wedge"). Her store on Hennepin Avenue has been there for over 20 years. In a conversation with her before the campaign begun, Tuthill said she was active with starting a recycling program within her neighborhood before the City had such a program.
MN Progressive Project: providing starter texts for campaign websites since...November 28th, 2008 apparently. We probably won't make this a legal issue -- some credit for the site or the author of that chunk of text would have been a welcome addition -- but it's interesting. There are plenty of resources out there for generating gibberish text just to give a site the correct look and feel before go-live -- or it could be populated with material actually written by the candidate or their campaign.
But MPP is, apparently, just that awesome /snark.
Update I have no idea why "by-Joe-Bodell" is being appended to the url for this post. Working on that.
Minneapolis City Council member Ralph Remington has decided not to seek reelection this year -- surprising, since he was fairly public about considering a run for the Mayor's office if incumbent R.T. Rybak weren't running for reelection.
During his council term, Remington lead the development of a land-use plan for Uptown, tightened restrictions on aggressive panhandling, advocated for the city's makeover of the Neighborhood Revitalization Program (NRP), pushed for a controversial ban on circus animals and pushed for regulations on newspaper boxes.
Lately, he's been working on a trans-fat ban and lobbying for nutritional labeling at restaurants.
One of two black council members, the other being Don Samuels (5th Ward), Remington said he served as a mouthpiece for that community and others not often heard while he was in council.
"I think I have given a voice to people who have felt voiceless in the past," Remington said.
Remington's decisions as Council member have stirred controversy at times, particularly among some neighborhood groups.
Not being a Minneapolis resident, I'm not 100% familiar with internal Minneapolitics, but from what I have heard from acquaintances in the city, Remington has run very hot or cold with many residents -- you either love him or hate him as a City Council member.
The race to succeed Remington will, in all likelihood, be decided at the DFL ward convention in April, which should be a hoot to watch. Local races like these can get wild in convention.
Jake Weyer of the Southwest Journal reports that Council Member Ralph Remington of Ward 10 will run for Mayor of Minneapolis if current mayor, Mayor RT Rybak, does not seek a third term.
Update 3:12 In case, you are wondering what changes Kevin Reich might be advocating for, here are the key points from his 
