Commentary

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A tale of two cities

-- Bob Velez

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”

Perhaps the Dickens’ reference is a bit melodramatic, but I think it to be appropriate, nonetheless.

Referendums on the two, core city incumbent mayors’ job performances are approaching at breakneck speed. After a primary that weakened all the candidates, the political landscape is shaping up to be quite interesting.

In St. Paul, incumbent Mayor Randy Kelly was absolutely humiliated in the primary by challenger and former City Councilperson for St. Paul’s 2nd Ward, Chris Coleman. Granted, this is only a primary and the main folks that vote in the primary are political junkies (like yours truly), but even in Mayor Kelly’s own East Side district, Coleman handily defeated Kelly, which does not bode well for Kelly’s chances at a second term.

Certainly, this has something to do with Mayor Kelly’s 2004 endorsement of President George W. Bush. Kelly, a proclaimed DFLer, publicly came out for President Bush’s reelection—a move that had some feeling a sense of déja vu. (Remember flip-flopper Norm Coleman who switched parties from DFL to GOP so he could run for governor? Then got summarily defeated by a former wrestler?)

Kelly also came “perilously close” to being eliminated by the strong showing of Green Party candidate Elizabeth Dickenson who garnered 19 percent of the vote in the primary. The Minneapolis Star Tribune quoted U of M professor Larry Jacobs: “It’s a real sign that [Kelly’s] got the fight of his life here.”

On the other side of the river, things are equally intriguing.

Incumbent Mayor R.T. Rybak won his primary, but seems to have a very geocentric support base. Wards in the Southwest overwhelmingly went for Rybak, but challenger Peter McLaughlin, currently the Hennepin County Commissioner serving in District 4, came in a strong second citywide.

One thing this particular race has highlighted is the increased involvement of organized labor. Unions are going all out for their endorsee, McLaughlin, whom they support with foot soldiers and money. At the DFL City Convention this year, union members flooded the convention hall and worked the delegates over for votes (metaphorically, of course).

Both city’s major candidates were arguably “weakened” by the very strong showing of the candidates fielded by the Green Party. Farheen Hakeem in Minneapolis and Elizabeth Dickinson in St. Paul came in very strong thirds in their respective races. Hopefully, the Greens will not be considered “fringe” candidates any longer.

For mainstream candidates, “the worst of times.” For political junkies, it truly is the “best of times...”

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