Insight News endorses the following candidates for office in Tuesdays General Election:
5th Ward Minneapolis
1st Choice – Kenya McKnight
2nd Choice – Natalie Johnson Lee
3rd Choice – Lenny Chism
Kenya McKnight brings a refreshing sense of possibility, responsibility, and accountability to 5th Ward politics. She doesn’t bemoan the failures or lack of performance and lack of responsiveness of current and past officeholders, but rather advances a vision of inclusiveness that reveals a core belief that we can do better in and for 5th Ward. McKnight says her stepping forward to seek election to Minneapolis City Council representing 5th Ward is an audacious invitation to all residents, of all age groups, of all races, of all income levels, and of all religious and cultural affiliations to step forward with her, to create a North Minneapolis that genuinely celebrates and engages all the gifts that all residents bring to the fabric of civic and community life.
McKnight embodies philosophy in action. She calls for improving public safety, fighting crime and reducing violence in the home and among youth by promoting proper, effective police work combined with proper effective parenting and citizenship. She challenges Black men in particular to live up to their duty to provide safety and security for their households, families and neighborhoods.
McKnight acknowledges that many good programs exist to abate to devastation of the current mortgage crisis, but some programs have the bar set to high for many people who are in need of loan restructuring or mortgage assistance. And she says despite the staggering statistics placing 5th Ward poverty at about 60% of households, our community has wealth that is significant and that can be built upon and leveraged in ways to help residents who live here now improve their quality of life and grow assets and equity. She says that will come from aggressive jobs and training initiatives, and targeted support that helps existing business grow and prosper to create more jobs, as well as through inviting new companies to locate or expand in the 5th Ward.
Natalie Johnson Lee offers passionate and credible defense of her record as a leader and politician. The former 5th Ward City Council Member points to critical leadership roles she played in Northside and Downtown business developments and emphasizes the need for integrity and courage as key characteristics essential for serving North Minneapolis in a volatile, often hostile political environment.
Johnson Lee has demonstrated the ability to stand up to bullying from moneyed interests, from unions, and from the Police Federation. To her credit, she walked away from major union endorsements and funding when she refused to buckle to union demands that there be no mention of minority hiring and contracting goals in the building of the downtown stadium. When she stood her ground, speaking truth to power, the union withdrew support from her and supported Don Samuels instead. Johnson Lee represents the noble legacy of being “Un-bossed and Un-bought.”
Lenny Chism has brought fearless firepower and excitement to the 5th Ward contest. Chism says his strategy is to reveal the truth about a track record of failed leadership for North Minneapolis that goes back to former Mayor Don Fraser through the current mayor, and failed leadership of the 5th Ward Council Members who served alongside them. Chism decries a policy of neglect and impotence that has allowed prime land to languish vacant and unproductive for over 30 years. The corners of Plymouth & Penn, Penn& Glenwood, Penn & Golden Valley and the Plymouth and West Broadway commercial corridors have suffered from policy that values destroying over rehabbing, renovating, restoring and reusing. Chism is calling for 5th Ward to re-awaken its own development muscles, re-energize its can-do spirit, and reestablish the pride that characterized the neighborhood when Jewish and other immigrant residents dropped anchor and opened North Minneapolis for business.
4th Ward
Troy Parker
Troy Parker is the candidate of change for 4th Ward. The changing demographics of the far Northside mean the 4th Ward is the most likely ward to bring the next African American to a seat on Minneapolis City Council. With a background in labor and with his work in the DFL Party, Parker has invigorated political environment in the 4th Ward by standing up for the unemployed and underemployed, for the people most often redlined by banks and mortgage lenders, and home and auto insurers, and for the people bearing the brunt of disparities in health and education. He will demand and deliver a fair shake and a fare share for the residents of North Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Park Board
Mary Merrill Anderson
We endorse Mary Merrill Anderson, a leader and visionary with clear knowledge and experience to serve the interests of the residents of Minneapolis. Merrill-Anderson build an impeccable record of service to the Minneapolis Parks, and manager and ultimately at the Executive Director of the District. When she retired, she maintained her responsibility to the work and community she cherished by seeking and winning election to the Park Board. Merrill Anderson represents the best in servant leadership and remains an asset to the Minneapolis Park Board and to the residents of our city. Voters would do well to re-elect Mary Merrill Anderson to Minneapolis Park Board.St. Paul Mayor
Chris Coleman
Insight endorses incumbent mayor Chris Coleman for mayor of St. Paul. Mayor Coleman is on the right track in restructuring and retooling city departments to ensure effective management of dwindling resources due to state and national economic woes. Like Barack Obama, Coleman’s mantra could be: Never waste a good crisis…. To his credit, this mayor is confronting economic crisis and challenge with confidence building, results producing gusto, not the hand-wringing shrinking from responsibility that too often throws the most vulnerable, least protected, under the economic bus. Instead, Chris Coleman is wringing opportunity and the potential for growth out of a dour situation. In doing so, Chris Coleman is making St. Paul well positioned the imminent upturn and economic recovery. St. Paul voters are supporting a successful, improved St. Paul when they vote to keep Chris Coleman as mayor.
St. Paul School Board
Vallay Varro
Vallay Varro gets Insight News’ endorsement for St. Paul School Board. A University of Minnesota graduate with a Master’s degree in Education and a teacher in University of Saint Catherine’s pre-K education center, Varro has been a program manager for the Minnesota Literacy Council, and formerly directed the statewide AmeriCorps Minnesota Reading Corps Program. Varro calls for additional resources to enable the district to start early and stay focused on providing excellent learning opportunities for all students. She proposes increased community involvement as a key to a successful school district.
