Entry tags:
Well, that sucks
I attended my precinct DFL caucus this year specifically to support Londel French, who is running for MN Senate in 62B. This was mostly out of appreciation for the hard work he put into the short-lived Park Department program to support homeless encampments in the parks during the pandemic. Unfortunately (as usual in recent years) the number of delegate slots allotted to my precinct exceeded the number of attendees at the caucus. So instead of an election or sub-caucus they just passed around a signup sheet. Since I couldn't vote for my candidate at the caucus, I signed up to be a District Delegate so I could do it at the next level.
Today I got an email from my preferred candidate: "Unfortunately, a week ago I had a stroke and since that time I have been focusing on my health and recovery. I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the DFL convention tomorrow. I am taking the next couple of weeks to continue to focus on my health and will make a decision about whether to continue running for state representative at that time." I am very sorry to hear of Londel's misfortune, especially since he seems to be such an extremely nice guy. But yikes! Now I need to catch up on the other candidates.
As it happened, at about the same time that email went out, Bill Emory knocked on my door. I don't really have much patience for talking to political volunteers, but I am always happy to talk to the candidates themselves, so we sat down in the pleasant spring sunshine on my front stoop and had a chat. I had actually been kind of turned off by his campaign literature (a little too slick? I'm not sure why). But I liked him a lot better in person. I asked him for his priorities. Not not only did I think they were all worth pursuing, I was impressed that he had actual plans on how he wanted to do that, complete with citations of the specific bills he hoped to get passed. One was a bill to provide continued funding for the Tiny House Project in downtown Minneapolis, and one was a bill that would provide funding for the businesses in Minneapolis still trying to recover from the George Floyd riots (something I didn't realize was even on the table at the state level). When I brought up the current day care crisis he had a specific subsidy plan that he wanted to implement, although I don't think there's a bill in consideration for that yet. In general, he seemed to have a combination of compassion and pragmatism that works for me. Actual plans of action instead of slogans. So I think I'll support him, and I'm very glad I got to meet him.
The other two candidates also seem like lovely people who have spent their lives working to provide essential services to the poor and vulnerable. But they seem a little like niche candidates to me, extremely focused on one narrow area or constituency. I wish them both well and would not be sad if either of them wins, but I think I'm going with Bill.
Today I got an email from my preferred candidate: "Unfortunately, a week ago I had a stroke and since that time I have been focusing on my health and recovery. I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the DFL convention tomorrow. I am taking the next couple of weeks to continue to focus on my health and will make a decision about whether to continue running for state representative at that time." I am very sorry to hear of Londel's misfortune, especially since he seems to be such an extremely nice guy. But yikes! Now I need to catch up on the other candidates.
As it happened, at about the same time that email went out, Bill Emory knocked on my door. I don't really have much patience for talking to political volunteers, but I am always happy to talk to the candidates themselves, so we sat down in the pleasant spring sunshine on my front stoop and had a chat. I had actually been kind of turned off by his campaign literature (a little too slick? I'm not sure why). But I liked him a lot better in person. I asked him for his priorities. Not not only did I think they were all worth pursuing, I was impressed that he had actual plans on how he wanted to do that, complete with citations of the specific bills he hoped to get passed. One was a bill to provide continued funding for the Tiny House Project in downtown Minneapolis, and one was a bill that would provide funding for the businesses in Minneapolis still trying to recover from the George Floyd riots (something I didn't realize was even on the table at the state level). When I brought up the current day care crisis he had a specific subsidy plan that he wanted to implement, although I don't think there's a bill in consideration for that yet. In general, he seemed to have a combination of compassion and pragmatism that works for me. Actual plans of action instead of slogans. So I think I'll support him, and I'm very glad I got to meet him.
The other two candidates also seem like lovely people who have spent their lives working to provide essential services to the poor and vulnerable. But they seem a little like niche candidates to me, extremely focused on one narrow area or constituency. I wish them both well and would not be sad if either of them wins, but I think I'm going with Bill.