Campaign Update: North News Questionnaire

Got a questionnaire from the local community newspaper. For your reading enjoyment....

1.) Your credentials, in 50 words or less:

I would ask voters to be reminded that a government of, by, and for the people doesn’t require Ivy League intellectuals. Nor does it require a team of “experts”. And, in this regard I would encourage them too to give consideration to running for elected office. I meet the qualifications of Article IV Section 6 of the MN Constitution. More importantly, I have integrity; a virtue which is not only in short supply in government but one that will be wholly necessary in charting a course for prosperity and asserting the state’s sovereignty and independence from the prospect of tyranny.

2.) Choose one thing that the legislature has the power to fix, and that you feel the body HAS to fix, in the next 2 years. Discuss.

The legislature quite simply needs to overcome its inability to make unfavorable or difficult decisions. It is not difficult as an office holder to tell a sports fan you support a professional sports stadium subsidy or an agricultural business an ethanol subsidy. It is not difficult to tell a teacher you support a levy referendum for their respective school district. And, it isn’t difficult to tell a dog owning constituent that you favor and will work towards securing a dog park in their district. All of the aforementioned have economic consequences within this city and state and bearing that in mind and saying no as opposed to merely pandering to constituents are the only means by which the state can become economically solvent while securing the blessings of individual liberty for its citizens.

3.) What can a legislator, and/or the Legislature, do to address the threatened closing of North High School and other issues surrounding the Minneapolis Public Schools’ dwindling enrollment problems? What will you do?

The resolve to the closing of North High School, Cooper, Hiawatha, Holland, Howe, Kenny, Norththrop, Pratt, Jordan Park, Lincoln, North Star, Shingle Creek, W. Harry Davis, Tuttle, et al. doesn’t lie with the state legislature or a legislator. It lies squarely with the voters of Minneapolis who unfortunately have continued to expect a different set of results from the school board members serving the interests of union leadership. As for declining enrollment, I see it as an obvious and natural reaction within the market. Many parents have lost confidence in the district’s ability to meet its obligations and as such they are relocating to other areas or they are seeking alternative means for their children’s education. For far too long parents have not had real choice in their child’s education. I believe most parents want to have choice in their children’s education. However, there exists a legal monopoly in public education which requires parents to pay into the system regardless of whether or not they are using the public education service.

4.) Name up to three other North Minneapolis-specific concerns or building projects that you will pursue in the 2011 legislative season. Discuss briefly.

Given the previous question, one building project that ought not to be pursued but rather rescinded would be the Minneapolis Public School District’s new administration building. I think it an affront to the citizens of Minneapolis, and especially north Minneapolis, for the district to construct a brand new state of the art administrative facility all the while ten year old Jordan Park Elementary sits vacant and enrollment continues to decline. Secondly, I would question the necessity of constructing a new Webber Park library given the newly constructed North Regional and downtown Central library.