More as we find out more.
As the first commenter shows, we’ve got differing reports. a few saying resigning, one saying retiring.
[Update:]I was told the recently married Representative Walker would like to focus on her family and she will be retiring. My only editorial input on this is that this is just crap timing. We’re a month away from caucuses so this leaves no time for any candidates that would like to replace her to organize for those caucuses and winning the DFL endorsement.
After the jump a scan of the letter she sent out to constituents.
She is not resigning, just not running in 2008. She sent a letter to all staff today.
Same here… still waiting on more info myself…
I liked her…
If true this opens the possibility for a viable Somoli Candidate.
How about a Somali candidate in another district?
Why do we play minority politician musical chairs within the same district?
Are minorities only allowed to run in legislative districts where they have significant numbers? Why?
The answer is pretty revealing about our party.
How about Karen Clark who represents the more heavily Somali district step aside for a new citizen?
She’s been there 27 years, that’s long enough.
Or Senator Linda Berglin who’s been there for 35 years?
Gregory Gray leaves after two terms, Keith Ellison serves two and moves on, Neva Walker will have four terms under her belt when she leaves and others (non-minority liberals) hang on for a lifetime.
I was not implying that Somoli or other candidates cannot run in other districts.
“Minority politician musical chairs” gets played because of the de facto segregation that means that some districts will have more “minority” candidates and will have the higher probablity of electing “minority” candidates if their “minority” community is cohesive enough to get behind a candidate the election can be won.
And historically that community cohesion is strongest when electing a “first” candidate. Witness the cohesion of the Islamic and African American Communities last year in regards to Keith Ellison or the Hmong Community in regards to Mee Moua.
Depending on where we are in the phase-in of citizenship in the Somoli community the fact is that the numbers and cohesion are there for someone to get elected. Of course there is also the problem that the community is effectively split up between Walker’s, Clark’s and Kahn’s district.
I have heard that she will not be running for reelection.
Minority politicians in other district races. Not a chance. I used to live in St. Louis Park and the good ole boys out there were/are too busy endorsing each other to allow for any such “nonsense”.
Wow, Karen Clark should be replaced not because of her voting record or anything she has done or not done, but because of her race and ethnic background? THAT kind of thinking would be pretty revealing about our party. Fortunately, for the most part the DFL has moved past that kind of thinking.
I don’t know how much you know about Karen Clark, but she is a member of a minority group (GLBT) and has been a tireless advocate for GLBT issues.
Hello,rm, have you heard of Senator Satveer Chaudhary? Senator Patricia Torres-Ray? Keith Ellison’s 5th CD is not majority African-American.
Let’s not assume that voters won’t choose leaders outside their race. It happens.
Here’s some of Rep. Walker’s bills from last session:
HF 217 - Makes people with Chemical Dependency issues Disabled.
HF 1844 - Requires hair braiders to be registered with the State.
HF 1695 - Requires schools to put a “How’s my driving?” bumber sticker on buses.
I don’t know when rm lived in St. Louis Park, but the fact is that the first (and still only) black member of the Minnesota Senate was elected from St. Louis Park. Bob Lewis served from 1972 until his death in 1979. During those years, there was also a black member of the House from Edina, Ray Pleasant. And, of course, we currently have Satveer Chaudhary in the Senate from Fridley which is not exactly an enclave of people from India. So minority people can and should be elected from districts throughout the state. But that should not preclude them from running in districts with large minority populations. This should be an issue of “both . . and” not “either…or.”
Thanks very much for sharing that Senator — I didn’t know either of those fact.
Was Ray Pleasant an IR?
Sean
Allan, I lived in SLP in 1996-2004 and tried to make a change. Can you tell me any aspect of civic life in that city where minorities are/where involved ? Please do not count when when they round up the minorities for the City/School brochure. You have a school population that is 25 % minority, but have a Park Immersion school that is 98% white. Was that coincidence Allan ?
Pointing to some guy who got elected almost 25 years ago doesn’t count. Go look at the statistics for the school district and you will know what i am talking about. The politicians out there like Ron Latz (yes I will name names) basically play “pass the pillow endorsements” and therefore u end up with the biggest good ole’ boy town on earth.
when did you move here from the South Sean?
I moved to Minnesota in 2000.
Sean
just to be fair - we’re damned if we do and we’re damned if we don’t. if we endorse a person of color and replace someone gay, we’re homophobes. if we endorse a gay white woman, we’re racists. if we endorse someone who’s not gay or of color or muslim or female or transgendered, well then we must hate everybody, right? what a bunch of crap.
we have done an incredible job is the last few years of electing capable progressives who happen to be minorities - patricia torres ray, toni carter, melvin carter, steve simon, the person who won keith ellison’s seat who was hispanic and whose name escapes me. but what matters is effectiveness! and if you told any of those representatives, senators, or county commissioners that they were there simply there to fill a racial, or religious, or gender, or sexual preference slot, they would be offended and they should be. let’s elect people to represent their constituents effectively not to be useless tokens.
thank you neva walker for being a good representative and merry christmas if you celebrate it and i don’t want to hear the negative blather because i don’t think that we who have been working in the trenches deserve it.
Yes, Ray Pleasant was IR; Bob Lewis was DFL.
I was not trying to defend the politics of St. Louis Park - about which I know very little. I was merely trying to call attention to an important figure in Minnesota politics, Bob Lewis, who was my friend and an exceptionally effective member of the Minnesota Senate. He deserves to remembered as more than “some guy who was elected almost 25 years ago … [and]doesn’t count.”
Ah, the passive/agressive racism of the left in full bloom…somewhere out there, Jim Crow is swooning.
Swiftee is 100% right in the above. Being a republican, they have long abandoned any care for any other Americans.
I look around the DFL conventions when the Affirmative Action statement is being read and try not to laugh. A couple of years ago, we noticed that one of the 16 state directors were minorities (racial not sexual or age or weight. Racial Minority). So, what did we do? Instead letting this stand as a reminder fo how we have to do better when no one is looking, we create four more spots, fill them with minorities, then pat ourselves on our backs.
Back to the original point. There are more- many, many, more Somalis in Clark’s district. Have we talked with her about passing the torch on if we feel that they need representation in the legislature? No. Why? Becuase as much as some of those over 35 will disagree, we like diversity when it doesn’t upset our apple cart.
160 years of a legislature and African Americans being Minnesota citizens and the Republicans have elected two (including the only Senator in 1972 and a House member in 1898), and Democrats have elected six (starting in 1972)with four from basically the same district.
Looking back at the elections in 1972, one could argue that overall it was the best year in Minnesota elections (minus the going for Nixon factor).
Oh, I’m very guilty of the above too.
Being a republican, we have long ago abandoned judging other Americans by the color of their skins, their gender or ethnicity.
We judge character and worth by what you do, not who or what you are…you leftists should try it sometime.
I agree Swiftee, the only things that matter in Gods eyes is your success and wealth. When will the moonbats understand that?
God grants success and wealth to those who deserve it.
The problem with these Lexus Liberals is they do not deserve it. It seems pretty easy to figure out to me? They hate America, hate God and drive around in their fancy cars and mock us.
Who do these unchristian Lear Jet Liberals think they are anyway!!!
Typical, the difference you choose not to see is that Lexus Liberals most likely made their money from a business that sells to the government, works for the government or somehow gains their wealth from tax collected money.
Conservatives more often make their money from the private sector which of course requires you to provide a service or product people actually WANT to buy and not through some back door tax funded program.
Simple fact, liberalism cannot and never would survive on its own. It requires someone like me to make money in the private sector so the government can collect funds for liberal social programs.
I just the other day saw a Lexus SUV that had a “what would Wellstone do” sticker on it.
Well for one, the “Wellstone” ideal was “for the little feller, not the Rockafeller” yet here was an obvious wealthy liberal. Guess it is ok for him to keep his money and have the rest of us taxed for his ideals.
Two, Wellstone was supposed to be some great enviromental guy, so driving the Lexus SUV is out of line for a liberal. Next is I would bet dollars to dounuts that a Republaican making half as much most likely gave twice as much to charity. Very typical for the “lexus Liberal” crowd to be rather chaep giving to charities. They believe that the government should take care of all and it should come from us all through taxes. I would also bet the farm that same Lexus liberal most likely makes sure to take every tax break they can get, which is funny since they advocate for the rest of us to pay more in taxes.
Liberalism is flawed in every respect!
I agree 100%, Big Kahuna.
I’m tired of my tax dollars being spent to take care of people who don’t deserve it.
The only thing I want my tax dollars spent on is keeping us safe!
I don’t care how much we spend, where the money goes, who profits from it, and who abuses the system for easy money! WAR IS WAR!!
Who said anything about success or money? And just how do you come to think you know God’s mind TFRWG?
Say, are you Fred Phelps out trolling for leftist bigots and racists again?
Do you know God’s mind, Swiftee?
How do you think George W. Bush became President anyways? God is truly on our side, Swiftee.
Don’t think for a minute that we should be celebrating the poor, Swiftee. God grants success and wealth mostly to those who deserve it. It’s not the governments place to decide.
Just make sure you do everything you can to insure we get back our Majority. I’m so afraid for our future.
Think of the children!
For what its worth, the population of Minnesota is 86 percent white, and 4 percent black. When lamenting the lack of diversity among DFL officeholders, you need to take into account that Minnesota is a very white state. I count seven DFL persons of color in the legislature (Dominguez, Thao, Walker, Marinari, Chaudhary, Moua and Torres Ray) for about 5 percent of elected DFLers. On the other hand, 20 percent of DFL members of congress are black.
Here is the 2000 Census information for Clark’s district:
http://www.gis.leg.mn/php/profiles/house.php?District=61A
While the district is very racially diverse, less than 10 percent of the residents emigrated from Africa, and not all of those would have been from Somalia. While there surely have been many more Somalis moving there, this still isn’t anywhere near a majority Somali district.
There is a big difference between embracing diversity, which the DFL does, and tossing out long-serving effective white DFL incumbents because their race doesn’t match up with the demographics of the district. DJZ, you don’t know that there are people in your caucus room who appreciate the affirmative action statement - I’m speaking of GLBT persons, like Karen Clark, a group you don’t seem too concerned about.
Big K - I agree, a Wellstone bumper sticker on an SUV is just as ridiculous as one of those support the troops magnets. I saw a magnetic ribbon the other day that said ‘Empty Gesture’ - I would have bought it but I was too worried about someone keying my Prius.
Max, you could not be more wrong. I guess depending on where you got your support the troops magnet, the money was used to send things the troops needed. It actually had a purpose, where the Wellstone sticker on an SUV was hypocrissy.
BK - I sure don’t know which magnets you’re talking about. When they first started showing up, I did quite a bit of research into the companies that were selling them and only a few of the companies donated only a very very very small percentage of any money for the troops. Donating a penny (or less) to the troops apparently justifies driving those gas guzzlers that consume all that oil our troops are fighting for. Or, more likely, most consumers just blindly believe that the money is going to the troops without bothering to see if it’s true or not. Let me know where you bought yours and I’ll check on it for you.
Now I know lots of people think they need an SUV to get around in our snow but I go all over the place in my little cars just fine. If you think you need an SUV to drive when it’s snowing, you just don’t know how to drive.
I bet when you wheel your Prius into the co-op and everyone smiles and nods their heads knowlingly you get a big warm feeling in your chest dontcha Max?
Then ya pop back in, and off ya go to the caucus to check the skin tone of your candidates…
I can see now, that you and your ilk are saints suffering us mere mortals; so you go right ahead and put that “empty gesture” sticker on your Prius…you’ve earned the right.
Dan (and others) -
While we discuss who should represent who, lets look to the North Mpls. House Districts. Dominquez and Mullery are being challenged from within the party by African American male candidates, and a Native American female candidate.
Not making any statements, I just thought it was fitting given the discussions.
I stand corrected.
Sometimes I guess it’s not necessary to hop into the Prius for a self-congratulatory spin to get the latest updates on the color of your candidate’s skin, or their ethnicity.
This is fascinating look into a process that I had heard of, but never actually witnessed.
Tell me IM, does it matter from where in Africa a successful Democrat candidate’s ancestors come, or is “just black” good enough?
Actually I shop at Cub so you can stand corrected again.
Tom -
It doesn’t matter to me who represents North Minneapolis, but Deacon David (Strom) would probably have something to say about it… I don’t care which part of Africa anyone comes from. If Louis Leaky (sp) was right, we all came from Africa.
I do find it notable that a white sitting representative is being challenged by an Am. Indian and an African American, and in the other district an African American is challenging a Hispanic. I am sure there are those who believe this is all a reflection of the changing demographics of North Mpls., and there are those too who feel that this is a “you’re not black enough” arguement. I chose to be an optimist, beliving that there are just people out there wanting to do more than is being done now.
I do belive that who ever is elected will be an accessory to the Mpls Machine driven by Margaret A-K.
Dan,
You cite the black population at 4% and then go on to lump every person of color in the legislature together and persent the 5% number to contrast the 4%. Nice try but, I’ve been reading the GOP bs for years and can catch that bait and switch in my sleep.
Who said I didn’t care about GLBT issues? Are you nuts? You clearly don’t know me. I also know that Clark is not the only openly GLBT member in the legislature. That’s the difference.
You are Swiftee’s greatest example of a liberal who mouth diversity but when it may cost them something, then its OK to just ‘embrace’ it in a symbolic way. I’m sure the people you honor with your ‘embracing’ can appreciate that.
Sheesh!
How is it that you can fail to see that this statement:
“I do find it notable that a white sitting representative is being challenged by an Am. Indian and an African American, and in the other district an African American is challenging a Hispanic.”
Makes this one impossible to be true?
“I chose to be an optimist, believing that there are just people out there wanting to do more than is being done now.”
The leftist obsession with race and ethnicity I see in Minnesota is only superseded by their utter lack of a clue.
You know, during a Democrat primary several years back in Chicago (my hometown), the minions of Democrat ward boss Ed Vrdolyak took to wearing lapel buttons depicting a watermelon with a red line through it to disparage (Democrat) candidate, Harold Washington.
The ONLY difference between that campaign and almost every Democrat primary I have witnessed in this state is a willingness, or lack thereof, to be honest about the inherent racism in the Democrat party.
I tell you quite honestly, I never hear these discussions about the race of candidates, or what they chose to do in their bedrooms, in GOP caucuses…and that’s a fact.
Calm down Tom, I just threw out a talking point.
As a registered republican myself(well registered in Wyoming that is)all my life, I’ve never in my life heard anything so far from the truth about republican’s as this comment from Swiftee
“Being a republican, we have long ago abandoned judging other Americans by the color of their skins, their gender or ethnicity.
We judge character and worth by what you do, not who or what you are…you leftists should try it sometime.”
Republican’s judge everyone and everything. Your judged by who you know, who offers you support, what church you go to, who gives you money, who you give money to Ad nauseam.
That was one of the milder things the “Fast Eddie” Vrdolyak gang put out (all of the crap that had to do with monkeys). I also remember the “We Discovered It, We Should Govern It” buttons from the Washington supporters. No one controls their supporters. It why the GOP never have to answer for the actions of the open racists and seperatist gun lovers in their party.
I am curious about who’s race would the GOP discuss? Not a lot to choose from. And, you’re lying to yourself if you actually believe the GOP doesn’t care about what people do in their bedrooms. Have you looked at your platform?
BTW- 47 of 50 alderman (council members) were democrats. They were all ward bosses because you have to rise through the party structure before running for office.
Didn’t expect to find you on this site, swiftee. You get around.
I wasn’t trying to pull a bait and switch, and I realize that persons of color (which compose 14 percent of the population of Minnesota vs 5 percent of DFL reps) are underrepresented. Still much better than the GOP’s zero percent.
You clearly don’t know me either. What exactly do you think diversity would cost me? I’m not running for office. I have contributed to and voted for my African American county commmissioner, Toni Carter. Even though I don’t live in their wards (I had three white guys to choose from in St. Paul Ward 4) I contributed to Melvin Carter and Pakou Hang. I sent money to and voted for Bill Finney when he ran for sheriff. Are my votes and financial contributions to persons of color just symbolic?
And I didn’t say that Clark was the only GLBT member of the legislature. She is just the one that you want to throw out.
Lets not forget the other GLBT members of the legislature:
Paul Koering (R)
And that other (D) who refuses to come out (and reads this blog)
Democrats have a problem because they use a person’s minority status as an important factor in determining ones value. The inherent issue with that train of thought is the same one old fashioned racists had for centuries and still have today, they are dead wrong. A person’s skin color, gender, sexual preference, disability set, etc. have nothing to do with the fundamental value of that person.
When any group starts to make determinations based on any of these characteristics they will reach a point, like Democrats have today, where their ideas conflict with each other. That is the price for supporting a system based on prejudice. Even if it is altruistic prejudice. They have to make decisions on which meaningless characteristic is more valuable in any given circumstance. Funny how often ends up being the characteristic that will give them the best chance of winning an election.
That’s what I’m sayin’ KH.
KH, that is how they wound up with canidates like Wilde, Rowley, Wetterling, Franken, Aswin M., Obama.
The DFL looks for “qualifiers” with many of their canidates, not what the core values are, just so they look the part.
Thank God the Republican party does not pick candidates based on meaningless rhetoric and bandstanding about issues don’t matter!
All that matters to me is how far a candidate is willing to go to keep me and my childeren safe from the Muslim extremists who want to take over America!
Typical, your posts are getting rather funny.
You are right that the first concern should be to keep Americans safe from terrorist and no dount you do not want a democRat for that job!
Exactly, I agree 100%. Nothing else really matters to me.
Think of the children!!
TFRWG perfectly personifies the Typically Intelectually Challenged Left Wing Guy. I imagine that he is reduced to satire because he doesn’t have an idea of his own to defend. He is even to cowardly to simply have an anonymous persona on a blog, he has to pretend to be somebody he is not in order to have a conversation. I imagine he is one of those 30 something guys who likes to hang out at the all ages clubs trying to pick up high-school kids by buying them beer. Hence the teddy bear web site.
I agree 100%, Kerosene Hat.
Dan,
I’m not trying to throw Karen out. She just got caught up in my example. I could exchange her name for Linda Berglin or Phyllis Kahn to make the same point.
The reason we believe that diversity is important is that groups that have been under-represented in political and economic power should have an opportunity to compete for a seat at the table. While blatent bigotry and hate confronts those of the GLBT community, I think you’ll have a hard time finding facts to support that they are politically and/or economically at the same dispartity as racial minorities. I am not downgrading their experience. I’m saying its different. Also, if we want to be quota-like about this, I’m talking about losing one GLBT member of three for one African American member of which there will be none. This is all under the assumption that the values are the same of those they represent and their qualification enable them to succeed.
Hey Litte Tuna,
Obama has more experience than your party’s first President, Abraham Lincoln. He also has more experience than your last President, George. Five years as Governor of a state where the majority of executive power is not in your hands (seems like it was created ideally for W)is not exactly the perfect training ground for the most powerful position in the world.
Ashwin has more military experience that your GOP President, his Vice President, their Majority Leader in the Senate, their Minority Leader in the House, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State and the White House Press Secretary all combined!
Wetterling, Rowley and Wilde all had as much experience as Representative John Kline and Mark Kennedy when they ran and lost and ran and won.
And Franken, well, ol’ Al has more experience than Ronald Reagan did when he first ran statewide is his adopted homestate of California.
DJZ,
If you had used Phyllis Kahn as an example, I problaby would have just agreed with you in the beginning.
And while the hardships faced by persons of color and the GLBT community are very different, I disagree that there is somehow more of a need for minority representatives. From a legislative standpoint, I don’t know how much you can do change the economic disparities of persons of color. The problems they face are not necessarily because of existing laws. On the other hand, GLBT persons lack many of the legal protections that other people have. If you look around the country, a number of states have enacted civil unions or allowed gay marriage to restore those rights. I would argue that from a legislative standpoint, we really need GLBT reps in the legislature.
There is no reason that someone can’t run a primary race against Clark or Khan. As Ionnes pointed out, Mullary and Dominguez are facing primary challenges. I’m all for that. I just have a problem with asking someone to step aside because of their race.
Dan
The fact that Democrats talk about skin color and ethnicity as a factor in who should be elected is further proof that the party is devoid of ideas. Not that republicans have anything going on either.
A party of ideas would be judging their candidates on their experiences and proposals not their demographic condition. A white, Hispanic, Asian or GLBT may be a better fit for North Minneapolis if their ideas and experiences would most benefit those in that district. Playing up superficial similarities between a candidate and their district is no better from Democrats than it is from Republicans.
That Democrats make such a big deal out of such superficialities highlights the idea that they are more interested theatrical than real diversity. Te primary thing either party requires is that their candidates show unwavering loyalty to the party, everything else are pieces in a game.
Lets re-visit the requiremtnts to serve in government:
1. Legal voting age
2. Resident
3. No conviction barring public office
4. Elected or otherwise appointed as allowed under the constitution.
What is not required:
1. Certain hues in skin tone
2. Adherence to rules related to where you put your hoo-hoo or cha-cha
3. Brains or conviction
I wish Minnesota and/or America would remember this…..
“I wish Minnesota and/or America would remember this…..”
Conservatives got that message years ago. Tell it to your lefty buddies and we’ll all be on the same page.
It IS interesting however that whenever the Republicans pick the BEST and MOST QUALIFIED person for the job, it’s almost always a white guy (have you watched the presidential debates?). Maybe their criteria is just different from mine. I.e., it has actually occurred to me that a person with the same experiences and background as me just might have the clearest understanding of what my life it about and just might be the best person to represent me. I.e., another Somali immigrant might be the best person to represent a community with a large number of Somali immigrants - more so than some rich white guy. Just a thought.
Max,
Why is it that any criticism of Democrats seems to elicit the “Republicans are worse” defense. Every time somebody pulls that it makes Democrats look pointless and devoid of any positive qualities. Just that in some cases they may be slightly less awful than Republicans.
You try to make determining by race a persons qualification to represent a group so sweet an nice. The problem is it’s crap. If you believe “a person with the same experiences and background as me just might have the clearest understanding of what my life it about and just might be the best person to represent me” you would need to pick a white native Minnesotan for 61B since that is by far the majority of the district. My guess is you are more worried about how the Democrats look than the people in 61B.
The truth is our system isn’t set up to provide representation to minority points of view. If you are worried about providing each demographic in our state proportionate representation in the legislature you will have to work at changing the way we elect people. Work for proportionate representation like they have in many other countries. Of course Democrats would never do this since they currently have about half the seats while representing, at most, about 30% of the population. Why make real changes that would help include minority voices when you can fake your way through it and than excuse the behavior by pointing out that Republicans might be worse.
They downward Democrat/Republicans spiral continues.
I guess my bottom line is that lately the rich white guys (with their plethora of experience) haven’t done such a great job running things - maybe it’s time to give someone else a shot at it. (Disclaimer: I’m a rich white guy.)
Republican and Democrats are the categories that have done a poor job running things. The parties make sure any potentially upsetting ideas are locked out of the process in part by using demographics smoke screen and excuse to hide their incompetence. If you want change you would be better off refusing to support parties that demand ideological loyalty which mean no matter what the candidates race, background or experiences they will think the same as any other candidate. A Somali candidate that has been homogenized by the party would be little different than a rich white guy homogenized by the party.
“A Somali candidate that has been homogenized by the party would be little different than a rich white guy homogenized by the party.”
Indeed. Witness the rhetoric that comes from the desk of Sen. Mee Moua…it is indistinguishable from the generic boiler plate pap that is issued from Plato Ave.
The racist pandering that has been the Democrat stock in trade has, at best, done nothing for the various targeted groups and at worst has set them back for several generations.
What is good for a Somali immigrant is good for us all: A strong economy providing good jobs and a reliable education system that can provide people that are quaified to take those jobs, irrespective of what color they are.
Government has a very limited role in directing the former, and has allowed a self-interested trade labor union utterly destroy the latter.
Hence a limited government is good for all.
“Republican and Democrats are the categories that have done a poor job running things. The parties make sure any potentially upsetting ideas are locked out of the process in part by using demographics smoke screen and excuse to hide their incompetence.”
I couldn’t agree more - nothing will change as long as campaigns and elections are controlled by partisan hacks from both parties - basically the people who are most vested and interested in posting on some of these blogs. As long as they (party heads) require litmus tests for candidates (a Republican CAN’T be pro gay marriage or a Democrat CAN’T be pro-life) or as long as some (like Swiftee or Nitro, for two small examples) refuse to acknowledge that ANYONE on the OTHER SIDE might ever ever ever have a good point, nothing will change. Hopefully, most of the country doesn’t operate on that simplistic level. Like I’ve said before, most people do recognize that the world is gray.