[Speed Gibson,
Saturday September 16, 2006 at 2:10am]
On the local scene...
The Primary has pared the list of Brooklyn Center mayoral candidates to two, the two favorites in fact. Flash is waiting for me to cross over to the dark side and endorse the DFL candidate, Tim Willson. Hey, it could happen: I might even endorse a Democrat for Governor, but it's hard not to, with at least four on the November ballot.
I've spoken with both, need a little more time. Willson is a believer in the "invisible foot" of big government. His opponent, Kathleen Carmody, prefers the "invisible hand" of the free market but is also realistic about the need for both.
One key point for me is who best to restore decorum and civility on the City Council, particularly in the case of Mary O'Connor. Should she succeed in defeating Mike Opat this November, that will solve most of the problem.
Yes, apparently "Mary O'Connor" is one of those magical ballot names like "Sharon Anderson". Newcomer O'Connor ran virtually no campaign at all yet won a Council seat two years ago. She repeated the feat in this year's Primary, to face Mike Opat in November.
This is another toughie for me. To vote for Mike Opat is unthinkable, given the damage he has done to my city, closing restaurants and raising taxes to put money in Carl Pohlad's pocket. Sorry for that rhetorical cliche, but that's exactly what is happening.
Mary O'Connor is no saint, either. In Council meetings she has been the biggest embarrassment I can recall in my 17 years here, at times almost misanthropic in her statements. Unlike most Libertarians, she's poorly informed and often makes little sense. And nothing excuses her lapses in civility.
But would I inflict Mary O'Connor on my worst enemy? My worst enemy, sure. But even though the Hennepin County Board as a whole deserves as much, I don't think I can do it. Poor Penny Steele has enough trouble. It looks like I'm going to have to skip this one - none of the above.
I've spoken with both, need a little more time. Willson is a believer in the "invisible foot" of big government. His opponent, Kathleen Carmody, prefers the "invisible hand" of the free market but is also realistic about the need for both.
One key point for me is who best to restore decorum and civility on the City Council, particularly in the case of Mary O'Connor. Should she succeed in defeating Mike Opat this November, that will solve most of the problem.
Yes, apparently "Mary O'Connor" is one of those magical ballot names like "Sharon Anderson". Newcomer O'Connor ran virtually no campaign at all yet won a Council seat two years ago. She repeated the feat in this year's Primary, to face Mike Opat in November.
This is another toughie for me. To vote for Mike Opat is unthinkable, given the damage he has done to my city, closing restaurants and raising taxes to put money in Carl Pohlad's pocket. Sorry for that rhetorical cliche, but that's exactly what is happening.
Mary O'Connor is no saint, either. In Council meetings she has been the biggest embarrassment I can recall in my 17 years here, at times almost misanthropic in her statements. Unlike most Libertarians, she's poorly informed and often makes little sense. And nothing excuses her lapses in civility.
But would I inflict Mary O'Connor on my worst enemy? My worst enemy, sure. But even though the Hennepin County Board as a whole deserves as much, I don't think I can do it. Poor Penny Steele has enough trouble. It looks like I'm going to have to skip this one - none of the above.
Was there a dig on TPaw in there somewhere!
Flash