I attended the Liberal League of Women Voters debate at Eden Prairie City Hall last night.  The debate was run efficiently (90 minutes) but it was easily the most boring debate I've ever attended in my years of observing politics.  Furthermore, the questions picked from the audience were CLEARLY from the left side of the prairie, although the room appeared to be evenly divided with supporters from both sides.  They were such poor questions too...many about things that happened years ago and some that were simple "yes/no" questions.  No depth, no substance required...it was mostly "what have you done?", "what would you have done?" not "what will you do?"   I finally closed my notebook and stopped taking notes about halfway through.

The questions were so bad that I approached the LWV woman who picked them and said that I thought it was obvious they were from the left-side perspective (noting that the LWV itself is from the left-- don't believe me?  Read their website or facebook page for all of 5-minutes- this group is NOT non-partisan, they are a left advocacy group hidden behind very friendly older women who run your local debates!)  Oh, that's just the national level you say?  Wrong....here's an email exchange I had with their local Eden Prairie/Minnetonka/Hopkins Chapter a few months back regarding their blatant advocacy to push through the President's health care proposal- a clearly partisan plan as it didn't receive ONE Republican vote.  (An Eden Prairie Conservative- Andy Cilek has actually filed a complaint agains the LWV with the IRS as this political activity violates their tax-exempt status)

From:	Mary Tambornino [ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]	Sent:	Tue 3/16/2010 7:38 PM
To:	This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Cc:
Subject:	Re: Comment from LWVMN website - LWV Minnetonka/Eden Prairie/Hopkins (MEPH)

 

You asked me a questions a while ago, and I did not answer.  I am sorry
about that.  It is really not an excuse to say I have had a difficult week.

Yes, we agree with that quote by our National President.  We have a long
standing position on health care.  And based on it, we are supportive of the
bill; our highest priority is for a basic quality of care and an equitable
distribution of services.  We think what is before the Congress does that.
It certainly does not do enough, but considering the "pushback" from those
who think the status quo is adequate it is probably the best we can do.  The
so-called League of American Voters is a good example of that.  Who are
they?  What are they? except an attempt to confuse the public.  Disgraceful!

Want to talk about this more? .  We can do so over a cup of coffee.    Call
me

 

Sent: Thursday, March 11, 2010 6:40 PM
Subject: Comment from LWVMN website - LWV Minnetonka/Eden Prairie/Hopkins
(MEPH)


To: Mary Tambornino

From: Sheila  Kihne
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
City/State: Eden Prairie, MN
>
> Page:  http://www.lwvmn.org/LocalLeagues/MEPH/
>
> Message:
>
> Does your local chapter support the following email that was sent by your
> national organization today that said the following:
>
> As I said in a recent interview with POLITICO, people are rightly
> confused-again-as to who exactly this organization represents, where their
> money comes from, and if the League of Women Voters is somehow involved.
> Until we know who is funding these ads, there is no reason to believe the
> "League of American Voters" is anything other than a conduit for big-money
> special interest attacks on health care reform.
>
> Enough is enough.
>
> Tell your Senators and Representative to pass comprehensive health care
> reform by calling the Capitol Switchboard today: 202-224-3121 or
> 202-225-3121.
>
> The League of Women Voters believes quality, affordable health care should
> be available to all Americans. As a 90-year-old membership organization,
> we are one of the most-trusted voices in the U.S., fighting for an honest
> political process that benefits all Americans, not just the special
> interests who hide behind front groups.
>
> The League has continued to stand up to the lies, launching a health care
> ad campaign in several states, encouraging our members to call their
> Representatives, and calling on Sen. Joe Lieberman to support the public
> option.
>
> Thank you for being such a good friend to the League. As always, we
> appreciate your support.

The woman who chose the questions last night basically shrugged her shoulders and said "those were the questions submitted"...I said "I have a very hard time believing that based on who's here"  I know of three people who submitted very similiar questions about what specifically the candidates would do to shrink the City's budget, or cut spending....not one made it through.  Here were some of the questions: (and all but one were given with a huge left-tilt)- watch the debate yourself if you're in doubt:

1.  Top 3 Budget Items

2.  "In recent years, attempts have been made to cut funding from the city budget for non-profit programs that help others in need.  For example PROP and Teens Alone. Do you support these cuts?  Or, do you support the programs?  How should those needs be met?

3.  "How large are the reserve funds and the capital improvement funds in the City and what is their purpose?"

I've never heard this kind of quiz-show "trick" question in any political debate...."Governor Pawlenty:  What's the current balance in the Integration funds account?"  Ridiculous.

Butcher Wickstrom answered like she was on a game show because she was the "first contestant" to know the exact dollar amounts.  Tyra Lukenscarefully explained everything to us "common folk"  Newsflash:  the EP City budget isn't rocket science and any one of the candidates up there could get up to speed quickly.  You don't need to be on the Council for a decade to figure this stuff out.

4.  A very specific budget question with stats on a current levy- and then a follow up question "How do you justify deficit spending" (Which just HAPPENED to correlate with one of Tyra Lukens talking points.)

Fact:  there is no DEFICIT spending on the Council- they have spent down accounts in lieu of raising taxes in a bad economy and now they are in the position to either raise taxes or cut spending.  Fiscal conservatives don't believe that government should sit on taxpayer money.  They don't believe government should have "Savings" accounts- they believe in the idea that current year revenue should match current year spending.  Duckstad made it clear "we need to cut, cut, cut" 

5.  A question about the appropriate amount to increase spending....What??

6.  Have you been involved with the city?  What city commissions and task forces have you been on?  If none, have you ever applied to be on one?

This is where I laughed out loud I think. What an absurd question....asking people to list their resumes.

Butcher Wickstrom and Tyra-Lukens listed so many government committees (from Light Rail Transit to the Eden Prairie "Tree Preservation Task Force" the Mayors Subsidized Housing commission, Community health task force) I couldn't even keep up writing them down-- the list of their time in government was longer than the new gerrymandered EP Schools bus routes.  

7.  A question on the old-issue of the Somali Immigrant liason position that was moved to Part-time several years ago

8.  A question of whether the parties should endorse for city council (with no follow up question:  "are you receiving ANY party support?")

Now because the vast majority of the questions were so ridiculous....I'm just going to break this City Council race on down for you.

There are two teams here:

From the left side:  Nancy Tyra-Lukens (Mayor-Former Mayor and City Council member of 12 years) Sherry Butcher Wickstrom (Former City Council member of 12 years) and Kathy Nelson (Incumbent City Council, longtime DFL activist)

From the right side:  Jon Duckstad (for Mayor- Incumbent City Council, Republican endorsed), Donna Azarian (NEW PERSON- heavy Business experience- Republican endorsed), Dan Kitrell (NEW PERSON- heavy business experience)

Scott Pollino seemed thoughtful enough, but it was hard for me to get a read on exactly where he would come down on taxes and spending.  Jerimiah Pilon is in law school and I believe is involved with the Republican party at a higher level.  Finish school, get a full-time job, try again.

Tyra-Lukens started out her opening statement with "I love Eden Prairie," and ended it by blasting the endorsement of candidates (a direct shot at the local Republican party who endorsed Duckstad and Azarian.)  This was her beef two and four years ago as well.  I found it interesting she'd use her very limited time to go on a political attack.  Tyra-Lukens loves Eden Prairie, just not those residents who dare to be politically active on the other side. 

The local GOP is a group of very active community members who caucus at the precinct (neighborhood) level in order to meet and discuss governmental issues at the local, state and national level.  We are informed, we follow local issues, we read the local news, we care about this city and specifically about the tax rates here.  Our members are actively involved in the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, and the Chamber of Commerce.  We work very hard and volunteer our time to try to make a difference and have our voices heard.  We stand for limited government, individual responsibility, personal freedom and I will make no apologies for DARING to against the elites in this city who act as if Eden Prairie is one gigantic high school with kings and queens of the prom and some big popularity contest.  If party endorsements are fine and dandy at the House Representative level (our House districts are SMALLER than the City of Eden Prairie) then there is no logical reason not to endorse at the City Government level as this is one of the largest cities in the state. 

Endorsing candidates means that a large group of people across the community have taken the time to listen to the candidates, ask questions, get answers and try to ensure that the candidates seeking office hold similar views to our own.  At the city level this is very clear:  Fiscal conservatism and looking away from government for every answer to every problem.  (And by the way, as long-time readers of this blog know, I'm disappointed many times in the way some of our Republican endorsed candidates vote on certain issues.  The reality is that an endorsement by the party does not take away candidate independence...it just gives you a better idea of how they've going to vote on most issues.)  Jon Duckstad and Donna Azarian are endorsed by the local Republican party and were only endorsed by delegates who LIVE IN Eden Prairie.  This is local grassroots politics and to sit on the sidelines is not an option in my book.

Make no mistake- the local DFL is also ACTIVE in promoting candidates- they just do it behind the scenes.  The local DFL'ers make the City-owned $700,000 tax-payer-money-funded Dunn Brothers coffee their de facto home for endorsements and rest-assured those from the left have their support.  I like openess, honesty and formal processes myself.  Also, for the record, Council member Ron Case actually SOUGHT OUT the Republican party endorsement for City Council in 2004.  Councilmember Ron Case is currently endorsed by the DFL to run for State Senate and I say "Bravo"!  It's good to let people know where you stand, but please stop with the utter hypocrisy.

Now back to the the debate-- here were the few "highlights"

• Kathy Nelson touting the LED lights in the City Hall Parking lot as one of her greatest achievements while on the Council as well as her push for green cars, green space and trees.
• Scott Pollino asking why the City needed a new logo, it left him scratching his head.
• Jerimiah Pilon (current law school student) telling us what he's learned in law school and and that "everyone in the city is my client"
• Donna Azarian talking about her doorknocking experiences of empty houses, broken windows, houses in disrepair saying that "this economy transcends political party" and it's "your money and I won't forget that" she closed with "we can't go back to the City Council who raised taxes for their own pet projects"  (Pet projects were something she referenced a few times.)  Quite so.
• Sherry Butcher Wickstrom both opening and closing (and referencing in between) that we need "innovative initiatives" and "creative collaborations" (without any further detail) these are her trademark catch-phrases that mean absolutely nothing
• Dan Kitrell saying that Eden Prairie is a great place because of the people, not because of the government...and that when he's out door-knocking people are pleading "Please don't tax me out of this community."

Kitrell had the best quip of the night to combat the mood that long-time Eden Prairie politicos know best "I've attended the Truth in Taxation meetings, back with Nancy Tyra-Lukens was Mayor and we were seeing increases of 6-7-8%"...."you don't need to be a politician" (to serve)....I'll add that when you don't have to work, there's a lot of time to volunteer for government-galore and I'll take real-world work experience over government entrenchment any day of the week.

Jon Duckstad beautifully summed up the ideology behind the local Republicans last night when he said (a few times,) "This is not our money, this is the taxpayer's money."  Duckstad was clear and concise on the fact that the current council has simply kept spending at 2008 levels and that he thinks there's more that can be done to control spending-- he also talked about cutting spending.  He was the only one to go near staff pay and benefits by stating that we should consider having City employees pay their portion of the increase in health care premiums.  (I'll post staff pay one of these days...when people tell you there is no room for pay-cuts they are WRONG...the person who books park buildings for rent makes $72,000 a year!)

The most telling moment of the night for me though was when Tyra-Lukens was explaining the various city budgets to us....she stated that back in the early 1990's when there were "windfalls of development money" and that the money used to be directed to "reduce the tax burden on the citizens", but that was changed (by her majority on the council).  They didn't think it was prudent to provide tax relief. 

It became clear to me right then that there is an allowance for liberal leadership in "good times" (it shouldn't be this way, there should always be money returned back to the people who earn it,) but that same allowance is simply not available to us in tough times.  These are tough times and to put people back in charge of the city who see clearly see themselves as the only true visionaries for government is foolish.   Putting the people back in charge who lead us to a $4 Million cost overrun on the Community Center is not an option.  People who have expanded program after program for "the common good."  These are the people who simply "know best" and if you watch the debate you will clearly see the tone and clear-cut differences between the left side and the right side.  Butcher Wickstrom lost-- and she's back.  Just like Ron Case lost-- and he was back.  They will run again and again....they simply won't go away and do something else besides lord over the city.

Eden Prairie is quickly becoming known for "haves and have nots".  I have a foreclosed home two doors down from me...it's been sitting empty for 18 months with no hopes for a sale.  There are at least two other homes in this neighborhood that have also been foreclosed.  If this city continues down the path of providing Social Services (when competing suburbs DON'T and the county and the state governments already DO) and increasing it's subsidized housing stock (when cities like Edina have basically none) then there is no long-term way that it's sustainable.  I don't care what Money Magazine has to say. (Remember- paid City Officials LOBBIED for years to get that ranking.)  We need to manage what we have with the money we have....period.

There was a good article in the Star Tribune today about poverty in the suburbs.  The boom of the early 1990's is over and this city better have leadership that knows how to attract new young families who can afford to live here without government subsidies and leadership that clearly understands their role in keeping the city's portion of property taxes down.  If we don't then all the magazine endorsements in the world won't mean a thing.