 |
| |
Marcus Harcus for Minneapolis City Council - 4th Ward, November 3rd, 2009!
» About Marcus |
|
| |
Sign Up for Our E-Newsletter!
Sign up now to receive e-mail about the
latest campaign updates, events & news.
|
|
|
 |
 |
MARCUS HARCUS for MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL
4th Ward – N/S CAUCUS - March 3rd, 2009!
My name is Marcus Harcus (yes, it’s my real birth name) and I’m running for City Council. I’m a young man who believes in participatory democracy and equitably representative government. The Minneapolis City Council election in 2009 is both a job opening and a job review. My vote as a Camden resident and emboldened candidate will be for leadership change in the 4th ward!
North Minneapolis has a depressing reputation in the Twin Cities, possibly the worst for any area in Minnesota and I hate that! I’m proud to be a Northsider and I want to help revitalize the social and economic conditions here and help to repair the damaged Northside reputation. I grew up “over North” and I love this community enough to raise my young family here today. I understand many of the complex issues that challenge the Northside neighborhoods and envision significant community improvements.
Socially conservative politicians who are largely disconnected from the community are not qualified to represent this area. I feel misrepresented by the incumbent so I am compelled to serve my hometown by campaigning to be the change I want to see in City Hall! Barb Johnson’s public policy and constituent service records are unacceptable. I propose term limits for our Minneapolis City Council Members. Three terms is enough.
Johnson ran uncontested in the previous 2005 election. There were 16,260 pre-registered 4th Ward voters but only 3,984 of them voted, a dismal 24% turnout. Johnson was reelected with only 3,129 votes, meaning only 19% of eligible 4th Ward voters supported her. This indicates to me that a vast majority of the 4th ward probably feels unrepresented too. I’m going to go door to door to find out because I believe 2009 is time to discontinue this family dynasty, which is older than I am (30 y/o). Understand that while I aim to unseat the incumbent, my main opponent in this campaign is the apathy, pessimism & cynicism that results in government failure to engage our neighborhoods and low levels of civic participation.
As a Community Organizer I greatly value community engagement. If our country is going to experience the significant “change we need” nationally then we all must contribute locally. Let’s improve Minneapolis together. I don’t believe the City government can be effective enough in its service to residents if most of us are disengaged. True democracy means government that is “of, for and by the people.” Communities must be organized and welcomed to challenge and support the elected officials hired to serve us by governing our City well – true democracy. We need progressive, engaging, equitable and efficient governance that truly serves the people, over profits!
My campaign mission is to help establish a Northside Community Coalition that helps foster a greater sense of community by organizing a critical mass of residents committed to civic participation, government accountability, community responsibility and good neighborliness. I want Northsiders to work together and will facilitate greater cooperation based on our common interests. We all share a human experience so we can identify common ground.
I envision a proud, cooperative, healthy, clean, safe, vibrant, and peacefully diverse Northside –a cool multi-cultural, inter-generational and mixed income community. I envision an organized and effective Northside Community Coalition that works together to successfully: (1) overcome the foreclosure crisis, (2) reverse economic disinvestment and (3) foster opportunities for: (a) viable youth development, (b) family stability, and (c) educational and economic advancement for all. That is my campaign platform, generally speaking.
The Marcus Harcus candidacy will carry consciousness, conscientiousness, compassion, creativity, a collaborative spirit and courage to the City Council to represent and serve Camden in City Hall! My politics are non-partisan, honest, inclusive, socially progressive, fiscally responsible, and humane overall.
» Marcus Harcus for City Council Campaign Plan - PDF - 1.36MB |
|
 |
