THE MORNING AFTER / THE NEXT NIGHT.

Yesterday at the DFL 4^th Ward Convention I announced that regardless of the endorsement outcome I was running until the end of this race on November 3^rd, 2009, city election day.  It was an interesting experience, at times intense, often dramatic in an entertaining way, and sweaty inside a hot gym (especially wearing my suit).  I don’t regret participating, but I don’t think I would ever do it again unless I was an incumbent.  Ultimately, I think the 4^th Ward Convention was unfair, despite being legal, because the convention, which was stacked with a majority of Barb Johnson supporters, refused to end the convention after 5 ballots, proposed by the rules committee and adopted by the convention at the beginning of this event!  “Make the rules but break the rules” when the results don’t work in the favor of the status quo, right?    

I have so much to say about this DFL endorsement process, but not enough time and energy to comprehensively document all of my observations, thoughts and feelings.  Can someone hook me up with an extra 12 hours a day?  You may notice that this is only my second blog since January 31^st. 

Family, friends and humanitarians at large, please join this campaign – I need your help to win!!! 
(612) 600-0155 or marcus@marcusharcus.org

For people who are new to the DFL endorsement process, here’s a summary of what happened:

The 4^th Ward is one of 13 Wards in the City of Minneapolis, each represented by a City Council Member.  There are 10 Precincts in the 4^th Ward.  The DFL party is the Minnesota chapter of the Democratic Party.  The DFL endorses candidates for elections on the City, State and Federal levels within the respective political districts.  I’m not sure about County Commission…

On March 3^rd the DFL party held Precinct Caucus meetings at Henry high school to elect delegates from each of the 10 Precincts for a Ward Convention – March 21^st and a City Convention May 16^th, and to elect people to 4 committees responsible for planning, preparing and staffing the Ward Convention.  Yesterday, March 21^st, at the Ward Convention held at Olson middle school 160 (of 196) delegates voted to endorse a city council candidate to represent the DFL Party in the election.  Visitors were allowed to observe this event in the back of the gym.  Most of the people who support my campaign didn’t attend and I didn’t actively recruit them to get involved.  However, several people showed up to support me and I was greatly strengthened by their presence!  Thank God and thank y’all for the love and your confidence in me!          

Candidate Speeches

The three candidates – Troy Parker, Barb Johnson and I - were each given 10 minutes to address the convention.  Our three names were drawn from a bucket and my name was pulled last, in the order I had hoped for all along.  Thank God!

Troy Parker’s supporters were lively (I enjoyed this!) and it seemed like more than 20 of them accompanied him to the podium, though many of them were not Northsiders, because I recognized many of them.  Troy appeared nervous, though confident, but took several minutes to organize his people before approaching the microphone.  A few supporters spoke before he did.  I’ve got love for his sense of purpose and spirit, but I’m the best public speaker and writer in this race by far, with the most open mind, creative imagination, the most intellectual capacity and the keenest understanding of many of the complex issues that challenge our neighborhoods.  I’m including the Council President in this comparison.  I’m not bragging, but stating my case (facts) to be your number 1 choice on Election Day. 

Barb Johnson was accompanied by someone who read prepared statements before she made a weak and predictable ‘tough on crime”, scare-you-to-vote-for-me-because-I’ll-have-all-the-criminals-locked-up-forever speech.  I’m disappointed in her base of supporters for tolerating such empty rhetoric and demonstrably failed policies and for trusting an elected official with such deep ignorance, an out-dated perspective, an absence of vision and overwhelming disconnect with most of the community.  They all told me how she is their friend and colleague for so many years. 

Note to my friends: I would never vote for any of you who effectively advocated for structural inequities.  Intentions don’t matter when the impact is detrimental to large segments of the community / society. 

I know it is impossible for the incumbent and I to disagree on everything, and perhaps we do agree on more issues than we disagree on, but our candidacies are essentially a choice for voters between passionate nostalgia or progressive vision, the past or the future.  I respect, honor and learn from the past, but I believe in being in touch with present day realities and approaching issues with forward thinking. 

My speech was strong and I caught on fire not too far into it.  I’m posting the written text of my speech but the greatest strength of speaking is my improvisation, so some of my strongest remarks are not documented in the scripted text.  I brought some index cards with sectioned bullet points to the podium, but it was greatly reflective of the full script.  Following Barb Johnson’s speech, I had to rebuke several of her nonsense positions on issues.  Stay tuned for the speech posting!  If only this could have been video recorded for all who missed it, it felt powerful, even though I ran out of time!

Q & A

Next the three of us sat before the convention and answered several questions submitted by audience members that were written on index cards.  I handled myself decently, especially since I didn’t know this would happen until I read the agenda at the beginning of the show.  I must say, because I lack surrogates to say it, that I am the best candidate because I keep it all the way real on critical and controversial issues while my opponents pathetically pander and craft lame responses that are too political or often unwise in terms of being pragmatic and defiant of ineffective conventional policy approaches.  I hope there will be many opportunities during this campaign for Barb Johnson and I to debate in public forums.  People keep telling me that she won’t agree to this, that she is “slippery.”  Johnson is an entrenched part of the system and thus she obviously understands it much better than I do, but she cannot handle me on issues she’s vulnerable on because she is out of touch with most of the community, her policy positions are short-sighted and unnecessarily costly, and her voting record on Council Actions has often been unacceptable.  Troy Parker is generally on point with the basic issues, but I was disappointed in his performance too.  I’d say I was decent in this forum, but I’d love a real debate, a planned event with ample time.  20 minutes is not enough time.

Negative Campaigning?

Some readers may view many of my statements as being negative or arrogant, but I’m just telling you facts and offering my honest perspective – first hand account.  Political campaigns for public office are competitive and it is appropriate to point out areas / issues of contention between candidates and to frame the differences in the voters’ candidate options.  As you see, I’m not your typical, pretend to know it all, empty rhetoric speaking, and risk-averse politician.  My intention is to run a positive, vision focused campaign, but when the realities of the quality of the incumbent’s voting record, positions on issues and poor constituent service is addressed, understand that the facts may not be flattering at times.  However, please observe how I will always show Mrs. Johnson respect as a neighbor should and as an elder deserves and not make irrelevant or cruel personal attacks.  My focus during this campaign will be on issues, issues, and issues, the incumbent’s voting record, troubling political positions, constituent services, representative government and participatory democracy. 

I’m raising my daughter in the immediate area where Johnson grew up.  Lind-Bohanon: “feels like home.”  I love that sign on 49^th Ave N and Lyndale Ave!  As I mentioned in my speech, when Alice Rainville recently passed, I mourned with Barb.  I’m a mama’s boy who walked to the convention yesterday with my mom, so I feel her pain and felt emotional when I discussed it and thought about my mother’s health and longevity.  Again, this campaign is political, but not personal.  I’ve got love for the Rainsville’s and the Parker’s.   

Balloting

In the first round of balloting I only received 11 votes and got “dropped” from subsequent ballots.  It would have shocked me if I expected different results.  I was so nervous at the Precinct Caucus because I knew the vast majority of the audience were Barb Johnson supporters, and Troy Parker did a good job organizing dozens of people. 

See the table below:

2009 Ward 04 Ballots

I didn’t invest much in this process, but too much (yet too little) time and some stress, resulting in my solid defeat in delegate support.  I’m not really a Democrat and I haven’t claimed to be one ever in my life, except when I signed the Precinct Caucus registration card to get in, even if I always have voted Democrat.  There is a lack of options for non-partisans; you know what I’m saying?!  The majority (nearly ALL) of my peers are the same way.  I’ve got an age distribution chart of the 4^th ward and it’s not looking too good for Barb, even if the conventional wisdom of voter turn-out trends is considered.  The times for change are very ripe with effective outreach and 4,500 4^th Ward residents registered to vote for the first time ever four months ago.  You better believe I’m targeting them strategically and encouraging to them to make voting a lifetime habit, to make a difference locally, where it counts most!  Obama didn’t knock on their doors, but I will. 

I participated in the endorsement process to show respect for the DFL activists and community activists who always participate, and to try to help Troy Parker block Barb Johnson from getting the endorsement.  Troy and I never decided to collaborate, even though I tried to tell him at the Precinct Caucus it was in our mutual interest, but it was my hope once I heard he was running as a dedicated DFLer.  I didn’t even want to focus my energy on this process, but it was advised and I recognized the strategic advantages of blocking the incumbent from the endorsement.

Once I was “dropped” after the first ballot, I made a brief concession speech and asked my supporters to vote for Troy in subsequent ballots to “block Barb Johnson!”  There was an enormous cheer from Parker supporters, but I said, “Wait, wait, only for today!” This event was very hot, very exciting and, again, very unfair!  It was a tragic comedy.

After the 5^th ballot results came in without 60% of the delegate vote for Barb, a motion was made on the floor to adjourn the convention.  A vote was taken by the hand-raising of delegate passes.  This motion was made repeatedly and it obviously failed repeatedly because Barb supporters were stubbornly opposing an adjournment.  I sat in the front row in the Precinct 3 section and when I looked back at the rest of the crowd during these votes for and against adjournment, I saw and felt the determination of supporters to either win the endorsement for Johnson or block the endorsement of Johnson for Parker.  The commitment on both sides was impressive and inspiring! 

Indefinite balloting should not be allowed, but it is and the purpose is to wait until people can no longer stay, so that votes for the opposition are gradually lost, or there is hope people will grow tired and switch their votes.  The supporters of the status quo do not play fair! 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t write about the controversial leaflet that ACORN was distributing on behalf of Troy Parker.  After the second ballot a golden colored 1-pager was distributed throughout the convention and it listed several banks that had allegedly contributed to her past city council campaigns, which is illegal.  This flyer cites campaign finance sources, so it’ll be interesting to do the research and fact-check.  This flyer also noted a couple colossal judgment errors Johnson made related to the mortgage foreclosure crisis and predatory lending, both of which I addressed earlier.  Johnson got on the microphone and started screaming madly about how the campaign donation allegations were “lies,” but she didn’t contest the Council Action voting record.  If you look at the table after the second ballot you’ll notice a significant shift of votes away from Troy to unendorsed votes or to Barb.  This may have been the turning point, the decisive moment of hope for Barb supporters, otherwise balloting may have lasted for several hours until people had to leave.  If there was no indefinite balloting (they ran out of colored paper for ballots after a while!) it would have still resulted in a convention with no endorsement two hours or more later.  The Johnson delegation had many seniors who were struggling with the heat and the frequent eruptions of dramatic excitement.

R.T. Rybak, Mike Christensen, and most especially Jonathan Palmer (Barb’s single supporter of color), were repeatedly lobbying me to switch my vote during ballot counting rounds because Barb kept missing the 60% endorsement threshold by a single vote or two during all but three ballots after she had an effective fit over the leaflet.  They were arguing that it was not in my interest to support Troy because we would be drawing from the same voter base and that Barb supporters were not going to support me no matter what, even if I gained the endorsement.  Both of those points were true, but it was hard to trust biased advisors who support my main opponent. 

Moreover, I don’t think over the course of the campaign that Troy will prove to be a formidable opponent.  The only reason Barb will be is because of her well established base, even if it is much smaller than it would have been in the 1980’s.  I actually appreciate that Parker’s getting so many “underserved” and “underrepresented” community members involved in the electoral process as I am.  (I only use these terms because of the emphasis made on affirmative action at the convention.)  This will greatly benefit our campaign even if Parker runs until the end because his supporters will most likely rank me their 2^nd choice.  That benefits me when I get more votes because all of his votes will shift to me, giving me a greater advantage over Johnson.  The opposition’s advice to me does not apply this year as it might have in past Primary – General election years.  Barb’s supporters are most likely to rank me their second choice too, so all of that chatter was irrelevant in the context of an IRV election with no primary!  It was clearly more advantageous for me to leave there with a blocked endorsement of Johnson.  Troy’s supporters showed me as much love as I’d expect from my own supporters and I genuinely love them back!  As his campaign proves to be unviable during the next several months of competition, I’ll be able to draw many of his supporters, and many of them told me this yesterday.  Troy did have much more momentum then I did up until yesterday, and I greatly respect and appreciate his campaign.  However, my campaign, the real campaign for votes, not endorsements, is going to be spectacular and our voter organizing plan is going to be overwhelming and unbearable to the competition.  This is not arrogance, nor egomania.  I am simply confident in my vision and must transmit this confidence and explain the advantage to my supporters on the Northside and throughout the Twin Cities.  Execution will be critical!  I am very humble and if you know me or meet and interact with me, you will know this is true immediately. 

Campaign Signs & “sign wars”

I also lost the “sign war” at this convention.  My wife hated this and perceived it like most people there probably did, as if I lack adequate support to compete.  I didn’t like it either (though I didn’t worry at all), but I knew my purpose at this event and I anticipated this outcome as well as the possibility and importance of an upset, so I didn’t spend much of my capital for this process.  Each campaign was allowed to post up to 30 campaign signs in the gym.  Although my sign was the most unique and attractive one, I only produced 4 signs.  My two opponents both had 30 signs, but I’m the only candidate with a website: www.marcusharcus.org. 

Later into this campaign season I will win the sign war in high visibility areas where and when it really counts! 

Please make a contribution:   http://www.marcusharcus.org/donate.htm

Troy Parker agreed to abide by the DFL endorsement at the 4^th Ward Convention

Many convention delegates and visitors seemed unhappy when I stated that I wasn’t really a committed DFLer.  I confessed to them that I had given the endorsement process a try to see if I could be converted to a partisan candidate, and that’s the honest truth.  If I had received the endorsement I would be a DFLer today, but it didn’t happen so I respect the convention decision and will run as a Non-Partisan, an independent-independent. 

During the Q & A, city council candidate Troy Parker told the convention that he would abide by the DFL endorsement, so I am waiting in great anticipation to see if he decides to run anyway, against his public word.  He did say he had been a former Minneapolis DFL executive director, so he must be a Party loyalist.  If he does run anyway he will be looked upon UNfavorably by those die-hard DFLers who vote for Party candidates instead of the best candidates.  This stigma would follow him until November.  What more can I say?  I’m indifferent because our campaign will benefit either way.

The following is a summary of what we did for this entire DFL endorsement process, with the help of one researcher (+ my analysis & further break-downs), three phone callers (+ me), three letter folders and an envelope stuffer (+ myself) and a couple people helping me print letters (+ I):

·         We cold called about 1,000 people born between the years of 1970 – 1990 in all 10 precincts to invite new and younger folks to attend the Precinct Caucus.  Half of the people we reached live on the phone were open to the campaign and the other half were indifferent.  I only reached two people who were outright unsupportive, the same number of young republicans my age who called me back, surprisingly open.  This was encouraging. 

·         I wrote and hand-delivered 100 letters before the Precinct Caucus to a list of “likely delegates” we produced based on past participation, nearly ALL Barb Johnson supporters. 

·         I identified and produced a list of every 4^th Ward voter from the Obama election who was born in 1978, my birth year.  I wrote them all a letter and called most of them.  A couple of them actually showed up at the caucus.

·         I unimpressively got 9 new people to attend the Caucus and get elected as Ward Convention delegates.  That is the secret to this endorsement game, getting your supporters to Caucus.

·         I wrote and mailed a letter to delegates that is available on my website: http://www.marcusharcus.org/news/deardelegates.htm.  I also called most of them.  Many people claimed to be undecided, but I didn’t really believe it.

·         4 people opposed to a 4^th term of Barb Johnson supported me along with 7 of the folks from the Precinct Caucus resulting in my 11 delegate votes at the Ward convention!  This shows you the tiny percentage of people who attend Precinct Caucus undecided.  Thank y’all very much!  We almost helped Troy Parker block Barb from getting the endorsement.  We made her sweat hard because she had no competition in 2005 and believed it would be easy to defeat Troy and I. 

o   1 of my supporters raised his hand during the Caucus meeting to be a delegate but didn’t correctly fill out the registration card because he arrived one minute before the start time and wasn’t instructed too either during the Precinct 4 caucus meeting.  This was in Barb’s Precinct 4, where everyone else was there for Barb, so he wasn’t able to participate at the Convention as a delegate.

o   My wife is in weekend grad school and missed the first vote because of class, which was fine with me because we’re paying for it and education is the top priority in our house. 

Final thoughts about diversity and campaign advantages based on demographics

Many of the incumbents’ supporters are in denial that they are outnumbered in the 4^th Ward electorate by potential voters who are open and hoping for political leadership change in Camden.  They need a reason to vote locally, a candidate who will reach out to them and make them believe they will be represented and served well.

Both Troy and I have diverse campaign support, but Barb’s campaign was so racially homogenous they looked like a Republican delegation.  These are the gatekeepers who make-up the so-called “Northside political machine.” 

If the 4^th Ward wants an elected official who can and will openly, honestly and progressively facilitate public discussions on “race” and class, homeowners and renters, crime and real criminal justice, then they will elect me.  Neither of my opponents is ready or qualified to do this and we know the tensions exist and must be resolved!  During my young lifetime, European Americans have been moving out of the Northside as fast as the African Americans, Asian Americans and recently Latinos / Hispanic Americans have been moving in.  I’m grateful for all the good people who live and move here, the multi-generational families and the recent arrivals, of all ethnicities and cultures and excited about the opportunity to represent and serve all.  I’ll celebrate the diversity of the Northside on a consistent basis and work to build bridges and heal divisions across “race,” class and age.

Look up the Census data and study the trends, but remember that this data is outdated. 

View the neighborhood profiles for demographic and economic data on my website:  http://www.marcusharcus.org/4thward411.htm or the following direct links to the City of Minneapolis website:

·         http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neighborhoods/cleveland_population.asp#TopOfPage

·         http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neighborhoods/folwell_population.asp#TopOfPage 

·         http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neighborhoods/jordan_population.asp#TopOfPage

·         http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neighborhoods/lindbohanon_population.asp#TopOfPage

·         http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neighborhoods/shinglecreek_population.asp#TopOfPage   

·         http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neighborhoods/victory_population.asp#TopOfPage

·         http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/neighborhoods/webbercamden_population.asp#TopOfPage

While you’re at marcusharcus.org, please contact me to volunteer and, or make a donation.  Thx!

I am deeply curious about the 2010 Census numbers!  People have outdated concepts of the demographic make-up of Camden today.  The demographics are actually in the favor of both Troy and I, because the people of color will be far more open to us, and we still have thousands of white voters who will be closed to Barb and open to either Troy or myself.  I’d guess that a majority of European American Northsiders value the diversity and most are tired of not having options for quality elected officials to represent Camden.  If one drives around most areas of Camden today you will notice that the majority of the youth are African American and many are Asian American.  As an African American, I love the high percentage of African Americans living on the Northside, but I also love that our community is home to a growing diversity of people.  I’m glad that so many people move here and I’m even more grateful for all of my people who have stayed despite the crack epidemic and gang violence problems that began in the early 1980’s and peaked in the mid 1990’s.  The problems of drugs and violence have oppressed many parts of the Northside and spread widespread fear internally and externally, inspiring condemnation of our community throughout the Twin Cities.  I’m glad that so many long-time European American Northsiders have remained committed to living here permanently, because we’ve had enough white flight.  We need to get people of multi-cultures to not just tolerate the presence and sight of each other but transcend the harmless physical differences we have so we can work through our tensions, develop greater understanding of each other and work together progressively to foster a healthy diversity in the community.  Neighbors ought to live and work together in the Northside neighborhoods respectfully and cooperatively across cultures, class and age.    

Most of the 4th Ward, even many persistent voters, don’t know or care much about the DFL endorsement process.  Its value is greatly depreciated these days and may be irrelevant with Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) this year.  There seems to be limited interest or limited capacity for the DFL to promote and organize high participation of the community in this process.  For this reason, the tiny fraction of the 4th Ward electorate (160 people showed up out of 196 elected delegates = 36 didn’t show up) that decided on the DFL endorsement does not necessarily determine the winning candidate on November 3^rd.  Those 160 DFL delegates don’t reflect the support of 10,000+ 4th Ward voters the incumbent can’t and won’t reach nor gain support from.  Barb Johnson is not going to reach outside of her limited, though solidly loyal base of 3,000 supporters.  She didn’t call anyone she didn’t know with a clearly African American name, and this was proven in her face after the convention ended by delegates who confronted her with questions about not having any diversity of support in her campaign and questioning why she did not reach out to them for support leading up to the Convention.  Johnson reportedly got emotionally defensive and said she didn’t have to explain herself to them, forgetting that she still is their Council Member. 

Going Forward

People are moved by live and direct contact, live conversation and by media, so we’ll reach them going forward at their front doors, at community events, at campaign events we organize and with increasing multi-media from April through November.  Those phone calls, mostly voice messages, were very unhelpful for turning out new people to the Precinct Caucus (“What is a Precinct Caucus?” – I didn’t know before last year and didn’t understand until this year!), however, they planted early seeds of name recognition.  My rhyming name is easy to remember and hard to forget, so branding the campaign name throughout the 4^th Ward will be relatively easy.  I just need to fill up my campaign with a “busload of volunteers” and raise enough money for campaign expenses through November.  I will wait until the fast approaching launch of our community canvassing to detail the voter outreach and engagement strategy, so stay tuned or join the campaign now to learn early.

I’ve written way too much, but I’ve wanted to blog about this process since I got involved in February (yes, I know that was too late, but I was reluctant to participate at all and didn’t know about Troy until February).  This is my first and last blog about the DFL endorsement process, except for the forthcoming post of my prepared convention speech. 

Thx!

mh

peace