Political tide turning on north shore? PDF Print E-mail
Written by Lassie   
Friday, 14 September 2007 09:30
My sister lives in Duluth and is getting more politically active as she sees changes for the worse happening in her beloved city. She and other citizens are getting tired of rising crime, increased rental property issues and a host of other problems - and want change. The first sign of encouragement is the incumbent Mayor, Herb Bergson's failure to get on the ballot for re-election this November. From the Duluth News Tribune:
Charlie Bell, Tim Little, Becky Hall: The top three vote-getters in the two citywide races Tuesday night are widely identified as conservative and don’t have any kind of union support in sight. Are the winds of political change blowing in the liberal bedrock of Duluth? It’s too premature to say from one primary election, but Tuesday’s results were at least eye-opening.

Outside city Hall building after the primary election, a sign placed on a tree for Mayor Bergson spelled out, "You're Fired!"

Which mayoral candidate seems best to turn the tide in Dululth? A conservative friend in the area wrote this,
Charley Bell is considered the least objectionable candidate amongst folks who think like me. Also Tim Little and Becky Hall are good folks and got a lot of votes. The other encouraging thing is that the union and DFL endorsed candidate - Greg Gilbert (whom I know personally and like very much, but is a Wellstone progressive) - did unexpectedly poorly.
The tide of union influence may also be shifting, according to Garrick Percival, a UMD assistant professor of political science.

Surprising to both Percivals was how poorly the union-endorsed candidates fared. Typically, Garrick Percival said, a union endorsement in a DFL stronghold can serve as a shortcut for voters and lead to big numbers at the polls. The only union-endorsed candidate in the two citywide elections to advance was Tony Cuneo.

“I think it might signal a weakening of unions in the city,” Garrick Percival said.

“Union endorsements used to mean a lot,” said Currin-Percival. “I don’t think they mean as much as they did in the past.”

Look to this as a sign of change for the better —and for conservatives in the Duluth area, make your voices heard November 6.

Cross-posted and comments welcome at FreedomDogs.