Duluth Mayor?

Well we just elected a new mayor. By the way I think he is doing a good job to this point. I believe he is doing what many mayors before him should have done. Now I don't agree with everything but you can't.

With that said I have already heard rumblings of people possible setting up to run against Mayor Don Ness in 2012. Now these are names I have heard many I don't think will run but have been brought up in conversations.

1. Council Jim Stauber Chane of running 5%

I don't think Mr. Stauber will run. I am not even sure he will run for re-election to the city council when his term comes to an end in 2010.

Stauber has got a lot of his "supporters" upset with many of his votes. I am not one that has been upset with him. Now again I don't always agree with how he votes but I respect his vote. It comes with a lot of fact checking.

2. Councilor Cuneo Chance of running 25%

Well I think Tony would and will run for Mayor some day I don't believe it will be in 2012. He will have just completed his first term on the council, I think he will be viewed as not having enough experience.

Lets be honest this is why the current Mayor did not run for Mayor the time before this. He did not want to have that as an argument against him.

I think councilor Cuneo would be an interesting candidate and one that I believe would work hard for Duluth. I just don't think that this time would be a good time for him to run.

3. Russ Stewart chance of running 3%

A former council of the 3rd district, he chose not to run this last election. Stewart would be the only one as of right that I would vote for other then the current mayor.

Stewart would be an great chose should he run. I however don't know if he would want to do so. If he did run he would be one that would gather support from all people regardless of party affiliations.

Stewart would stand up for the people of Duluth in the Mayor's office.

I have put what right now I believe these people may want to run next to there names. I will change these as I see to. I have heard of other names and will cover them later.

What have your heard and what is the chance of that person running?

New things.

A couple of new things for this blog. There is now a poll, It will change weekly, however this one is only good for a couple of more days. This question deals with the mayors race. Who will you support? Charlie Bell, Don Ness or a write in. It is near the bottom of the page with the links.

Speaking of links I have a new blog Team Rathe bowling, clearly it is about bowling. I have added it to a new link to pages also near the bottom of the page. I will be adding other links to this area as well. If you want to check out the new blog here is the link www.teamrathebowling.blogspot.com. There is not much there yet as I just started it.

Live Blog of Mayor's debate at CSS.

8:23 Time to leave CSS however there will be more to come about this debate tonight and much more as well.


8:15 Many comments are rolling in from you can tell that those college students that did not have questions put in there hands by special interest group and those that did. those that did not are talking about the real issues that students are concerned about. Such as Jobs, a good wage, Students and residents relations. Those that were put there our agreed to ask a special interest question are standing around talking to only the special interest people.


7:58 The debate is now over keep it here for much more. We will have comments from those that are here live.


7:56 It is now time for closing statements. Mr. Ness is first. Much like his opening statement he is not saying much. He is saying that his involvement in city government is the big difference.

Mr. Bell followers with his closing statement. Mr. Bell closing statement is about leadership.



7:54 I have noticed that Michelle Lee has no problem cutting off Mr. Bell but will not cut of Mr. Ness when his time is up.


7:51 A question of funding for the DFD has game up. Both candidates seem to think that the DFD is funded. Mr.Ness said that the DFD should get involved in different aspects.


7:50 Charlie Bell seems to want to change everything. I think he is going to far with change. does the city need change? Yes, however everything is not bad in Duluth. It seems like tonight that is what Charlie is saying. It seems like most everything is negative.



7:35 You can tell that questions have been forced to ask by special interest groups. More on that soon.

7:22 They are now asking questions from the audience. The first question was asked a by a CSS student that happens to be some one I know well. He the son of a local business owner.

The question was do you support the events that have been going on with college students.




Just a reminder if you have a comment or question please post it when you can. I will give you a live response.


7:18 The question came up if city employees should be able to sit on the council. Both candidates said that it is okay as long as they look at conflicts of interest votes.


7:14 city services comes up as a question. Both candidates said they need to look at if the city should provide some services. These would include a Zoo, golf courses ect....

Mr. Ness said in effect that we need to look at weather the city has been doing an good job of providing that service. Mr. Bell said that it has been the city's fault. We have not help the systems up in good conditions.



7:05 The debate has started. It started with the moderate Micheal Lee coming on and thanking people for joining and such. She then introduced the panel that would ask questions. The panel included former mayor Gary Doty. More on the panel later.

They then had opening statements. Mr. Bell went first. Followed by Mr.Ness. Were Mr. Ness implied that he knows more then Mr. Bell does.

The first question dealt with the casino and when it comes up for renegotiation with the tribe in 2010.




6:52: The candates are in place and we are getting ready to hit the air.




Just a quick note please feel free to leave a comment about the coverage or if you have a question I can answer live I will do that as well.

6:37 p.m. : Welcome to Duluth Politics live blog of tonight's very important debate. Tonight's debate is being help at the CSS.

The candidates are both here. Mr. Ness and Mr. Bell look ready to take part in yet another debate in this long political season. The crowd is also starting to file in. It looks like it will be a good turn out for a crowd.

Keep it here for all the info on tonight debate. More to come in a few minutes. Remember the coverage will continue after the debate is over with comments from people who are here in attendance tonight.

New sign, a SIGN of things to come?

Duluth mayoral candidate Don Ness has new signs. I have seen a few of them out around town. I thought at first no big deal. It may still remain that way but I don't think so.

The new signs has an air plane fliing over the city behind the plane. Now my thought is this. The last thing I want to see for real is a plane fliing around Duluth with a banner behind vote Don Ness for mayor, or any other candidate for that matter.

I however would not put it passed this campaign to use this stunt.

Greg Gilbert for Mayor.

Sorry this will be a short post because I have to get ready for work.

Gilbert will announce he is in for Mayor this morning. I will not beable to attend the announcement but hope to have more info later this afternoon.

Maybe this is the person that will annouce tomorrow.

If you remember earlier this week I reported that a source said yet another person would be in the running for mayor, now another source may revieled there name to us and some of there ways of campaigning.

The guy this source reveveld was Jim Pratt he has not yet had a formal annoucement so I am thinking it maybe the one tomorrow. It seems like this guy has some noble ways of campaigning, however I am not sure he can win with these ways.

1. No signs

2. You can only donate $1.00 to his campaign. If you choose to do more it will be donated to charity.

I like the ideas of his campaiging but again I am not sure it will work.

We will have more on this as it develops. There may just be some to vote for after all.

Here is the link to the story earlier in the week:http://duluthpolitics.blogspot.com/2007/04/duluth-mayor-list-to-grow-to-4.html

Don Ness.

Well it's that time again already. It's election time, yes however early it is we decide who the next mayor will be and some have already tossed there name in the hat. That is not a problem at all.

One candidate Don Ness is going to hold a kickoff party tomorrow at porters located inside the holiday center. The event will start at 1p.m. and Don will make a short speech at 1:30 p.m.

If you want to go that is the info for the get together. More thoughts later.

Who might run for mayor?

Here is a list of people that may run for Mayor this time around. what are your thoughts?

Current councilors:

Russ Stover

Greg Gilbert

Tim Little

Jim Stauber

Current county board members:

Steve O'niel

Dennise Fink (Not likely but maybe)

Others:

Kim McKay

Frank Jewell

John Donahue

Niel Atkins

What are your thoughs on any of these people and do you think anyone else may run?

Survery.

The Duluth News Tribune has a poll up on there web site. It askes who you will vote for out of those that siad they are running for mayor. It also gives you a choice to vote for someone to be named later. That is the one I voted for.

Right now Don Ness is way ahead.

To cast your vote go to there web site, www.duluthnewstribune.com

The list grows.

Those running for mayor is up to three for sure people:


Meg Bye

Don Ness www.nessformayor.com

Charlie Bell

The list of those that people think will run grows daily as well. Out of the three the clear winner would be Ness. Not my pick then again those three are not people I could support.


Note: If you have any web sites for these other candidates let me know, I will post it next to there name. A search comes up with no officail site as of yet for other candidates. If anyone has any info let me know.