The post

Here is more info on the "the post" it is taking some time because there is more and more info coming out about it. What is it?

The county board. I have many comments coming on the issues it has been facing as of late. Stay tuned.

Interviews.

I have emailed every remaining council candidates and mayor candidate for interviews. I hope they will take part. I also hope you will as well. If you have a question you would like to ask please email me at duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com or just leave a comment here.

Here is a copy of the email sent out tonight to the candidates.

Hi everyone:

John Rathe here, I wanted to again say congrats to you all for making it passed the primary. Regardless of our political believes every one of you is an out standing person. I enjoyed the opportunity to get to know you all better. I also enjoyed the debate and conversation on how to make Duluth better. I hope that is what your campaigns will focus on.

Now on to the point of my email. I am writing because I would like to know if you would be interested in doing an interview on my blog. Many of you know by now that I run a blog called Duluth Politics, the web address is http://www.duluthpolitics.blogspot.com/.

The interview will be a number of questions that I will send via email. The interview will not be changed in any way. This includes spelling and grammar. I don’t want to be accused of altering an answer. The interview will include questions that I have. It will also hopefully include questions from the readers of the blog,

I hope you see this to be a great opportunity to reach even more voters. I also hope you see this as a fair process.

Please get back to me ASAP. I am drawing up questions now and will start sending them out soon. I will be doing this in some order. What it is not sure yet. We will have a few days on the mail page for each council race and mayors race. It will then be put on the interview page were people can still read the interview. Again I hope you are interested in this process. Please let me by email, duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com

Sincerely:

John Rathe

I am also looking to gives this opportunity to the school board candidates. I need email address for them however if any one knows please email that to me as well. The process will be decided after I get a response from people so I know who I have and don't have to do a spotlight on.

State smoking ban.

Note I started this post yesterday that is why it say's today and not yesterday.

Today marks a black day for Minnesota business’s because of the State smoking ban. As you may or may not know today marks the first day of the State wide smoking ban. If you have read this blog in the past you know I am against smoking bans. I have never favored one, nor do I expect to ever do so.

One reason some groups liked this is because it said it made if fair for all of Minnesota. What they seem to forget is it does not make if fair to those city’s (such as Duluth) that are next to a different State. It is unrealistic to believe that smokers and non-smokers will not go to these other States. As a non smoker I believe people have a choice. I will support those cities and States that still leave it up to the people. This means I will go to Superior more then likely to eat or drink.

This is about protecting business and peoples rights.

Still working on the post.

I am still working on the post that I promised. I am also now working on a second great post I hope to have one or both up tonight.

Life has been so busy as of late. It is hard to get things done.

Post will come tomorrow.

The post I have been talking about will have to wait tell tomorrow. I am still checking on a few things and want to have all my info right.

very interesting post, coming soon

I will not say what it is yet but it should be an interesting post. I hope to have it up tonight if not tomorrow. I am gong to do my best to get it up tonight because I think it needs to be aired. I do have a birthday party to go to this early evening and hope to be back around seven and then get it up.

Heart Walk

The heart walk is this Saturday if you would like to Spencer me I would appreciate it. Please reply or give me a call at 590-5864. Checks would be out to the American Heart assation.

Who said this?

" If you don't like your taxes buy a smaller house".

Here is a clue. It was in a local race but it was also years ago.

Todays DNT poll

This poll question is up on the front page for the DNT's web site, http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/.


Today's poll
Married or divorced?
MarriedDivorcedSingle
View poll results »
Married 58.82%
Divorced 14.29%
Single 26.89%
Total votes: 119
View past poll

I find this to be an odd question for the newspaper to ask. Why is this important? Why is it any of there business?

Well then.

Why are criminals so dumb?

I find it funny that they think they can get a way or just resume life as is after they are suspects.

The latest being the string of robberies in Duluth involving a women and at least two men.

The women was found waiting for DTA bus, yes that is right waiting for a bus. How dumb can you be. The same with using a taxi as a get away .

Does it seem weird to anyone else?

One week after the primaries the city and AFSCME reach an agreement. It is a tentative agreement at that.

I find it hard to see this as a good thing for the city of Duluth. As many know Mayor Bergson was using this as his main campaign issue. Sense he did not make it has nothing to care about. I also have first hand knowledge of some details. I heard this well some one was on the phone. This some one is a high profile person for either the city or union. Yes I am being vague on per purse.

Any thoughts by anyone? I just have a tough problem believing this could be good for the citizens of Duluth.

Who was this?

At the Labor Day picnic a candidate said this.

" Duluth is a union town"

Who was it? can you guess it. If you are right you get a gold star.

A question at a forum.

Well at a forum sponsored by the league of women voters, an interesting question came up. The question came from an audience member. Remember we have no idea who is asking these question because they are written on a card then handed up. I believe if they are going to take questions fro the then the question should be asked up front by that person. No hiding behind a card. After all we candidates are seen answering the question.

Anyway back to the question. The question was this or close to it. Do you support a code of conduct for our city council and mayor? This would include sexual harassment.

Well both Sharla Gardener and Heather Rand said they would and gave a reason why, I gave a much different answer. That was NO, nothing more was said by me at the time. A reason was given in the Duluth paper the next day. After the reported called me later the same night of the forum.

Now here is why I said no and still believe in my answer. I believe councilor and the Mayor know who to act. Weather the follow it or not is up to them. Like Bergson and drunk driving as an example. Some thought he should have left office. I was one of them, and still am but he did not and that is okay. If you choose not to live in a responsible manner such as the case with mayor Bergson on the drunk driving issue it is still your chose to do so.

However there are cases this will pop up that groups will use as a tool to out some one they don't like and to use this code of conduct as a political tool is wrong.

Times they are a changing?

Are times changing in Duluth politics? It seems with the last primary they could be. Except for the 3rd district with Sharla Gardner received over 50% of the vote among three candidates.

It is a real possibility that the council will change. Now is this change a change to to the right or is it a change to the center? Maybe it is neither. Is it possible that people just want a change in leadership? It does not matter what the change is at this point. As long as they are not lead by the DFL and the union. What are your thoughts.

Many of the people that won in the primary I view as common sense people. The understand the issues facing Duluth.

I have more but would like to hear your thoughts first.

My City Council run.

I first want to thank everyone that voted for me. As a first time candidate I thought it was a good showing. It was not what I had hoped for however still a good showing.

The experience was a great one. I met a lot of good people. It did not matter if we agreed on issues or not. In most cases we walked away with a great understanding and respect for each other. There was an finger given here and there to me but what can you do.

I will have more thoughts later. There were a couple of forums I need to look back on. There were interesting.

Posting update

As you may have guessed I decided not to post tell after the election. I will post again when this election is over. If it is in a couple of weeks or better then a month depends on the vote.

The only other post that will be here in the next few weeks will be remember to vote notices.

Please do remember to vote on the 11th no matter who you support. I of course ask for your support.

Thanks

John Rathe

Campaign update.

Well the campaign is going well, we have been in swing with some action but have not yet hit full swing we will be very active in the weeks to come.

Posting

Posting will not be on a regular base tell after the election is over so please keep checking back to see what is new. Some times it may be a while between post some times it will not be long at all.

This is very sad.

If you grew up watching wrestling like I did you will Chris Benoit. Yesterday he killed him self. Not only that his, but he chose to take his wife's and son's life as well. I will have more later.

Here is a story off www.msn.com ,

ATLANTA - Pro wrestler Chris Benoit strangled his wife, suffocated his 7-year-old son and placed a Bible next to their bodies before hanging himself by the pulley of a weightlifting machine, authorities said Tuesday.
Investigators also found prescription anabolic steroids in the house, Lt. Tommy Pope of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. He would not comment on Benoit’s state of mind or possible motive.
Autopsies showed all three died of asphyxiation, Pope said.

Benoit’s wife, Nancy, was killed Friday in an upstairs family room, her feet and wrists were bound and there was blood under her head, indicating a possible struggle, Fayette County District Attorney Scott Ballard said.
The son, Daniel, was likely killed late Saturday or early Sunday, the body found in his bed, Ballard said.
Benoit apparently killed himself several hours and as long as a day later, Ballard said. His body was found in a downstairs weight room, hanging from the pulley of a piece of exercise equipment.

The prosecutor said he found it “bizarre” that the WWE wrestling star spread out the killings over a long weekend and appeared to remain in the house for up to a day with the bodies.
“I’m baffled about why anybody would kill a 7-year-old,” Ballard said. “I don’t think we’ll ever be able wrap our head around that.”
Earlier, a law enforcement official speaking on a condition of anonymity said Benoit strangled his wife and smothered his son.


Nancy Benoit filed for a divorce in May 2003, saying their three-year union was irrevocably broken and alleging “cruel treatment.” But she later dropped the complaint, as well as a request for a restraining order in which she charged that Benoit had threatened her and had broken furniture in their home.

In the divorce filing, she said Benoit made more than $500,000 a year as a professional wrestler and asked for permanent custody of Daniel and child support. In his response, Benoit sought joint custody.

Fayette County Coroner C.J. Mowell did not return calls seeking comment. The answering service for his funeral home said he was out of town.
Asked about the condition of the interior of the house, sheriff’s Sgt. Keith Whiteside said investigators found “nothing really out of the ordinary.” He said Benoit was found in the home’s weight room, his wife in an office and the son in an upstairs bedroom.
Neighbors said the Benoits led a low-key lifestyle.

“We would see Chris walking in his yard from time to time. He wasn’t rude, but he wasn’t really outwardly warm,” said Alaina Jones, who lives across the street.
Jimmy Baswell, who was Benoit’s driver for more than five years, placed a white wreath at the Benoits’ gate. “They always seemed like they were the happiest people,” he said.
World Wrestling Entertainment said on its Web site that it asked authorities to check on Benoit and his family after being alerted by friends who received “several curious text messages sent by Benoit early Sunday morning.”
The WWE, based in Stamford, Conn., said authorities asked that it not release further information on the deaths.
Benoit, born in Montreal, was a former world heavyweight champion, Intercontinental champion and held several tag-team titles. His names in the ring included “The Canadian Crippler.”

Gatorade shower, baseball head shot, lazy golf fan, and more.
“WWE extends its sincerest thoughts and prayers to the Benoit family’s relatives and loved ones in this time of tragedy,” the company said in a statement on its Web site.
“He was like a family member to me, and everyone in my family is taking it real hard,” said fellow Canadian Bret Hart, a five-time champion with the World Wrestling Federation. The federation has since changed its name to World Wrestling Entertainment.
Benoit had maintained a home in metro Atlanta from the time he wrestled for the defunct World Championship Wrestling. The Fayette County Tax Assessors Office lists the value of the house, situated on more than 8.5 acres, at nearly $900,000.


The WWE canceled its live “Monday Night RAW” card in Corpus Christi, Texas, and USA Network aired a three-hour tribute to Benoit in place of the scheduled wrestling telecast.
Benoit’s wife managed several wrestlers and went by the stage name “Woman.” They met when her then-husband drew up a script that had them involved in a relationship as part of a story line on World Championship Wrestling, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
Benoit has two other children from a prior relationship

Glad.

I was glad to see the Duluth City Council put the vote on water increases on hold. I can't see how any councilor could or would support increasing Duluth by up to 3 or 4 times well it drops in outline areas. I was going to post on this before now but never had time too. I will have more on this later tonight.

Is Crime a problem in Duluth?

I want to know what you think. Please let me know by replying to the message.

Is crime an issue in Duluth?


I will leave it at that for now. I was going to add more but don't want to interfere with your thoughts. I will let you know what I think after a few people have left a response.

Here is the first one about the campaign.

I wanted to let everyone know about our kickoff party.

Here is the details:

What: Rathe for City Council kickoff party.

Were: Sammy's pizza Downtown

When: June 15th

Time: 5-8 p.m.

I will have more later. I did want to let everyone know, and if you can come please come down and join us.

I will be posting!!!!!!

It took a while for me to decide what to do with the blog. I will post, I don't know how much city of Duluth stuff I will post at this point. I will however have a post up later tonight or tomorrow about the increase in water by the city. I will post issues around this area and might toss in a few post about the campaign.

I will post soon, thanks for reading and playing the waiting game.

Not sure what I will do with the blog.

As I am sure most know by now, I have decided to run for the Duluth City Council. The announcement was made earlier this week.

With this I am not sure what I will do with this blog. I may see if a some one else wants to run it for a while, and I may post here once in a while about what is going on in the race. I may also post non-Duluth issues.

Keep checking back for more updates on what is going to happen with the blog.

You can follow my campaign for city council at www.ratheforcitycouncil.blogspot.com , you can also email at ratheforcitycouncil@yahoo.com

If are emailing regarding this blog please use the address for it. That is duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com

Thanks for reading.

John Rathe

Retiree health care issue.

As the council contunies to try to solve this major issue, I would ask that the council proceed with caution.

Lastnight they put another 10 million dollars a side for the issue. Many councilors called on all groups need to do there part. It can't just be the council that does all the acts. This is true.

I ask that the council move with caution on any further action on there part of the retire health care issue. Untell all party's show an active roll is solving this very importain issue.

If the council contunies to do what they are doing the other party's will contunie to show a lack of interest on there part because they know the more the council does with out there involment the less they have to give up.

Giving away money.

If there is one thing our city council is good at it is giving away money. Now it looks like they maybe two more things they will just give money away for.

The first is they are looking are rehiring Samborski to run Bayfront after firing him just about a month ago. I don't get it they could not have gone out and looked for new promoters to run the park, I would urge the council not to rehire him. The second issue with Mr. Samborski is now he is asking the city to give him 50,000 dollars to help with cost of the 75,000 Duluth Fourth Fest, he say's he has lost money do not having the blue's fest. Samborski added after this year he would look to have a not for profit fundraising to raise money for the fourth fest.

There are a couple of issues here one, is the fact they are even thinging of rehiring some one they were unhappy with, just a month ago. The second is that you need to find other ways to fund the fourth fest for this year.

The Duluth News Tribune has a couple of good story's about these issues in there paper today. www.duluthnewstribune.com

Yet in another bone head idea is to give 2,000 to a jazz fest. The idea was brought up by council Stover. It seems like this has some councilors worried and it should.

I have nothing against jazz, but many councilors thing this would be bad to do because then any group could come and ask for money and use well you gave money to a jazz fest but you won't support our fest. It makes sence that if one group gets then others would ask as well. We can't be passing out money we don't have or using on things we don't need to be.

Supporting an event or making sure our city is running right, what is better?

Sick

There has not been as many post the last weeks as I would like. I have notbeen feeling well . I was feeling better for a few days, now I am back to feeling yuckie again.

I will post as much as I can, or as there is news to report.

Wal-Mart update:

My Wal-mart source has informed me that Hemntown sill wants Wal-mart to remain in there city. The city gets so much of it's tax base from it.

There is a couple of sites in Hermntown that the city would like Wal-Mart to consider. My source also told me he thought as this point, there was only about a 50-50 shoot of Wal-Mart staying in Hernmtown.

The source did however disclose that Wal-Mart would like to stay with 10 miles of the there current site.

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.

Twins Killed again.

What more do I need to say.

www.espn.com

www.foxsports.com

www.mntwins.com

Nelson- Comments on slavery comments.

Okay so two county board members had a pissing match over the possible smoking ban.

Bill Kron and Keith Nelson had an converstation over representing there areas, about the smoking ban and in that time slavery came up.

Kron asked Nelson if he would support slavery if the people he represents wanted him to, after waiting to speak and reply to Kron, Nelson said he would if that is what the majority wanted. That is all and it was of course taken out of context.

Nelson's point was he would support what his area wanted him to do. It was a fight first started by Kron and people are making Nelson look like the bad guy.

What would you expect by the left and the unions.

The discussion lead to the passing a dumb code of conduct. That passed 5-2, with two board members have common sence. Kieth Nelson and Fink both voted against it.

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

Just in case.

This is just in case I don't have a chance to post anything between now and tomorrow.

I will be out of town for easter, leaving friday night. Going to St.Cloud for the weekend.

Just in case I don't have a oppertunity to post, I wanted to wish everyone a happy easter. Have a safe weekend and remember what the holiday is all about.

I will try to post again before I leave. I am sure I will but you never know.

Sports notes

Well the baseball season has started for the Minnesota Twins. As early as the season is the twins are 2-0 and have looked good. I am excited about this years twins team. I expect alot of the team this year.

I think there will win the central, and hopefuly make it out of the first round of the playoffs. I know the twins are hoping for post season succese.

The Duluth Huskies baseball teams does not start for a bit yet. There however had a big annoucement yesterday. It was made at they office in downtown Duluth.

The annoucement was about a formor player, and that he had made it on an opening day major league team roster.

Here is the player and the team he will play for, Joe Bisenius has made the Major League roster for the Philadelphia. Joe pitched for the Huskies in there very first year which was 2003. He had seven starts for the team. His record was 3-1 with a 3.60 era.

Best of luck to Joe in the big leagues.

Can't wait to get back out to the wade and see our Duluth Huskies in action this summer.

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.

Just some notes.

As you have noticed I have been in the process of updating the blog. Well doing so I have made some changes.

The links are located at the bottom of the page. There will be more linking coming as well. You will also not a couple of boxs for Unity 08, it is a site you should check out. The purpose is to bring politics back to the people, and elect a president that not a far left or right person but some one people want to see run this country not just the big political movers and shakers. You will also notice ads now on the blog new the bottom as well. So go ahead and click away on them if you so desire to do so.

Wal-Mart to move from Hermantown

Yet a different source has told me that it is very likly that Wal-Mart will leave Hermantown.

As Wal-Mart looks to build a super center of it's Hermantown store, it may not remain there. Early reports are the store would move out of Hermantown, but stay in the area. Leading places to relocate include Duluth and Proctor.

You heard it here first, Hermantown to lose Wl-Mart we will follow this story as it develops.

Superior Mayor.

Superior Mayor David Ross won re-election. The race was not even close, Mayor Ross had better then 60% of the vote.

Kind of funny, Isn't it?

Just a day or two ago this story was in the Duluth News Trubune

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=38167&section=None

Now today we have this in the paper, http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=39115&section=News

Ohwell what do you do?

Source: www.duluthnewstribune.com

Blame game.

At mayor Bergson's press confrence he played the belame game. He blamed the city council for draging there feet and not dealing with real issues, now in some way that is right but mostly incorrect.

Mayor Bergson it is you that we should blame on the retiree health care issue, you said you were going to make unpopular decions yet you have done nothing. The council has taken up the issue as much as they can to this point, but it is you mayor that has the ball. The council can do little at this time.

It is my hope that the council reject help from the state because all you are doing is giving the unions what they want, and that is they have to do noting including renagation of contracts at this point. That is your job not the city councils.

Mayor Bergson also used the sad excuse of wanting to spend more time with his family. If you member a number of years ago now he used that as a reason to not run again for Mayor of Superior. He then came over here and ran for City Council that allowed for no time with his family, yet again.

Bergson said he was burned out, I would say you are in way over your head!!!!!!!

Mayor Bergson will not run again.

For a second time, Duluth Mayor Herb Bergson called a press confrence to say he would not run for re-election.

This time the press confrence was at 11 A.M. , he again felt the need to call a confrence to say he would not run. I do understand why he called a second confrence because of the earlier statment made by business leaders that wanted him to run for a second term. However unless he was going to announce he was running I don't see the need of a second news confrence.

More on this 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?

April First

Well as you know today is april 1st and that means April fools day.

I thought of putting a post up today that said I was in the running for the city council race in the 3rd distrect. Then later today posting that it was an April fools joke, I thought better of it and decided not to do that. I think it would have been funny however.

Superior Mayor

The mayor's race in Superior Wis. will be determined Tuesday.

I ask that any one that reads this blog and votes in Superior to vote for current mayor David Ross. He has done a great job for Superior.

Councilor Stewart not to run for a third term.

Yesterday city councilor Russ Stewart said he would not run for a thrid term. Stewart represents the 3rd district. The word was around that he may not seek a thrid.

It turns out that he will indeed not run for a thrid term. It is to bad, he is a good councilor. I don't always agree with him, however he was a sound voice on the council most of the time.

Thanks for all or your hard work councilor Stewart!!!!!

The thrid district is now left a huge void to fill.

Here is the story paper had, http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=38883&section=news.

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.

Ness for Mayor?

Well it seems like Don Ness after all will stay involved in city politics. If you remember just a few month ago Don said in an interview he would more then likly not run for mayor or city council again. The local politics has taken a toll on him and his family. Appertanly things have changed, Ness annouced today he will run for mayor.

His annoucment came on his web-page, www.nessformayor.com .

Rhonda gone off KDAL Radio, thank GOD.

Rhonda Grusendorf who had a radio show on KDAL radio has ended her programming. Her last show was late last week.

She said on air that the station was going in a diffrent direction then she wanted to. The fact is the station is going the way radio is going today.

Her show was very annouing, it was by far a chick show. Not only that but she should not be on the radio or anywere but jail.

Council gets rid of old ordinance.

The council voted 9-0 to get rid of an ordinance that was on the books sence 1912, the ordinance said you could sell liquar with in 400 feet of a city park. If this was not taken off the books then it would affect many of our business's.

That would include those in Canel park, and others.

With that said however there is one councilor that will try to make it illegal for surton estaplishments, why? He wants to still put foward an ordinance that would call for it to be illegal to serve near some city parks. Wait did we not just do away with that? YES!!!!!

Councilor Krause wants to still have an ordinance that would effect some business's but exclude otheres. How far is this? Why would he want to do?

Your thoughts first. Then I will come with what I believe the reason's to be.

No Beer parks.

So it seems as an ordinace out dated is rearing it's hugly head. It deals with selling liquar near city parks.

One councilor is saying he will support keeping this ordinance. Now he has updates his stands to exclude those bars near the lakewalk, however this would still effect many business's.

This is just another reason this city is very hard to do business in.

This ordinance is outdated and needs to not even be on the books.

The mayor has said should it pass, his admistraion will not be inforcing.

I hope to have some post up about local politics this weekend.

I am hoping to have some thoughts up on many issues that have been going. The weekend is busy but we will see what I can do.

Unity 08

At the very bottom of the page is a sign up for unity 08. I have signed up with unity 08. I believe we can change the way of the politics, and the way of our leaders. I am sick of both party's and we need a good form of change I hope unity 08 can bring that.

If you would like more info click on the button to go there page.

Bluesfest back in Duluth.

The bluesfest is back in Duluth. After a long converstation the city council agreed to the contract by a 6-0 vote. Three councilors were not present.

I agree with Brian Brown, that the Blues fest group should not have done what they did. They choose to bring changes to the contract before the city council on Monday night. I along with the city believe that set a bad president.

The fest was to go to the Bufflo house for one year but at the last minute Geno safed the day. I am happy the blues fest is back in Duluth but have nothing good to say about Geno or those that run this city.

I have some more thoughts on that at www.duluthsolutions.com . I am sure I will post much more on that here as well as time goes on.

Anti war protest. Other things as well.

As the four year annivarsy has come and gone. There were numers marches against the war and the Bush adminstration. One right here in Duluth. Over two hundred marched to try to end the war.

The chants were many as the march started. They marched to the civic center for a rally. Were a number of speakers said what they thought of the war and the adminstration. The group was small at first but grow to a good size just after 2p.m.

There was also a march in the cities. That saw thoundsand march in protest of the war.

Back in Duluth there was a small gathering of family and friends that gathered in the downtown area. They gathered to support the troops, and not failed the Bush adminstrain for the war. They believe that support needs to start with them and at home. They don't believe that marching in anti war marches are the way to show support. The group was about 20 people. They also do it yearly.

4 Year ann. of iraq war.

There are a couple of events going on today for the event localy and I will cover them here tonight as I will be out and about at the local events.

There is an event at 2p.m. anti-war colition march

There is also a small gathering of pro millitary suppoters at 2:30 gathering downtown as well.

I don't believe it.

Some councilors say that losing the Bayfront Blues Fest is completly the Mayors fault. I don't believe it.

I do believe for the most part that this was the mayor's doing. The mayor wanted to get more money for the city because he believes the festivail was becoming to big so he wanted more money. I am not against this, however I am against the way he and the adminstrain went about it.

Here is the %'s that I believe is to belame at, Mayor 95% and the council 5%. Why, I don't beleive that the council could just sit by and watch like they did. They choose to do nothing. IF you remember a week maybe two weeks ago in the paper the council eurged the mayor and bayfront blue fest to work out the issue's.

I don't know how many meeting I have gone to were the councilors feel they need to be part of the process, why this is diffrent I don't know. They should have took time to get involved. They did not, and at this point it does not look like they will. The council should have and still can look at doing something but it is crunch time.

Feeling Blue.

Yesterday was a sad day for Duluth. Today it was the topic of discussion all over the place. It will be no diffrent here.

As you know we have lost the Bayfront Blues Fest for at least one year. Maybe even for good. The festivals promoter said he was pulling the the blues fest out of Duluth because he could not come to agreements on many issues with the city and it's mayor.

I am well aware we don't know all of the deatails and we may never. However with that said I can't belame the promoter of the event, it looks like the mayor was unwilling to move on many issues that were never issues. The mayor also said he has a diffrent plan and event for the blues frest weekend. Yeah that better be good mayor. Unless the event on the first year draws hundres of thousands of people it is a failed fest much like your administraion.

There will be much more to come on this tonight and as we get devlopments.

Oh my guess is the the blues fest will move to the Bufflo House.

Mayor stops debate.

As I am sure most know, city councilor Jim Stauber was going to have a resolution on the agenda last night. The resolution was to ask the council to investgate the mayor's actions on the taking free tickets then giving them away to not for profit groups. One group I know of is the life house, there are others but that is one that has been brought up. This act maybe illegal.

The tickets were free and you can not give the mayor or any city councilor free items in spite that you may be looking for a vote, then the mayor goes and gives them to groups that he wants support from may also be illegal.

The resolution was to call for an investigation, low and behold it was not on the agenda last night. Why? A mistake, yes. Not by adicident however it was very calculted by the adminstration and they should be ashamed of them selfs. I hope this will be up for debate in two weeks.

Fraken- can he raise enought money?

Al Franken Faces Deep-Pocketed Opponent( this was on news max www.newsmax.com)

Liberal comedian Al Franken is in for a tough battle as he seeks the Democratic nomination for a Senate seat from Minnesota now that high-powered lawyer Mike Ciresi has thrown his hat into the ring.

Ciresi is best known for a multibillion-dollar settlement he engineered with the tobacco industry. He also served as counsel to the government of India against Union Carbide over the Bhopal catastrophe, and represented women rendered infertile by the Copper 7 IUD.
The trial attorney ran for the Senate in 2000 as a self-described progressive moderate, but lost the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party primary to Mark Dayton in a four-way race.
Ciresi spent nearly $5 million of his own money and raised another $1 million for the primary race. He has said he’s not planning on self-funding his new campaign, but he’s not ruling it out, according to the Washington, D.C.-based publication The Hill.

For his part, Franken — who recently left the Air America radio network — raised more than $1 million for his Midwest Values political action committee in the last cycle, “showing the fund-raising prowess needed to run in one of the marquee races in the nation,” the Hill reports.
David Schultz, a political expert at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., told The Hill: “What you have is probably the two best-financed candidates who have entered early and probably will scare off just about everybody else at this point.”

Ciresi and Franken are targeting the Senate seat now held by Republican Norm Coleman, who narrowly won in 2002 after Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone was killed in a plane crash.

What are your thoughts do you think Franken will be the democrats choose to run against Coleman? Can Franken raise enought money to compete with others that will enter the race? Or is this articale just a bunch of smoke? Lets have some converstation about it.

Bergson in trouble again?

Well it sure seems as if our mayor has yet again got him self in some hot water. This time taking complemantry tickets and giving them to non-profits.

At a commity meeting councilors asked the director of the Bayfront Blues Fest if he has ever given tickets to the mayor and he said yes, in email responce from Lou Campbell he gave Mayor Bergson many free tickets.

This is illegal, the mayor can not except these gifts. Even if he gives them away.

The council will take up this issue at possible the next meeting, Monday night.

Regardless of the Mayors intend this action is illegal. I believe he knows by not making any comment on it to this point. Now was the Mayor wrong to do this the easy answeare is yes. Can you belame him for wanting to help groups that can't affort to do, no. However if he wanted to help then he should have bought the tickets and then given them away.

He is wrong on both of these acounts, excepting them. Then giving them to non-profits.

High School Hockey.

Well the tournament has started today. Our schools are doing well Marshall and Hermntown won.

Want to help out?

B-105 is having a radio-thon on Thursday and Friday, to benifit St. Judes.

If you want to help listen to the station those two days and donate.

Wal_mart

Wal-Mart issues a statment saying that they will still look at making the Hermntown store a super center.

It will take some work and corpartion from the city of Hermntown.

I hope the two parties work together to get this done.

March Madness

Well it looks like March is going to come in like a lion. Snow upwards of 12-15 inches maybe more. The good news is it will be done by Friday night.

All area collages are still open except for LSC, all public schools systems in the are closed. If you have something to do, the best thing to do is call ahead and see if it is still on.

being civil.

I am a very resonalbe person and enjoy politics. I like to have conversations even if we don't agree.

I am a very civil person, however some times my emotion gets the best of me and I use words well blogging that I should not. I will make every effort not to do that.

I want this blog to be a place of civil discussion on both sides. I am sure here and I may slip up but if I do please let me know. I will make any corrections needed.

The Iraq resolutions passes.

Last night the council passed councilors Stewarts resolution 6-1 with one abstaining. The Iraq resolution took up about 75 minutes or so of the council time.

There were a number of speakers, some for and some against the resolution. There was not as many speaksers as I thought there would be.

The vote did not surprise me, one councilors vote that did surprise me a bit was council Stauber for the resolution. I do however understand his, I don't agree with it but understand his thinking.

There were parts of the resolution that I did agree and parts that I could not agree with. Which is why I asked the council to either withdraw the resolution. That would have had to have been done by councilors Stewart and Johnson, or to vote the resolution down.

The point I was making is that the council on a highly diviaded issue natinaly should not speak for 85 thousand plus people. We all can call congressmen and senators to voice our thoughts.

I also stated that with this issue there is any number of groups, and or websites that will help you voice your thoguths either way. I just did not feel it right this time for the council to represent 85 thousand plus on this issue.

I also will not support and like resolutions ever. Natinal issues are to be dealt with by our elected officals on that level. State the same and city the same as well.

This was really a hard one for me take a position on, but I had to take the one I did for even more reason then this post say's. I will will have more on that later.

Duluth Fire Marshall gives warning.

Today the Duluth Fire Marshall gave a warning to stay off the lake Superior. He said ice fishing, or skating is dangours. A person could be sent out to the middle of the lake in a blink of an eye.

Some may not be smart enought to listen to this warning.

I don't know why anyone would go ice fishing or skating on the big lake. The lake almost never freezers over completely. The wind and shift in the ice can happen like that you are heading to the middle of the lake.

Stewart reinduces anti-war resolution.

Source: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=36414&section=homepage.

Third District Duluth City Councilor Russ Stewart has resubmitted into the local political fray his controversial resolution calling for the complete withdrawal of American troops from the war in Iraq.
First District Councilor Laurie Johnson has joined Stewart in the symbolic measure, which will be voted on at Monday’s City Council meeting.
At Thursday’s council agenda session, Stewart said he changed the language so it no longer singles out the Minnesota National Guard. He said he borrowed language from a resolution recently passed by the Minneapolis City Council.

I was affraid he would do this, what is even worse I am affraid it may pass. I don't think this is something are councilors should be voting on this, this issue is for our State and Country to debate. If you don't like it as a citizen that is great you have amble place to show that, ralleys web sites ect...

The City Council Chambers is not the place because not every Duluthian agree's with councilor Stewart. I hope this does not pass and they don't speak for the whole city.

Hermtown Walmart not going to be a supper center.

Wal-mart gave into the hippies and enviormentorlist on this one.

They claim cost as an issue.

Snow!!!

Well I don't believe we are going to get much this weekend. I will only believe it when I see it.

If we do get the storm be careful driving.

State smoking ban.

I am against smoking bans. I feel that business should have say if they want to allow smoking or not. After all business will do what it's customers want, if they feel it is best because that is what the public wants then good for that business. I don't believe goverment should play any roll in this issue.


Duluth, Minnesta City Council passed an ordinance to limit were you could smoke much like the one the state in talking about now. The smoking ban in Duluth was lightened a bit because of presure from business and people that went to these businesses.

The ban the State is talking about would not allow you to smoke at almost any public place. The ban would ban smoking in the following, Restrants, Bars, bowling Alleys, public and private clubs, VFW's and more.

If the State lost one business to a smoking ban it would be to many.


Cross posted on MN Politics, http://mnpolitics.tripod.com/blog/.

A Duluth man dies in the St.Louis County Jail.

There are not many details, I found this story interesting however.

A man arrested I believe Saturday night was found dead Sunday afternoon in his cell after a check of the cells. This far the man has dies of natural causes, we will have to wait and see if anything else comes of this story.

The story was reported yesterday on channel 6 news, I did not see anything in today's paper about it.

here is a link to channel 6's web page, http://www.northlandsnewscenter.com/.

New to Duluth Politics.

We will start a new feature here at DP. We will post some columns from high profile writers and politicians. This will be on our interview page, there you can also find old interviews we have done and new ones we hope to do as well.

Here is the link, http://dpinterviewpage.blogspot.com/. There is one column up now from last week if you want to head over and check it out.

Kozy bar fined

I know this is a little old, last monday night the Duluth City Council passed along fines to the Kozy Bar. The troubled bar has a new owner however things are not improving.

Eric the new owner choose to speak about situration going on with one of the bar tenaders that to me was not the major issue. The issue still is it has not improved they are still getting just as many police calls and prositoin is still going on there. They needs to be action taken this was just the first step if things don't improve.

Is this something our council should vote on?

The Duluth City Council will consider weather they should pass a resolution by councilor Russ Stewart at there next meeting. The resolutions calls for withdrawal of all national guard units from Iraq and that Minnesota send no more troops to Iraq.

Do you believe this is something the council should get involved in?

The resolutions would be forwarded to Gov. Pawlenty, along with all represintives for Minnesota.


I would love to hear feed back from readers on this one. I will have more later, but here is the resolution.

WHEREAS, the mission of the Minnesota National Guard is to serve ourcitizens by assisting the state of Minnesota during disasters and otherstate emergencies, unless there is a real threat from a foreign invader; and

WHEREAS, the federalization and deployment of the Minnesota NationalGuard in a foreign occupation is contrary to the mission of the NationalGuard; and WHEREAS, deployment of the Minnesota National Guard to Iraq hasresulted in financial hardship for guard families and has disrupted theirfamily lives and careers; and WHEREAS, the war and occupation of Iraq has so far resulted in over3,000 American deaths and over 22,000 American wounded as well as tens ofthousands of Iraqi deaths.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Duluth City Council expressesits respect for all members of the armed forces of the United States andthanks them for their willingness to serve when called upon to do so.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Duluth City Council calls on GovernorPawlenty, the Minnesota state legislature, senators Coleman and Klobuchar,Representative James Oberstar and all of MinnesotaÂ’s congressionaldelegation to take all reasonable steps to prevent further deployment of theMinnesota National Guard to Iraq and to work to secure the withdrawal of allactive National Guard troops from Iraq. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be forwarded toGovernor Pawlenty, the Minnesota state legislature, senators Coleman andKlobuchar, Representative James Oberstar and all of Minnesota'scongressional delegation.

State of the Union Speech and Dems reply.

If you did not get a chance to watch the State of the Union or the responce by the dems like me then you can get the text of both at the links below. If you just want to go back and make sure you heard everything right that is okay too.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Text_of_President_Bushs_State_of_0123.html

www.rawstory.com/news/2007/Democratic_response_to_Bush_State_of_0123.html


I will have more comments as I am able to read the text of both speeches. From what I have heard the speech was good, even if you did not like what the President said. It seems as the speech as delivied was good.

Check for your self here is what some of the Dem sites are saying.

http://centrisity.blogspot.com/ ( this site will almost never give credit were it is do. If he does it is followed by some dumb comment.)

http://www.mnpublius.com/

This is a scary left wing nut job blog.

http://www.perfectduluthday.com/

Tim Pawlenty

Some people have a problem with the posibilty of Tim Pawlenty being the running mate for John MCcain.

Who cares if he is, it does not mean he does not enjoy or love Minnesota like this blog things,http://centrisity.blogspot.com/.

First the Tim is part of the committee that is exploring weather MCcain is going to run or not who cares. Even if Tim was to be MCcains running mate that is a good thing, it will be good for Minnesota, and for Tim were is the wrong?


Update,

Here is another site that has issue's with Pawlenty being on the MCcain commuity. These people are truely crazy. http://www.mnpublius.com/.

Council okays money for vehicle.

Last night the Duluth city council voted 7-2 to okay the spending of 151,533 dollars for a vehicle that will ensure the Duluth Police tactical team will have adequate equipment.

Some councilors had issues with the amount of money the vehicle costed, but in the long run it is a necessary spendicure for the department. The tactical team that deals with major crisis has been working out of a ten you old beat up Gold Cross. The old vehicle had served it's time of need, but was starting to have problems. The vehicle would not start some times, the back doors was not easy to open making it hard for the team to work as needed. Among other issues with the old vehicle. This new vehicle is set up for specificity for a tactical team.

I understand some councilors question the amount of money but am glad they passed it. There were however two councilors that voted no. Those councilors were Tim Little and Russ Stewart.

Still in the process of writting letters.

Still in the process of the letters to politicans, we will keep you up to date about were we are and we will post them when done with them.

Fish tank.

It seems like on alot of weekends that is not much news. There was a one thing of note.


In todays paper, did not read the articale as of yet but saw the headline. Dealing with the fish tank. The head line was something like aquiram looking up. The only comment is good hopefully they will not ask for any more money from that city. If they hopefully the council has the guts to say no.

Some interesting reply's from a old post.

The last couple of days we have recieved some interesting reply's from an old post. Not sure how they found the post sence is as old as it. I am guessing either a search or they went in the arechives to see if there was any post.

Anyway regardless it does not matter. We apprecaite there reply's to the post. We will have some thoghts on them later but here they are.

Hougard said...
You "newspaper people" never know the whole story. there is always 2 sides to every story and OH! THATS RIGHT THE COPS ALWAYS GET THE CORRECT STORY AND OF COURSE EVERYONE BELIEVE THEM CAUSE THEY ARE COPS!!! untill you have come in to contact with a "real cop" and they are all full of shit! every last on of them all up on there higher power!!! papers are always printing the bad stuff and never the good. just wait untill your turn comes around and untill then you will never know how you have ruined most of our lives!!!

a. j. h. said...
you are an ass and i don't appreciate only hearing bad about my dad when he was good too. he did many things for many people that were fortunate enough to know him. and you don't know whats going on either. he was a good person. did you know him? if you did then i'll let you say what you think.
12:03 PM


a. j. h. said...
you think that my family likes hearing what an ass my dad was? i'm getting sick of hearing it from stupid people that never met him and have no clue what kind of person he was. why don't you actually look up the cases against him? some of those things do not match up. also i think you have no right to pass judgment on him or our family. this was no way for anyone to die. lets have a trooper shoot someone in your family and see how you feel
12:08 PM




Here are the post,

http://duluthpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/12/good-man.html


http://duluthpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/12/cherry-man-died-because-of-shot-to.html.


Now as we went back and read them we see we

Sitting down to write letters.

The next couple of days we here at Duluth Politics will be sitting down to write letters and or emails to some politicans. Not that it will do any good but still it needs to be done.

Here is who we will write to:

President Bush

Senator Norm Coleman

Congressman Jim Oberstar

others may pop up as well.

We will post the letters here when they are done. Your thoughts on these letters are more then welcome.

Is more troops the answere?

More troops to head to Iraq under mission. Is it the right or wrong course?

I like the new plan that President Bush layed out however, I wish we would have done this month ago. I have been behind President Bush all the way, how much has changed over time.

Now I am hopeful that this plan will work, I like it because we don't give up the territory we gain control of, like we have in the past, I also like it because it gets more of the Iraq police and millitary invovled. I also like that he has set a deadline of Novemeber.

I don't like it because the planning seems late, my wish is we would have done this month ago. I also don't like that we have to try to get more involved with other countrys at this point.


More to come later.

Duluth Harbor

This attack puts many natural fish and wildlife in danger. As with most extric species that attack a lake, river, or ocean.

It is another mussel type of invader. More details on will come soon from a report to be released next week.

Here is pit from the Duluth News Tribune. You can read the whole story online at www.duluthnewstribune.com


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce next week that quagga mussels have been found in the Twin Ports, exotic species experts confirmed. It is the first such finding on Lake Superior.


This is not a good thing for the lake. There is a bit of good news however the Zebra mussel will soon be gone, however as I said to only replaced by this one. It seems to be even worse then the Zebra.

We will have to watch and hope for the best.

Just a reminder, if you do any water attivities wash everything carefully and watch for any weeds or any mussicals may attach to your boar or other equiment.

An the new council President is?

Click here to find, http://www.ci.duluth.mn.us/city/council/ccmembers.html

If you don't know, we are in even more trouble with this council prez then we were the last one.

County Board hires out side of county.

The county board has found an Attorney to help them deal with the issue of the new county attorney Melanie Ford issues.

My only complaint of the board is that they went and hired out side of Duluth and the county entirely. Are you telling me they could not find an attorney inside that county to take this case? We are the Second largest county in the State.

No news.

Little local news has been going on. Tonight is the State of the city address for Superior Mayor David Ross. We will also have a story about Mayor Bergson's speech last night.


Look for info on the Superior state of the city either later tonight or tomorrow.

Big Tuna a Big Joke

"The big Tuna" Head coach Bill parcels of the Dallas Cowboys, is yet again thinking of retiring. You hear this at the end of every year, it happened last yawn and this and times before that as well.

It is all a big joke he will of course be back next year.

Outback steak house.

My sister had her 30th birthday and we went to the outback steak house. Here is what you should do first if you want a seat, call a head like a day or two and tell them how many people are going to be in your group. Then you will be seated with in a half hour or so of when you tell them you will be there. If you don't do this it will be a long wait as they are new to the area and lots of people want to try it.

Now that we got that set for you. When we were there it was a great experience, yes we had to wair for a seat but that is how it goes.

The food and service was incredible that best I have has anywhere. They are not overlay priced either.

Duluth man wounded in Iraq.

23 year old soldier was wounded in Iraq this week, he is from Duluth. The soldier was hit in the shoulder and it appears to be no life threatening.

It is his second trip to Iraq.

Thank you all for your service to this country.

Warmer by the lake.

An event that the Duluth Parks and Rec department along with other sponcers but on at Bayfront was awsome.

I took my daughter down there yesterday, and she had a blast. There was no sleeding and little ice yet the kids made it go and the parks and rec did the best they could with what they had to work with.

The hill that was to be for sledding, became a hill for the kids to roll down, well the ice rink was there , and kids and parents were using it. It was in ruff shape but very nice to have some sence of winter. There was also hay rides and mini donuts and much more it was a blast.

This may not have been the best year for it, but thanks to the parks and rec it was a great event. Also the many other sponcers.

Here is what the paper had to say about it, http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=32668&section=homepage, it is worth a read.

Duluth to get a new airline.

The Duluth internal airport will add a third airline come March. Midwest airlines will start flying out of Duluth to Milwaukee in March. They will have two flights a day on week days and three flights a day on weekends.

This will go along with the two company's already flighing out of Duluth, Northwest airlines who flighs daily and allegiant air that has two flights a week from Duluth to Las Vegas.

This second daily flighing airline will bring more jobs and allow more chose to flighers.

Is this all we can bitch about?

McDonald’s is keeping the neighbors up
A recent letter discussed McDonald’s being open 24/7. I too live directly behind the store and have not had a decent night’s sleep for going on two years since they decided to be open all night.
The letter pretty much said it all — McDonald’s is not being a good neighbor. Come on, McDonald’s! All we want is some rest.
Dianne Halicki
Duluth


I am sick of people bitching and bitching about nothing. Get over it.

Frank Jewell to run for County Board again?

I just went to check and see if frank Jewell still had his web page from running for country board. Sure enough he does.

Does this mean he is going to run against Dennis Fink in four years from now? He or someone would still have to be paying for the site, there is no new info on the web page. The only reason to keep it up is to keep your name out there and see what happens.

Many thought he may run for the city council should councilor Stewart not run for re-election, I am almost sure this would count him out of that race. After all why would the union run him for a seat they will win no matter who they run. They already control the city council and are tiring to take over the board. Jewell will run again in four years.

New Year--- New Baby

Well the first babies of the new year were born in Duluth. At least the first new Duluth babies, we don't know about the whole U.S.

Does having the first baby or babies in this case really bring attion to a family? I don't see how it would, espicialy here in Duluth. If you care to read what the paper had go here, www.duluthnewstribune.com

County Board vs. County Attorney.

The new County Attorney Melanie Ford is not making any friends with the board as she buddies up with unions ( more on that later).


Here is part of what the paper had today,
On her first day in office, incoming St. Louis County Attorney Melanie Ford found herself facing a battle with county commissioners
.
The St. Louis County Board on Tuesday asked the administration to recommend an attorney to represent the board in a dispute over FordÂ’s annual wage and budget cuts made in her department.

Ford last week filed a 14-page document in St. Louis County District Court appealing a Dec. 12 board resolution that trimmed $100,000 from the 2007 county attorneyÂ’s office budget. SheÂ’s also challenging a salary of $95,125, about $40,000 less than what defeated seven-term incumbent Alan Mitchell would have earned this year.


Commissioners Dennis Fink of Duluth and Keith Nelson flywayyal Township asked the administration to have a recommendation on an attorney at next weekÂ’s board meeting. A motion by Fink to hire an attorney passed 6-0. Commissioner Peg Sweeney of Duluth was absent due to illness.


The action is the latest in what has become a high-profile county issue.

One big thing for Ford to keep in mind is that Mitchell got an increase as the years went on, so would she. She can not expect to start out at what a 20 year incumbent was making. She starts at the bottom and works her way up, even if she is only there for four years. Which will be the case.

She has burned her in with the county board and they will be unwilling to work with as she will be unwilling to work with them.

Just a side note, some board members will look to take on the unions and will look at her as nothing but a union lap dog.

County Board vs. County Attorney.

The new County Attorney Melanie Ford is not making any friends with the board as she buddies up with unions ( more on that later).


Here is part of what the paper had today,
On her first day in office, incoming St. Louis County Attorney Melanie Ford found herself facing a battle with county commissioners
.
The St. Louis County Board on Tuesday asked the administration to recommend an attorney to represent the board in a dispute over FordÂ’s annual wage and budget cuts made in her department.

Ford last week filed a 14-page document in St. Louis County District Court appealing a Dec. 12 board resolution that trimmed $100,000 from the 2007 county attorneyÂ’s office budget. SheÂ’s also challenging a salary of $95,125, about $40,000 less than what defeated seven-term incumbent Alan Mitchell would have earned this year.


Commissioners Dennis Fink of Duluth and Keith Nelson flywayyal Township asked the administration to have a recommendation on an attorney at next weekÂ’s board meeting. A motion by Fink to hire an attorney passed 6-0. Commissioner Peg Sweeney of Duluth was absent due to illness.


The action is the latest in what has become a high-profile county issue.

One big thing for Ford to keep in mind is that Mitchell got an increase as the years went on, so would she. She can not expect to start out at what a 20 year incumbent was making. She starts at the bottom and works her way up, even if she is only there for four years. Which will be the case.

She has burned her in with the county board and they will be unwilling to work with as she will be unwilling to work with them.

Just a side note, some board members will look to take on the unions and will look at her as nothing but a union lap dog.

Holidays

Now that the holidays have come and gone, we will get back to regular blogging.