Stonewall DFL Announces Minneapolis and St. Paul Mayoral Endorsements |
| Endorsements for Minneapolis City Council, Parks Board, Estimate and Taxation Board and Library Board also declared. |
In advance of precinct caucuses, ward and city conventions the Minnesota Stonewall DFL caucus announced its preferred candidates for Minneapolis and Saint Paul Mayor along with other city-wide races. Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLauglin was endorsed for Minneapolis Mayor and Chris Coleman was given the endorsement for the Saint Paul Mayor's race. The caucus also rated current Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Ramsey County Commissioner Rafael Ortega as acceptable.
"As a caucus within the MN DFL party, we are the GLBT voice of Democratic politics. The Stonewall DFL endorsement has become more and more important to the success of candidates," said Associate Chair Jill Schwimmer. "Our screening and endorsement process is unique in that it brings together candidates, our general membership and our elected Board of Directors to determine which candidate will best represent the current and future needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities. In 2004 our endorsed candidates won in over 75% of their races because of the volunteer and fundraising efforts of our members."
Endorsements were also given in other city races including: Minneapolis City Council Ward 1 - Paul Ostrow; Ward 2 - no endorsement however, Cara Letofsky, Dan Miller, Jerry Stein, Bill Svrluga each given an acceptable rating; Ward 3 - Diane Hofstede; Ward 6 - Robert Lilligren; Ward 7 - Lisa Goodman; Ward 8 - Dennis Tifft was endorsed while Jeff Hayden, Marie Hauser, Titi Bediako and Elizabeth Glidden were all given an acceptable rating; Ward 9 - Gary Schiff; Ward 10 - Allan Bernard was endorsed and Ralph Remington, Gay Noble and Scott Persons were all given acceptable ratings; Ward 11 - Scott Benson; Ward 12 - Sandy Colvin Roy; Ward 13 - Betsy Hodges was endorsed and Jim Bernstein was given an acceptable rating.
The Library Board of Trustees race had endorsements of Alan Hooker, Rod Krueger, Gary Thaden, Laurie Savran, Virginia Holte and Laura Watermen Wittstock. Eric Hinsdale, Sheldon Mains and P. Victor Gramsch were also rated as acceptable.
In the race for Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board - District 2, Jon Olson was endorsed; District 5, Carol Kummer was endorsed and Jason Stone was given an acceptable rating; At-Large race endorsed candidates were John Erwin, Rochelle Berry Graves and Paula Gilbertson.
Carol Becker and Gordon Nelson were endorsed for the Board of Estimate and Taxation.
As an officially chartered caucus of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota, Stonewall DFL is Minnesota's first political organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Visit www.stonewalldfl.org to make online contributions, sign up for the monthly Stonewall DFL e-mail newsletter, find up-to-date event information, candidate and constituency resources and volunteer opportunities. The public may also call the 24-hour information line at 651-251-6328.