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February 13, 2005
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| Minneapolis mayoral candidate Peter McLaughlin speaks to a group of city residents during a public forum. McLauglin is running against incumbent Mayor R.T. Rybak. (MPR Photo/Art Hughes) |
Minneapolis, Minn. — Both candidates present themselves as coalition-builders who can muster political momentum in the best interests of the city. Rybak and McLaughlin are both liberal Democrats with similar political, social and environmental goals. But the candidates display differences in style and methods.
Rybak, who's finishing the first term in the only elected office he's ever held, touted his visibly energetic promotion of Minneapolis. Even as an incumbent, he played the part of the outsider.
"It's a new world," Rybak said. "It's not the old politics anymore. We have a very different place that we're in right now. And what it takes in this new world is to be able to take, I think, some of the experience that I have from outside politics -- as somebody who's been at the grassroots level, who's been an organizer, who knows you have to fight in new and different ways."
Rybak referred to his challenger by name only once when asked to pinpoint the differences between the candidates.
"I think Minneapolis has benefited from having Commissioner McLaughlin on the county board, and I think they've benefited having R.T. Rybak as mayor," Rybak said. "I don't think either of us should lose our jobs."
McLaughlin was not as kind. He charged Rybak with switching his pre-2001 election position on public stadium funding after he was elected. Rybak maintains he's consistently fought to make Minneapolis the home for a new Twins stadium, but money for a ballpark is not a high priority. He says a new Vikings stadium is even lower on the list.
McLaughlin also pointed to his two decades in public office -- as a state representative, then as Hennepin County commissioner -- as the type of experience needed in the current financially uncertain times.
"When this mayor was elected it was a different era," McLaughlin said. "The governor was giving away rebates -- that was a different time. We're in a very difficult situation right now. I think what we need is a mayor who has shown he can get things done."
McLaughlin said he also has a realistic vision for improving Minneapolis' flagging popularity at the Capitol.
"He claimed the problem with the city's relationship with the Legislature was the incumbents who were in office, some of the council members and the former mayor, and he was going to fix all that," McLaughlin said of Rybak. "Well, I'm not going to claim to be a miracle worker."
McLaughlin portrayed himself as a champion of neighborhood organizations, which are concerned about the future of a popular community revitalization program after the state changed how it's funded.
He also warned of the city's crime rate inching up. He said public safety is the first priority for the city budget -- a dig at the Rybak administration's recent spending plan that came close to laying off police officers.
McLaughlin praised the year-old agreement signed by police officials and community leaders and mediated by the U.S. Department of Justice, which is designed to ease tension between the police and citizens. He says trusted dialogue among established lines is the best way to maintain good relations between police and community critics.
"You don't want to be starting a conversation with somebody new when there's a crisis, when there's tension in the community," McLaughlin said. "You want to have a pre-existing relationship. You need to know who's across the table."
During his first term, Mayor Rybak has often stated a commitment to fund police and fire functions above all others. He's also worked to identify what he considers flaws in police relations with residents. He expended significant political capital hiring a new police chief, who he feels is better able to guide the city through turbulent times.
"It was right at this point (at the Urban League) right here, where we had the police mediation agreement that was signed. That was an important agreement," Rybak said. "But what is more important is that throughout the past year, in the toughest times, when an incident would happen the chief would immediately go back to that community."
He also credited new Police Chief William McManus with promoting more officers of color and holding individual officers more accountable for their actions.
"It sends a clear signal the police department is for everybody," Rybak said. "And that needs to be imposed throughout the ranks, which is why Chief McManus' zero tolerance policy is so important."
The city's DFL Party holds precinct caucuses March 1, to choose delegates for the convention where the two candidates will vie for the party's endorsement. McLaughlin says he'll drop out of the race if he loses the party's nod. Rybak's campaign says he will run regardless of the endorsement.
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