Primary election: Few surprises in citywide results

by Ed Felien

Last Tuesday’s primary election had a few mild surprises, but everything turned out pretty much as expected.

Even though he trailed R.T. Rybak by 10 percent citywide, McLaughlin did well in the Second, Ninth and Twelfth Wards. That was expected; it’s his base. He’s represented the area first as a legislator and now as county commissioner. McLaughline has the backing of most unions and police and fire, which plays very well in the Twelfth and the south part of the Ninth. He and Rybak split the Second, with McLaughlin taking the West Bank and Rybak taking Prospect Park.

It has been very difficult for voters to see the difference between the two candidates. They both want more public safety, better schools and fiscal responsibility. They probably both approve of motherhood and apple pie as well.

The only significant public policy issue on which they differ is on the smoking ban in bars and restaurants. Rybak has been a strong proponent of the ban in Minneapolis, and McLaughlin voted for the ban as Hennepin County Commissioner. Just a few weeks ago, however, McLaughlin supported a move to reconsider and modify the ban after hearing testimony by Minneapolis bar owners that their business was down as a result of the ban. It was unfortunate timing that there was a fundraiser for McLaughlin by bar owners on the same day as the testimony, and McLaughlin made public comments that he would consider changing his vote and modifying the ban. It may have looked to some people that McLaughlin was selling out the health of young people in exchange for campaign contributions. This is the one issue that could hurt him.

The two City Council incumbents in the Riverside area won. Sandy Colvin Roy got a commanding 57 percent to Kevin McDonald’s 39 percent in the Twelfth. He’s got miles to go on his Segway-T before he can rest. Gary Schiff, in the Ninth, got 51 percent, not a large margin for an incumbent. Green Party candidate Dave Bicking, got 25 percent, so he’ll have plenty of work to do to catch up.

Green Party candidate Cam Gordon did better in the Second. He got 37 percent to Cara Letofsky’s 54 percent. Four years ago, Gordon ran a very close race against Paul Zerby, but he probably benefited from the split in the DFL that saw Zerby upset long time incumbent and DFL-endorsed candidate Joan Campbell. This time the DFL seems much more united, and it might be more difficult for Gordon to get traction. Letofsky has the reputation of attending every conceivable community meeting and event, and it hasn't seemed to hurt that her husband, Jim Davnie, represents most of the Ward in the State Legislature.

We still have seven weeks of campaigning before the general election Nov. 8, so there will probably be plenty of fur to fly and fences to mend before the dust settles on the Southside.