Update on Peggy Flanagan's 58A race
[Updated: new endorsements!]
I ran into Peggy Flanagan at Saturday's Minneapolis DFL Convention. Peggy is challenging Rep. Joe Mullery (DFL-Mpls) for his 58A seat. Mullery isn't particularly popular as Peggy has been endorsed by many prominent DFLers. The candidates battled to a draw at the 58A convention so they will continue on to the primary in September.
"It's bittersweet to be at this convention," she said (her running for the House precludes her from running for reelection to the School Board). "But I know how important getting adequate funding for our schools is and I can make a difference at the legislature.
She's very excited about her chances and has been busy doorknocking. "I know this race is going to be won at the doors," she said.
Keith Ellison and Matt Entenza have both endorsed Peggy. Keith represented the district next to Mullery and Entenza knew him when he was Speaker-of-the- House Minority Leader. They know first-hand what kind of a legislator he is. Plus they have seen Peggy's energy and progressive politics in action on the School Board. So have five members of the Minneapolis City Council who have endorsed her as well.
"I feel fortunate to have Keith's endorsement," she said when I asked about the significance of it. "His desire to explode the vote means that many more people will turn out and I think that's really going to help me." Plus, Keith is very popular and respected in district.
Apparently, her challenge has lit a fire under Mullery's butt. He's been seen attending progressive events like the Outfront Lobby Day for the first time. One of his constituents told me, anonymously, that he's started returning constituent phone calls and emails, too. But there is no disguising the difference between the two candidates. Peggy is clearly the progressive and Minneapolis could use a friendlier Representative. I've been told by a number of people that the committee he chairs, Public Safety and Civil Justice, is where bills go to die.
Update
Sen. Linda Higgins (DFL-Mpls), Mayor RT Rybak and Council Member Don Samuels all have endorsed Peggy. Linda is Senator for Senate District 58.
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12 Years in the House
And finally, one of his constituents gets a phone call returned.
Maybe miracles do happen.
Mr. Mullery has had plenty of time to disrespect his constituents. He had his seat handed to him on a platter by the previous state rep.
And with close to 40k in his campaign coffers, it's really remarkable that he's suddenly decided that the input his constituents offer is important.
In the past, he's always just sent out misleading fliers - in particular, after the end of the 2007 session, we got one that said something like "Mullery assures north minneapolis pays no more taxes" in the headline - in spite of the increased property tax from state aid cuts, the cigarette tax they passed, and the county's adoption of the stadium sales tax during that period. But the verb used - 'assures' makes him technically not a liar in that case.
I will say I still haven't had any of my emails or phone calls returned. But I guess I gave up my right to representation when I ran against him in 2006, huh?
I had a chance to talk with Mark Dayton and one of his political directors last week. People in the know know that Peggy is a transformational leader who is going to handily defeat Mr. Mullery and serve our district much better than he has. Peggy came to my house 2 times before caucus and 2 times before the senate district convention.
I ran for the state house in 2006 because i saw this district needed more energetic, more progressive, and slightly liberal representation. Given the rate the incumbent had been returning individual's phone calls, I figured residents here deserved some kind of representation. Joe is good at responding to groups. He shows up to meetings for labor unions and most moderate special interest groups when he's asked. He has claimed to be so busy with these kind of meetings that he doesn't have time for individual constituent services. Now we hear that he actually had time, since he's responding to individuals now. I've always thought that individuals get votes and representation under our government and that groups are just a way for individuals to increase their bargaining power in places where government doesn't adequately represent their interests. Government should not be primarily responsive to groups, no matter how much easier that is than talking to constituents.
We need to elect Peggy Flanagan to the State House of Representatives. Her aggressive position on state-level solutions to the healthcare crisis is exactly what our state needs. She will be a powerful ally of our schools at the state house. She is focused on revitalizing our area. Most important, she is responsive, respectful, not afraid of the residents or any areas in our district, and she cares about people, not powerful special interests.
Rep. Mullery can't print enough misleading flyers to overcome Flanagan's advantages in this race. Seeing no acceptable candidate last time, I collected signatures and ran myself. This time, I am honored to support Peggy Flanagan.
Correction
Entenza was never House Speaker. He was the House Minority Leader.
D'Oh!
My memory failed me again. Sorry. I'll correct it.
Go Peggy
She came to one of my classes (I was doing a special semester on learning about the poverty and inequality in the Twin Cities) and she was intelligent and is a real community organizer. I wish her the best of luck and anyone who Keith endorses is sure to be an excellent progressive, grassroots candidate. (I really love Keith, I wish I had him instead of Betty, who I dont like nearly as much....)