Fake facebook pages!!!

So it seems like there are two fake mayoral candidates face book pages floating around.  One for each announced candidate, Howie Hanson and Emily Larson.  The fake pages are here, www.facebook.com/Emily Larson for Mayor and www.facebook.com/Howie Hanson for Mayor.

It is clear  both of the pages are fake and here are just a few reason's. Each page has few likes, Larson 3 and Hanson 18.  Not to mention both sites have pictures I don't think either one would use for profile pic's.  The content is not what you would expect from either Emily or Howie.

The about section of the fake Larson page I'm going to clean up the mean streets of Duluth. This is protected under the 1st amendment and the right to criticize political figures.

The about section on Hanson's fake page is not as bad as Larson's.  


Now why would some one run these fake page?  Well knowing who it is that is behind these after some investigation the answer is very simple.  The person thinks it is  funny however,  it is just childish.  It is sad that a grown adult would act like a 3 year old on a consistent base. This person leans to the right of center and that is fine, what is not okay is spending countless or any time on such petty acts.  

Just plan childish behavior by Daniel Golden.  

Johnston investigation cost are out.

Tax payers are you ready to pay $43,000 for a completed investigation?  Regardless of your thoughts on the Art Johnston issue this is insane.  A friend of mine said on facebook that there are no heroes in this and I could not agree more!!!!  

The law firm billed the school district for 205 hours of work on the case at 210 dollars and hour, resulting in the 43,000 bill.   Think where we could have spend this money on education!!!! 

school board races will be interesting.

Well well well, it seems like our Mayor's race may have a close second as to what people will be watching this up coming up election.  One would think right away yeah the council races simply not true they seem to be falling back as far as being interesting.

The most interesting will for sure be our Mayor's race but right behind that is our school board races, for a couple of reason's.  The Art Johnston issue and will he be removed from the board and what impact will it have on the races. Also now it seems as one side of the red plan is going to kick it up a little bit.

First I think any action taken in Johnston case is going to hurt any school board member regardless of there vote.  I think that is why two board members are not seeking re-election, Is there any wonder why good people don't want to run for the school board now.  We need people that will work for our children and education.

Second I have heard that a group of citizens are organizing to make this election about all the people that where put out or off by the red plan.  This group is going to be vocal about why there are not heard by the administration.

This is sad as it is only going to cause more disruption to what the focus should be our children and education.

School board closed door meeting.

The Duluth School board held a closed door meeting Tuesday night to sell Duluth Central High School. It sat for three years with a few buyers looking at but nothing the board wanted to deal with.   Now they have sold the building for 10 million dollars to a developer not being named as of yet.

Now two other schools looked in to buying the building Duluth Edison and Lake view Christian.  The school board refused to sell to them because they are "competing" schools.  First lets take edison, it is a private public partnership with 709 the school board allowed them to come here and are in partnership with them how is that competing?  Lake view yes is a private but the way I see it is already a school let it be used as such if you are not going to.

Now on to the closed door meeting I don't care what any one says, I hate closed door meetings now the school district will hide behind that they are protecting the developer and the citizens in realty you are only protecting your own butt.  It was a 7-0 vote.  You only have a closed for two reason, one for expelling kids and I get to protect the student.  Two to protect your self because you really don't want to hear from the citizens.

Council Vice President.

Well folks it's time of year where the Duluth City Council looks to elected new leaders to president and vice president.  There is a cat and mouse game taking place as we speak.   The two front runners right now are councilors Jay Fosle and Jennifer Julsrud.  Now there is potently for a even a third person to jump in the is for vice president.

For those that don't know normally all the "fighting" for these positions are normally done behind hind sence. When the election takes place it is normally a 9-0 for the seats because the council wants to show unity.  That said don't be followed there is a big game being played for these seats.

Joel and I talked about it on the radio show last night, if you have not listened to the show go and do so, we explain it well there.  You can find the show at www.blogtalkradio.com/duluthpolitics2.


Now councilors are already who they want to vote and most seem to have there minds made up one way or the other, there are two swing votes I believe right now on who will get the seat. Those councilors are Howie Hanson and Zack Filpovich.  The others I believe know who they will support. How I see it as of now:

For Councilor Julsrud are Russ, Krug, Larson and her self

For Councilor Fosle Sipress, and Gardner and him self.

Now the two swing votes will be courted for there vote.  This will be very interesting and it should be fun to watch as it develops.

Is there some one you want in the VP role then let the councilors know your thoughts as to why that person would be a good VP.

As far as president it seems like Larson would be the front runner for it and maybe the only to do so at this point.  

The Duluth Governors debate.

This post is not going to be at all about the debate that took place in Duluth this morning.  Fact is I did not go to it so at this point I don't know how it went.  This post will focus on the fact that the debate was missing something/some one.

Now I know that the chamber had been setting this up as a  debate between Governor Dayton and republican challenger Jeff Johnson.  Fact is they totally disregarded another choice for Governor and that was independent candidate Hannah Nicollet. Now it may not have been a big deal to some but for me it is, regardless of your political stand all major voices should be heard.  The independents does major status in Minnesota and there for should have had there candidate in this debate.  After all she was in the other two prior debates in Rochester and Moorehead Minnesota.


Not only was she in them but she did well in them according to many sources for all walks of the political life.  I just strongly believe that all candidates should have the right to take part in a debate.

Now why would the chamber not include her, I don't know for sure.  There sure are many possibility's, they have a political bend they wanted to protect?  The chamber does not believe she is in a major party or viable candidate.  Neither of these should be something the chamber should decide.  They don't like her?  Don't like the party?  ect....

The chamber said that they would not include her because it would be distrustful, to the other candidates.  What a complete joke.   The chamber made a bad decision in not allowing her to debate today, it angered many people again of all political aisles.  Many did not attend debate because of this.  

News and endorsing.

Okay folks here is the deal  I have been involved in media for 20 plus, in many ways from blogging,radio and politics.  Now I have a real issue with news papers and news cast endorsing/ fact checking.  There is a reason you are news.  Do your job and report the news.  

I don't feel that news papers should do endorsements, this is not news.  Fact is an "endorsement" by a paper just an opinion there is no news involved in this. Papers time in and time out tell you vote this way and here is a bit about the candidate, what they don't tell is how they came to decision.  They also do not tell who is making that decision nor do they tell where those people stand politically. I don't see anything news worthy in papers endorsements.

fact checking in a newscast, again this is not something that should be done in a newscast.  This is not news, what they are doing is threw a tv commercial of a candidate or party and saying if they believe it is true or not.  I fail to see how this is news.  I don't have a problem with them doing fact checking, the problem I have is where it is done.  If you want to have a community show that does where you say we   have taken this commercial apart and here is what we believe.  That said in that show if the station leans any way they need to make that information public.  

Blogging is completely different, this is where people share there thoughts and opinions. Quickly also there a talk shows on radio, these are different from news programs.  The show host and callers are sharing there opinions on issues, candidates ect...

This may come from my schooling and being involved in media for 20 plus years.  I just don't see any positives in this type of "news" broadcasting.  When is school you learn that news is just that news, you don't have a political lean.

Howie Hanson announces run for Mayor.

The first of a list of possible many people to announce their run for Duluth has been made.  It of course all depends on what Mayor Don Ness decides to do.  If he runs there will not be many people running, if he does not the list will be many.


Duluth City Councilor Howie Hanson announced last week he would run for in 2015.  Well there where rumours of him running for Mayor his early announcement has seemed to shock many folks.  The debate has been why announce before the 2014 elections is over?  It is a good question his short response has been because he wants the public to get to know him and where he stands on issues.  

Howie will be on the Duluth Politics radio show tomorrow night at 10pm central time.  You can listen to the here, www.blogtalkradio.com/duluthpolitics2.  We will talk about this and many other issues as well in his run for Mayor.

My plan for the show is he and I will talk for about ten minutes or so then I will open the phone lines for about 10 or 15 minutes for questions and he and will wrap up the show with more talk and close it out.

There was a facebook fire storm between Mayor Ness and Hanson as well it seems like Mayor Ness was not happy he would have to run against if he chooses to run again.  My question is should you not always expect a challenger?

Fall Fest turns in to political hot spot.

Fall fest this year turned in to a political hot spot.  Now during this great fall event at chester bowl there is normally a couple of politicians. It however is not a hot spot for many of the higher up seats, you get your local politicians city council, school board, county board from time to time.  You don't normally see state or federal candidates much there.

First let me say that fall fest is a great event held at chester bowl every year in late September, farmers market, food, music, and other vendors.   Fun time held by all who go to it.  This year saw an  political spectrum from the democrats and republicans. Both candidates for state house 7A where their, Jen Shultz and Becky Hall.  The DFL had a both there as well. The thing that does not happen much is the republicans got something right, and brought Stewart Mills (running congress 8th) Jeff Johnson ( running for Governor) at this event.  Now they where in town for the Ronald Reagan dinner.  However for them to realize that this event has hundreds to thousands of people and bring them to is remarkable, they never get anything right up here.

Mills and Johnson did not get to the event till about 2:30 or 3 as they where huge gun show in Cloquet . Still there where a lot people at the event at this time.  They also where there in support of 7A candidate Becky Hall who had a booth at the event.  They used there time wisely meeting with people threw out the park.  Just shocked they did this.  What it will mean for them is yet to be seen.  I can't say  Mills or Johnson have not been up here any more however :( .


Now on to a note for both 7A candidates get out of your booth more and meet and go to the people not wait for them to come to you as events like this.  There was far to much sitting and standing at your booth by both of you.

 

Mayor Ness to run again or not.

Man there are all kinds of rumors out there on what Mayor Don Ness is going to do.  My personal thought is he is not going to run again but I have no real knowledge of his intention. As the rumors grow about who might run for mayor and city council races.


Mayor list as I have heard:  City councilor's Emily Larson, Howie Hanson, Joel Siprss ( I don't think he will this time) but his name has been tossed around.  Chris Dalhberg, Becky Hall, Roger Reinhert, Scott Keenen ,Dan fanning, Dan Hartman, Todd Fedora, Jim Stauber.

Sorry for the lack of post as of late.

Hey folks sorry for the lack of post as of late, I have been very busy with work and many other things that I have neglected the blog, but I am hoping to start a regular post time soon.

Last nights Duluth City Council meeting recap.

Last night the Duluth City Council had a meeting, well if you want to call it that.  It seemed  more like a quick chat on how everyone was doing LOL.  The fastest meeting I can remember in some time 23 minutes.  That said there where a couple of interesting things that did take place.


One was Councilor Howie Hanson has decided to pull his idea of a city ran casino from the agenda for now.  Councilor Hanson will bring it up again at another time.  He said the timing was wrong right now but he does not believe fee's are away to solve the city's problems, I agree with that 100%.

The second is there seems to be some reprieve in the park point area and the what the plan is to "improve" the area.  There will be a group set up to make recommendations on what to do in the point area, they will have till December 2015 to do so and present them to the council.  This is great for the entire 3rd district and the point as people can start to heal.

This for the most part also kills the recall councilor Gardner BS as well.  Thank goodness for that, there are still a few on the point that will not give it up however most of the pointers have given up on it.  They are working to better the area as a whole.

Beside the fact Councilor Gardner is up for election in 2015, and get this she is not running so there is no point for a recall just drop it those that want to see it threw the time is now to save face if you can.

Jennifer Schultz.

Jennifer Schultz is running for the 7A house seat and is endorsed by the DFL. It seems to me she has been very unclear on a couple of major issues facing Minnesota and that have a huge impact on Northern Minnesota.

The first is mining, if you go to her web site she says she is pro business but anti pollution.  That is great  so Jen what exactly does that mean?  People that claim to be close to her also say this is her position on mining and polymet. These same people have told she has not taken a hard position on polymet as of yet.  Well we are well into the election season you should have a position you are running on this issue.

Mining is to important  to Northern Minnesota to waffle on this subject.  I don't care what side she is on I just wish she would explain what pro business and anti pollution means and define where she is on polymet .

The second issues is the pipeline, I could not find anything on the web site about the issue so I send Jen and email.  I must say she has always been very fast in getting back to email questions and that is great in any person running for office so I must give her credit for that.  That said she says she is still gathering information about the matter and has not yet taken a stand one way or the other.  Now I can not and will not fault for wanting to learn more about the issue we should be doing this.  Here again however we are very late in the election and she has told a number of people what they want to hear.  She knocked on a friends door and they asked her about it and she asked them probing question to get a feel of where this person stood on the the issue.  This friend by the was for the pipeline.  She told them that she would support the pipeline because it is the best way to transport, and could have good economic impact for Minnesota.  Then tells another person I know that she is against it because of impact on the envorerment.

This is what we call flip flopping.  Where do you stand on the issue Jen?  Pick a side and tell everyone the same thing.

As far as her opponent Becky Hall it is hard to comment when she does not do much.

Events.

There are a few events I would like to mention this weekend.  I am also as a side going to start do a munch better job of updating my events page here.  If you have an event you would like published on that page send it to me in email to duluthpolitics2@yahoo.com.  It does not have to be a political event, all community events will be posted.  The only exception to this is if I strongly disagree to the event for some reason however that is highly unlikely to ever be the case.

The first I want to mention happens today at the Central Hillside Community Center from noon to 6pm, family fun event, free food music kids games and a fire truck will be on display as well.  It is the first ever midtown outreach BBQ.  This sounds like a really fun event I hope you will take it in today.


Of course today and tomorrow is the Duluth Air Show.  The Blue Angels are the head line act but there is so much to do and see at the show.   I don't have have to say much about it has been a staple every other here in Duluth and always is a great event.  The event take place at the Duluth Internal Airport all day long.  Plenty of great exhibits and air demonstrations to see.


Sunday is Hillfest I believe this is the fourth year I could and more then likely wrong about that but whatever.  Hillfest is another great family event that promotes you walking,biking, running, skateboarding to the event. It features music food and fun and runs 2-6pm.  It takes place on the sixth ave east and fourth street.

Recall.

So it seems like those behind the councilor Gardner recall are trying one more big push.  It seemed like the issue was going to die and there was no way they where going to get the signatures needed.

Now it seems like the recall are making one more push, this time taking to the Internet and facebook to try to get the young people on board.  More specially the skateboard group.  A group I feel that has been wrongly gone after, however the issue they are telling the skateboarding groups is not a reason for a recall.  The recall is trying to rally the skateboarders to there side saying look at the vote five years ago making it illegal to skateboard downtown and in canal park public side walks.

Let's clear a couple of thinks up.  First the ordinance did not just apply to downtown and canal park it is  city wide, many have the miss understanding  that is it just downtown and the canal.  Second it is not illegal to skateboard you can still use the street, this goes for bikes as well.  

Also let's be clear that councilor Gardner is very much for the skate board community, she would love to see another skate park in Duluth, bayfront park would be a great place to have one.

Skaters instead of falling for a trap by this organization to recall councilor Gardner what you should is talk to the parks and rec department and get councilors with you to create a good park for you to skate at.

A couple of big things.

I am going to blog about my interview coming up first.  The interview I am going have can heard on blog talk radio, www.blogtalkradio.comduluthpolitics2.  The second is a very interesting speaker you can go see.  I will give you a hint he has a big last name.

First I am honoured that this elected official is willing to Duluth Politics radio show, and wish many others would take the chance to do the same.  What better way to reach voters then getting on a radio show plus it's free does not cost anything for the candidate to do so.  

Minnesota State Auditor Rebecca Otto will join me on the show Tuesday Aug.19th at 5:30 pm.  We will talk about a number of things, here primary win over Matt Entenza, a look a head to the general election, issues for the race and some of her accomplishments as auditor plus more.  

You can take part in the show as well, you can call in ask a question 1-516-387-1776 or email a question at duluthpolitics2@yahoo.com, or ask it on my facebook page and I will make sure to include it in the show.  

The second event is a DFL gathering but it is open to the public, just be respectful people.  Joe Kennedy will join Rick Nolan at Carmody's Aug. 28th from 11:30 to 1pm.  This should be interesting regardless of your political affilation.

Travis Silvers.

I wanted to give my thoughts on this race separate from yesterdays post.  The republicans had a primary for the 7B house seat.  There where two on the ballot, Travis Silvers and Carla Bayerl.  Silvers won the primary with 371 votes (57%) to Bayerl 275 votes (42%).  The total votes in that race was 646 remember that it will be an issue.

Travis Silvers has ran in many races and lost them all much like Becky Hall.  Silvers is nothing more then the poster boy for the old republican views up here in northern Minnesota.  It 's why he has no chance in the general election against Erik Simonson (DFL). Hall and Silvers hold on the old and everything wrong with the republican party here in northern Minnesota. 

 It's funny how the leaders of the party say they want new leaders with fresh views, yet when some one tries to do that they get beat down with in by the party leaders.  It's why I leaved the party a number of years ago.

It is sad to think where the party could be if they really cared, and listened to all that wanted to be involved in stead of just the few sheep they have leading the party in to the ground.  

Silvers got just 371 votes in the primary, yes it was a low turn out but it was on both sides yet Simonson who did not face a challenger got 1601 votes (100%) of the DFL vote.  Add the two vote totals of the republicans together and you 646 votes.  Simonson got better then twice the number of votes combined.  This race was over before it started. 

Good luck poster boy Silvers you are going to need it!!! 

Primary's are behind us and everyone kows who they will face.

So republicans last nigh sent Jeff Johnson on to the general election to face off against democrat Mark Dayton.  I think was choice the republicans could have made, Johnson who grew up is Northern Minnesota but cares nothing about it.Nor does he care about any other part of the state, he only cares and worries about the metro area.  Johnson will do nothing for the entire state of Minnesota, his efforts will only be on the metro area.

Johnson has proven that he does not care about state other then the metro and if elected that will be his focus.  I don't know how anyone in greater Minnesota could have voted for such a fool.  Johnson neglected all parts of Minnesota well campaigning.

Johnson won with 30% of the vote last night well the other three major candidates had low 20%'s of the vote.  The three split the vote of greater Minnesota.  Up here in our area the votes seemed to split between Honour (21%) and Seifert (21%).  Kurt Zellers who looked dead till late in the race got 24% of the vote, his focus became the metro and southern part of the state late in the race.

Johnson who was the endorsed candidate was very beatable by any three of these candidates the problem was that there was three candidates splitting the votes around the state.  I would have like to have seen Seifert and Honour get together and just have one of them run because if that would have happened there would have been a different result in the primary.

Dayton who had a primary but there was no real challenge there at all he won with 94% of the vote. This sets up the governors race with both major party's running a candidate I will personal will not support, so for a second straight governors election I will to a third party candidate.

The other big state wide race was on the DFL side and was for state auditor incumbent and the endorsed candidate Rebecca Otto won with ease over Matt Entenza. Many thought this race could be close, and Entenza was as well as he out spent Otto 2-1.  A very low voter turn out proved to do well for Otto who ran away with the race with 81% of the vote.  A big win over a challenger who did nothing but lie about what he could do if elected auditor.  I am glad that Otto called hims out on that, and she is clearly the best candidate for state auditor if you ask me.

Side note Minnesota State auditor Rebecca Otto will be joining me on the radio show soon, we are still working out the details on day and time but I will let you all know  when we get the interview set up.

In a local race for county board Steve Rukavina and Christin Ghujanen will face off in the general election.  The seat was held by Mike Forsman who decided he would not seek another term.  Rukavina had 52% of the vote well Ghujanen had about 25%.  This could be a close race because the third candidate in the race also had 22% of the vote.  Now if most of the people that voted for the third place candidate vote for Ghujanen this could prove to be an exciting race on the range.   It iwll be a race to keep an eye to see what happens over the next few months.

Get out and vote.

It is now 2pm you still have plenty of time to go to your polling place and vote.  It is of course primary day here in Minnesota.  There are a couple of key races tonight that will decide who goes to the general election in November.


On the DFL side there is a hottly contested State Auditor's race between the incumbent Rebecca Otto and challenger Matt Entenza.  In a race you don't normally hear a lot about this one has really heated up.  Entenzaa has out spend Otto by about 2-1 in this race.  Both candidates have worked hard to get there names out there and say where they stand on the issues.

Entenza in promising things the office can not do.  Otto has been a good Auditor for Minnesota and I hope she can pull out the win tonight.  That said look for this to be a very close race.  

The republicans have a four way for Governor to challenger DFL governor Mark Dayton.  Some say no one will come to close to beating Dayton in November as in the polls Dayton holds about an 8 point lead over any republican challenger to this point, however we are a long way from November and after the primary tonight anything can happen.

The four competing tonight are Jeff Johnson (endorsed), Scott Honor, Marty Seifert and Kurt Zellers.  Zellers was at one point the front runner however for some reason has fallen off the pase and I would expect him to finish last tonight.  The other three could be very very close , like with in percentages points.  I think that said Johnson wins narrowly.  Second to Honor and then Seifert followed by Zellers.

You know if you think I am right or wrong go out and support who you think is best for the jobs at hand!!!!!


I am thinking of doing a radio show tonight with the results at 10pm so tune in for that.  www.blogtalkradio.com/duluthpolitics2

Food food and more food.

Duluth has seen a development of new food chains come in to our area over the last year or so.  It started earlier then that with noodles and company but they seem to have got the ball rolling.

A food explosion has hit Duluth, with a variety of new business  opening there restaurants here. Funny thing is I have not been to any of them yet so I am going by what people have said, but you can rest  a sured I will be hitting them up.  

Let me start with a new place for downtown Duluth, it is there second restaurant to open, and the only one of the "new" places I have tried.  Farley's, I have to say with all the good things I heard about it from people it was not my cup of tea.  My burger was burned to a crisp the service sucked and it was not busy, the fries where over done.  So for me I will never go back.  I have to say however people still say good things about in at the office I work at and seem to like it.  So all I can say is you try it and make up your own mind.

Parnera bread I must say I really really want to try this, I have never been to one but I will make my way up there soon.  I have heard nothing but good things.  I have heard there bread bowl soups are fab.   and many people have raved about there sandwiches.  Plus it is all fresh bread and goods can't get any better then that.

Chipotle mexican, all I can say is I love mexican so I am sure I will love this place.  Have heard nothing but great things and you can't get in the place I have heard.  The burritos are as big as fist and taste great I understand.  

The other place I need to mention is a place I just say on facebook called food service.  A young man is making fresh sandwiches, salads and sides and making lunch boxes for delivery. This is a neat idea he says the lunch box cost ten dollars or so a person and for delivery there is a minimum order of 5 and he can delivery 30 miles away starting in downtown Duluth.  Check out his menu at www.foodserviceduluth.com.   The shop is located in side the encounter building at there kitchen.  I don't know if you can just go in and order a sandwich or not.  I have to get a hold of the owner and ask.


Now let me say this as far as jobs I think it is great for people starting in the work forces to get jobs at the above places or such areas, however Duluth needs more mid level paying jobs.  There it is.