Minneapolis midterm election study guide

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Tomorrow is Election Day — have you done your homework?Midterm elections are never as popular as presidential elections, but that doesn’t make them any less important. We want to make your decision process as easy as possible, so we’ve lined up every election this midterm year that will affect Minneapolis residents.Following are candidates for U.S. Senator, U.S. Representative, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Minnesota State Representative, Minneapolis School Board, and Minnesota 4th Judicial District (which essentially covers Hennepin County) candidates, as they will appear on Minneapolis ballots for the Nov. 4 General Election.Also on the ballot will appear two measures for voters to consider for inclusion in the Minneapolis City Charter. The first question pertains to increasing the filing fees candidates pay to run for city offices — mayor, city council, and other city of Minneapolis offices. The current $20 fee was set in 1967 and has remained unchanged. Continue Reading

MN-08: Let’s not elect Bush clone Stewart Mills III

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First of all, the best reason to not elect Stewart Mills III is that it involves reelecting Rep. Rick Nolan (D-MN), who has for the most part been a strong progressive while in office. More so than I expected, in fact. Not perfect, but if your whole thing is quaffing the purity goblet to the bitter dregs, I don’t know why you’re reading me to start with. Continue Reading

John Denney: Don’t waste your vote, vote for a candidate who is guaranteed to represent you

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My name is John Denney and I am the Independence Party candidate running for Congress in the Sixth District of Minnesota. Unlike my opponents, Tom Emmer (R) and Joe Perske (D), ethics are the centerpiece of my campaign and only I can offer Minnesota voters a Guarantee they cannot refuse. So, while I agree with Chris Brazelton that Mr. Perske presents a “viable alternative” to Mr. Emmer, I must say that settling for a “viable alternative” will not cut it. I am the best choice for Minnesota on election day, I guarantee it.This is a Community Voices submission and is moderated but not edited. The opinions expressed by Community Voices contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the TC Daily Planet.Top Goal: Gain Appointment to Ethics CommitteeMy top goal upon election is to earn an appointment to the House Ethics Committee. Continue Reading

Minneapolis school board candidate Iris Altamirano issues statement about negative campaigning

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Minneapolis at-large school board candidate Iris Altamirano issued this statement about recent negative campaigning:

A recent negative mailing and negative campaign calls we’ve seen and heard about, in the past week are more examples of what I’ve been saying throughout our campaign: We need a new conversation about education in Minneapolis because the situation for our kids is too urgent. Negative campaigning does not move us in that direction. Our campaign has been focused on bringing people together and building a collective vision for all Minneapolis kids to have opportunities to succeed. I will continue to campaign with integrity, respect for all perspectives, and with the deep belief that we must move beyond the polarized framework of this debate and put children at the forefront of this conversation. Continue Reading

VIDEO: “Immigration reform, there’s lots of people who are hurting.”

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Many nonprofits participated in Get out the Vote this year, and they’re sharing why voting is important to them on video.Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) launched their very first civic engagement program, adding voter education to their long list of community services. The program, which started earlier this year, provides educational outreach services to Minneapolis residents who may not know about the voting process, or why it’s important.“I think as CLUES, it’s our responsibility and it’s our obligation to advocate for our community members,” said Joel Martinez, who runs the new program. “Not just in direct services … but also equip leadership within our community members.”Recently, the program took to the streets around Franklin and Chicago, Martinez said, teaching community members how to vote, and even how they can get involved if they can’t vote yet. Even if some community members can’t vote for legal reasons, he said, they can still get involved and make a difference in their community.Trinidad Uribe, Jr. with CLUES is a Vietnam War veteran and wants to see meaningful immigration reform. Check out his video and see what voting means to him below.Coverage of the 2014 elections is funded in part by a grant from The Minneapolis Foundation. Continue Reading