The local Democratic Farm-Labor (DFL) party is doing things a little differently this year when it comes to choosing delegates to its ward and city conventions. On Tuesday, March 3, the DFL party will elect delegates at caucuses in each of the 13 City Council wards in Minneapolis. Two sets of delegates will be chosen; one to endorse City Council candidates at individual ward conventions and another to endorse candidates for the other citywide offices on the ballot: mayor, Park Board and Board of Estimate and Taxation.
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In the past, delegates have been held over from even-year elections, which often feature larger voter turnout, like last year’s presidential race. According to ward coordinators, the DFL hopes to be able to better plan for the citywide convention on May 16.
Between the March 3 caucuses and city convention, the DFL will also hold ward conventions, at which delegates will endorse candidates for City Council seats. Bridge-area wards are Ward 1 (which includes only the Northeast corner of Southeast Como, between East Hennepin and Como avenues east of 18th Avenues Southeast); Ward 2 (which includes the rest of Como, Prospect Park, the university, Cedar-Riverside, Seward and North Cooper); Ward 3 (including Nicollet Island/East Bank and Marcy-Holmes) and Ward 9 (which includes the Longfellow neighborhood).
Non-partisan candidate forums began in February, sponsored by the Longfellow Community Council on Feb. 21. The Ward 2 forum featured incumbent Cam Gordon (Green Party) and a representative for his DFL challenger, Charles Carlson. The Ward 9 forum included DFL incumbent Gary Schiff and challengers Amy Arcand (DFL), Dave Bicking and Pete Eichten, both of the Green Party.
Another Ward 9 forum is planned for Monday, March 9 at 7 p.m. at South High School, 3131 19th Ave. S.
The local Green Party is expected to endorse candidates at its May membership meeting; no information was available at press time about local Republican or other party caucuses or endorsement processes.
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