January 11, 2001
Dear DFL Delegate,
I’m very fortunate to have
lived nearly my whole life in our eleventh ward neighborhoods. I’m proud of our
beautiful parks, top-quality housing, and safe streets. I am writing to tell
you about my background, to discuss some of the critical issues facing our
ward, and to ask you to consider my candidacy for the city council seat being
vacated by Doré Mead.
The safety of our community
is my top priority.
As an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney, I counsel crime victims and prosecute
offenders. As a member of the Sex Crimes Team and the Auto Theft Team in the
Juvenile Prosecution Division, I work with police officers from Minneapolis and
the suburbs every day. Our officers deserve a council member who understands
the day-to-day challenges of fighting crime.
Justice for every person
in our city is my passion. People from around the world seek refuge in Minneapolis. Our
city’s diversity has made us the cosmopolitan center of the region. In 1997 I
was appointed to the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission. The Commission is a
volunteer body charged with educating the public about civil rights laws, and
deciding individual complaints of discrimination. I work with the parties to
mediate these disputes, and if necessary, serve as judge in contested cases. I
am proud of the many settlements I’ve mediated, and the fact that my judicial
decisions on the Commission have never been appealed.
Kids: our city’s
future. I’ve
learned a lot about our city working with children. For over six years, I have
been a volunteer for the Big/Brothers/Big Sisters program, and for four years
have been "big brother" to a promising teenager living in the Phillips
Neighborhood. We get together every week and do something fun, even if it’s
just walking the dog by the Creek. Together, we work to overcome the obstacles
and temptations he faces. I am also fortunate to serve as the liaison
prosecutor to Minneapolis South High School and its feeder schools, where I
work with the administration on school crime and speak to the civics classes.
It is government’s job
to protect our environment. When I was growing up by Lake Nokomis in the early 1970s,
our airport averaged 630 flight operations per day. Today that figure is over
1,400. We used to dread the dog days of summer in August, when the lakes
bloomed with algae; now our lakes turn green in June. We have seen the traffic
volume on 35W increase at an alarming rate while our city council contemplates
adding yet more downtown parking ramps. Our local government must lead
the region in promoting a comprehensive plan aimed at more public transit and
fewer single-occupant vehicles. This will be vital to our ward as traffic will
dramatically increase over the next four years when the Crosstown Highway is
under construction.
Our environment deserves a
council member who has seen, heard and felt the effects of increasing pollution
first hand, and who has had experience in federal, state and local
government to know how to address environmental problems.
Our city’s continued
prosperity depends on workers being paid a fair wage. As a member of the AFSCME labor
union, I am proud of the strides made by our DFL Party in fighting for livable
wages. I will fight for fair wages and safe working conditions for all
employees, and insist that companies under city contract pay their employees a
living wage. I know what it means to struggle to earn a living. I put myself
through college and law school. I spent a cold year driving a taxicab and
worked as a bellman in a downtown hotel. I know that my union fights for me,
and I will not forget.
The DFL Party is my
party. I have
recruited hundreds of volunteers, phoned thousands of voters, and raised tens
of thousands of dollars on behalf of our party and its candidates. I have
traveled all over Minnesota working for Democrats. I have served on the State
Central Committee and organized several caucuses and conventions. I’m proud of
what our party has done for our nation, state and city.
I will hit the ground
running. I have had
experience as a production manager in private industry, as legislative staff,
as a city housing code prosecutor, as a criminal prosecutor and as a judicial
officer. I have worked with policy makers at every level and in every branch of
government. Most importantly, I have worked with individuals, whether they were
victims of crime, constituents needing service, or neighbors in need.
I hope you will let me work
for you as your next city council member.
Sincerely,
John Casserly