MINNESOTA D.R.I.V.E.

2001 CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR ENDORSEMENT

 

                                                DATE   2-19-01            

 

                                                                                               YES      NO

 

Candidate for what office?  Mayor of Minneapolis                          

  Are you the incumbent in this office?                                                                     X

 

 

Have you ever run for office before?                                                                X

  If yes, what office(s)?  Year?  City Council – 1993 & 1997   

 

                                                                                                           

 

Are you, or have you ever been, a member of the Teamsters Union?                                X

 

 

Have you ever received Minnesota D.R.I.V.E. endorsement?                  X

 

 

Political Party Affiliation:  Do you consider yourself:

   DFL  X           Republican        Reform              No Party          Other              

 

 

Will you run in the primary election if you do not receive your party’s

convention endorsement?  (answer if applicable)                                            X

 

 

Are you officially endorsed by:  DFL     Republican       Reform              Other             

 

 

What endorsements (other than political parties) do you have?  Currently screening

with trades, fire, police                                                                                     

 

 

What additional endorsements will you be seeking?  AFSCME                             

 

 

What is your strategy for winning your election?  My goal is to raise $500,000 for the          election.  I’ve already raised $40,000 in 2 months time.  I have hired a campaign                      manager, fundraiser, and volunteer coordinator.  I will be attending the DFL convention      but I intend to run in the primary.                                                                                          

                                                                        2

 

ISSUES                                                                                                   YES                   NO

 

A.     TAXES

 

If elected, will you support the following tax policies:

 

1.  Making Minnesota’s taxes based more on the ability to pay?                 X

 

2.  Keeping the sales tax off food and clothes?                           X

 

  1. Oppose taxing of fringe benefits such as holidays and

health insurance?                                                                             X

 

  1. Oppose carbon tax?  I have concerns about how a carbon tax

          would affect the price of gasoline and diesel fuel

 

B.     EDUCATION

 

  1. Will you strongly support public education, vocational

education and charter schools?                                                     X

 

  1. What are your thoughts on having Labor Studies courses

taught in the schools K-12?      I’m okay with that                       

                                                                                               

      

  1. Will you oppose vouchers, tuition tax credits or deductions,

and the privatization of education services?                                     X

 

C.     HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

  1. Will you support proposals that will implement a mechanism

to provide health care of the under insured and uninsured

through a state administered insurance program for persons

without health care coverage with premiums on a sliding fee

basis?                                                                                             X

 

  1. Will you work to make child care affordable for the

working poor?                                                                                X

 

  1. The availability of child care and child care costs are

social issues which must be addressed.  What is your

position for programs that will address the problem

which, if implemented, would help remove clients from

the welfare rolls?

                                                                        3

 

I will support health and child care programs and affordable

housing for folks who are moving from welfare to work.  

 

                                                                                                           

D.     PUBLIC SERVICE

 

1.  Will you support the maintenance of quality public service in     X

     Minnesota at state and local levels and oppose efforts to

     reduce services?

 

  1. Will you oppose contracting out for service and

privatization efforts?                                                                         X

 

      3.  Do you support collective bargaining rights for public               

           employees?                                                                                      X

 

 

E.      WORKER PROTECTION

 

  1. Minnesota Teamsters support the advance notification

of workers in plant closings with severance pay and

extension of health care benefits.  Do you support the

position of the Teamsters?                                                                   X

 

  1. The teamsters are on record to support training programs

for dislocated workers, including economic assistance.  Do

you support this position?                                                                   X

 

      3.  Do you support the .10% dislocated worker assessment?        X

 

      4.  Do you support stringent occupational safety laws to protect

           workers, with penalties tough enough to deter violations?                   X

 

      5.  Do you support a state minimum wage?                                           X

             

      6.  What is your position on the right to strike without being

     permanently replaced?   I support that                                         

                                                                                                           

 

  1. Will you oppose “right to work” legislation (would prevent

union shop provisions)?                                                        X

 

                                                                        -4-

 

 

 

 

F.         ENVIRONMENT                                                                     YES          NO

 

1.      Will you vote for laws to protect Minnesota’s

environment and natural resources for the benefit

of present citizens and future generations?             X

 

 

G.           BONDING

 

1.      Will you support the use of capital bonding to improve

infrastructures (schools, bridges, highways, etc.)?           X

 

 

H.        PREVAILING WAGE

 

            1.  Do you support the Davis Bacon Act (prevailing wage)?      X

 

 

LABOR POLICY

 

A.        Who is your source of information on labor issues?                 

      Gary Thaden, Minnesota Mechanical Contractor Assoc.       

 

B.                 Does your organization have a labor liaison person?

   If yes, name   Michael Paul Weber                                                X

 

C.                 If endorsed, will you or your labor liaison stay in contact

with our D.R.I.V.E. representative?                                           X

 

D.                 Will you work directly with labor leaders in developing

your labor position?                                                                        X

 

E.                  If endorsed, will you use the Teamsters endorsement in

all campaign literature?                                                        X

 

 

QUESTIONS FOR ALL NON-INCUMBENTS

 

A.                 Will you provide a copy of your campaign organization?

(This will be kept confidential)                                                X

 

B.                 Please tell us about yourself.  (A few sentences about your

background, such as your occupation or your political

experience).  Please add sheets as necessary.

 

I have run for City Council twice and won - the second time,    

without endorsement.  Both of my races have been difficult and          

I have been very successful at raising money and outworking my           

opponents.                                                                                          

                                                                                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                                        -5-