Cam Gordon
Candidate for Minneapolis City Council, Ward 2
February,
2001
1. Please
tell us about your past and how it might qualify you to be a Green Party
Candidate for the office for which you are now seeking endorsement.
I have been
active in the Green Party of Minnesota since 1994. I am a founding member of
the Green Party of Minnesota as well as of the Minneapolis/5th District Green
Party. I have served one term on the
first Coordinating Committee and am currently serving on the state Coordinating
Committee again. I am also past chair of the Minneapolis/5th District Green
Party which I helped start. I have also served on a number of Green Party
committees and helped on a number of Green Party campaigns and in 1996 I was
the first Green Party endorsed candidate to run for office. I ran for State
Representative in District 62A. I finished second in a three way race for that
office with roughly 24% of the vote.
In addition
to my experience with the Green Party I have been a community and political
activist and volunteer for over 20 years. Some of the organizations I have been
a part of in the last decade include:
The
Citizens’ Reform Network - worked from 1992-94 to reform Minnesota’s campaign
finance laws.
City Parents
United - participated in the early and mid Ô90s with this a grassroots
organization dedicated to supporting affordable, quality child care.
Matthews
Center Activities Council - I am past chair of this citizen advisory group
working to provide better park programs in the Seward neighborhood. I have also
volunteered as a coach in both baseball and soccer at my local park and had the
honor of being selecting Volunteer of the Year.
FairVote
Minnesota - I am a founding member of this Minneapolis-based nonprofit
organization dedicated to educating people about proportional representation,
preference voting and other election reforms.
Seward
Neighborhood Group - I have served on our Neighborhood Group Board since 1995,
taking one year off in 1997. During that time I served as secretary on the
executive committee in 1996 and as co-chair in 1999 and 2000. I left the board
after my term in 2000 to seek office.
Neighborhood
Revitalization Program (NRP) - I have been involved in my neighborhoods NRP as
an outreach worker, as part of the committee that drafted the participation
agreement and the action plan and , since 1995, as chair of its NRP
Implementation Oversight Committee where I have helped facilitate
implementation of one of the city’s most successful NRP plans.
Minneapolis
Center for Neighborhoods - I have served on the board of this organization
which provides education, resources, advocacy and action to support
neighborhoods and neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis since 1997.
Common Cause
Minnesota - I served on the board of this nationally affiliated group dedicated
to promoting open and fair government. While on the board I focused efforts on
educating members on alternative voting methods using proportional
representation, maintaining strong campaign finance laws and finding a way to
foster the growth of Common Cause local chapters throughout the state.
Minneapolis
Election Reform Coalition - I am founding member of this group supporting
election reform in Minneapolis. Since 1999 we have been promoting using Instant
Run-off Voting and Proportional Representation in city elections.
All of this experience, in addition to my
professional experiences as teacher, journalist, musician, author, child care
provider, Minneapolis cab driver, landlord and small businessperson as well as
my personal, family experiences as a son, parent, sibling, partner, renter,
homeowner and more, help me understand the many issues and concerns facing our
city and the principles and values most needed to find creative and lasting
solutions. I think my knowledge and experiences in both the Green Party and in
my local community make me especially well suited to be a Green Party candidate
and to serve a on the Minneapolis City Council.
2. What do
you hope to accomplish by running for office.
I care
deeply about my community and my city and I am running to contribute my skills,
experience and hard work to make this a better place to be and make our
government work better for all of us. I hope to bring needed leadership to our
city, creative new solutions to its problems and active responsive
representation for the people of the second ward.
I hope to
bring the hopes and concerns of my neighbors and the values, principles and
platform of the Greens to Minneapolis city government. I also want to inspire
others to get more involved in politics and civics and to build the strength
and capacity of the Green Party here in Minneapolis and elsewhere. By actually
winning this election I hope to prove through experience that Greens can govern
and can address the difficult problems of today like cleaning up our city and
making the land, air and water safe; like addressing the energy and housing
crises we face today; like reforming a police force to separated from the
citizens its serves; like reforming our city election and campaigning processes
so that city government is more responsive, more representative and more
accountable; and like empowering more individuals, neighborhoods and
communities to make more of the decisions that affect their lives and future
and to make citizen involvement more likely and more rewarding.
3. What are
the main three or four issues of your campaign and which, if elected, would you
focus your efforts on when in office?
We are still
developing our main issues and part of our campaign is to be responsive to our
constituents. I believe that the main issues should grow from public discourse
and that both the focus of the campaign and the focus of my efforts in office
will necessarily depend on the issues raised in the ward, in the city as a
whole and from within the city government.
At the same
time there are issues and themes I am raising, in part to encourage public
discourse and in part because I already recognize them as being important. Some
are articulated in question two. Here
is a short list of issues brought forward so far: Basic services for the common
good including public works and the city’s infrastructure Affordable Housing
and tenants rights Livable wages WorkersÕ rights More responsive, accountable
and community oriented policing Cleaner land, air and water Strong neighborhood
participation and revitalization programs Support for community-based
businesses Improved public transportation
4. The Green Party is based on ten key
values...tells us how you will incorporate each of these values in your
positions during your campaign and if elected. Are there any of these values
you do not share? If so, which? Please explain why.
I share them
all and I hope to utilize, publicize and incorporate each of these values into
our campaign and into my work on the city council. Each offers an effective way
to both guide and to evaluate public policies and governmental decisions. I
hope to do both.
Here are
some examples of how we are incorporating the key values in our positions.
Nonviolence
- I support the work already under way by several restorative justice circles
and groups throughout the city. I want to explore ways to integrate them
further with our criminal justice system and into other areas of the city. We
should offer mediation support and training on a neighborhood level to help
with neighborhood disputes between individuals and groups. We should explore
ways to make nonviolence training part of ongoing professional development for
the police department and model nonviolence in word and in deed during the
campaign and on the city council. During the campaign I plan to raise the idea
of establishing Community Justice Centers in our communities to help implement
these ideas and empower neighborhoods and citizens to solve some problems of
crime and justice. These could serve as centers for community policing efforts,
help teach nonviolent conflict resolution skills, provide mediation services
and work with restorative justice groups to provide alternative sentencing for
nonviolent offenders.
Ecological
Wisdom - I want to review old reports and conduct new assessments of the city
government’s current energy use and waste management. I would like to work to
reduce both. I would also like to explore the feasibility of a municipal public
power company and the possibility of using water power at St. Anthony Falls. I
also want to review building and zoning codes to see if regulations and/or
incentives could be built in for energy conservation measures and conversions
to renewable energy sources like solar and wind. I would also like to carefully
measure decisions on land, water and air use based on possible impacts on our
ecological systems.
Grassroots
Democracy - We need to strengthen the decision making authority, independence
and capacity of open, democratic and recognized neighborhood organizations. I
will promote the possibility of establishing a Neighborhood Congress that would
meet annually or biannually to discuss and make decisions on real issues that
affect citizens. I will explore campaign finance reforms at the city level that
would include a city funded voters guide, candidates forums and a mechanism to
provide voluntary public funding for qualified candidates. If elected I will work to set up a task
force to develop viable alternatives to our current winner-take-all voting
system in city elections and to present these alternatives to the citizens for
a vote.
Social and
Economic Justice - I will work to ensure that workers, renters and other
self-identified groups have the freedom to organize for their rights. I will
also work to establish a strong tenants union in Minneapolis again. I want to make sure that any public funds
used to support businesses also are supporting the creation of “living wage”
jobs. We must fight against discriminatory practices at all levels and in all
departments of city government including the police and fire departments. I
will also fight to address the problems of racial (and other) profiling
practices that discriminate against certain groups or people. It is time to
explore ways to challenge the growing power of corporations at the city level,
including those tried in Arcadia, CA and other cities to challenge their legal
standing as “persons” under law.
Decentralization
- This value clearly is supported in several of the ideas above. I would like
strengthen NRP and neighborhood groups, move more offices from downtown into
the community including those of the CCP/SAFE teams. I would like to explore
the possibility of neighborhood-based and neighborhood managed community
policing and community justice centers. Support for Community Development
Corporations that meet requirements for citizen participation should be
provided as well as support for community business associations made up of
business operators in the community. Clearly care must be taken in all of this
to ensure that environmental and civil rights are protected for all.
Community-based
Economics - In zoning and licensing decisions the city should put a high
priority on support for small community based business. We must ensure that the
licensing and inspection departments are staffed enough to offer sufficient
levels of support and resources to small businesses so that they are not over
burdened. In decisions to offer public funds as incentives to business -- clear
and fair priority should be offered to socially responsible community-based
businesses.
Feminism -
Gender discrimination should be fought at all levels of city government. We
should set high standards for city departments as well as all official
organizations for the city.
Respect for
Diversity - We must provide more support for participation among diverse groups
in civic activities. Translations and translators should be made more
available, especially to meet the growing needs of recent immigrants to our
city. We should work both at the neighborhood and city level to bring members
of diverse communities together, to celebrate our diversities and to find ways
to participate in civic life and to work together to improve our communities
and our city. I would also like to begin a discussion about voting rights in
municipal elections being extended to resident aliens.
Personal and
Global Responsibility - In the city’s role as consumer we should be sure that
we are not making purchases irresponsibly from companies that do not use
responsible environmental and civil rights practices. As a city government we
should not hesitate to work with groups and organizations to help be a part of
the solution in bringing about a more peaceful, just, healthy and humane world.
To this end
I would also like to explore the possibility of requiring each corporation,
civic institution, and local agency in Minneapolis to periodically (every 2,3
or 5 years) publish a Social Impact Statement. This would be public information
and would assess the social impact on those who work in the firm, members of
community in which it is located and the customers or clients it serves in such
areas as hiring, wages, working conditions, advertising, services and products.
The report should reflect not only the opinions of management but of workers,
customers and community members.
Future Focus
on Sustainability - I would like to explore ways to make this a part of all
city decisions, certainly those that pertain to economic development. I would
be delighted to work with Greens to see how a “Seventh Generation Amendment”
might be applied on a city level.
5. How would your candidacy and, if elected,
your service in office, contribute to the growth of the Green Party.
I plan to
run as and promote the Green party and values throughout the campaign. I intend
to work closely with the membership to bring the partyÕs ideas and issue to
government and demonstrate clearly that the vision, values and platform of the
Greens and will work to make this a better city. If elected I hope to use the
office to further encourage others to run as Greens, to bring media attention
to the Green Party and its activities and to make it clear that I am part of a
larger movement and a larger organization. I will not run without the Green
Party endorsement. Perhaps as much as anyone at the city level, I am recognized
as a Green Party political person. My victory in November will clearly be a
victory for the local Greens, in my humble opinion.
6. Is there
anything in the Green Party Platform with which you disagree?
No
7. Explain
you positions on the following subjects, and be as specific as possible: -
Election reform I support real and full proportional representation and see
this as the only means to build a healthy, open multi party democracy that
preserves majority rule and also provides minority representation. I also support Instant Run off Voting or
Majority Preference Voting for those races where a single seat is practical.
- Affordable
Housing I think that there is a real housing crisis. The city must take
measures to maintain and increase the number of affordable housing units in the
city. I support the recommendations of the city’s Affordable Housing Task Force
report. I also think that it is time to renew the public discussion about rent
control.
-Rent
Control and Tenants Rights I think that the city should help re-establish and
maintain a strong Tenants Union. It would also be wise, in my opinion, to
establish a Tenant Advocate position or department (or Ombudsman) at the city,
county or state level. I also think that particularly during this period of
emergency that we find ourselves in now- terms of housing- that some kind of
rent control is needed. I believe that some form of control that would still
allow for fair compensation for landlords through modest increases is possible.
-Livable
Wages The city should not subsidize any community, economic or commercial
development that supports job creation unless those jobs pay a livable wage.
The only expectations to this should be for those projects with very few jobs
that also have community support.
-Police/Community
Relations For more and more people in Minneapolis trust of the police gets
lower, fear grows higher, and too many feel hopeless that anything can be done
to improve the situation.
It is time
to conduct a full review and reform of policing in Minneapolis. We need to
understand and improve all areas of policing from recruitment, to training, to
evaluation, to supervision, to accountability. By utilizing city staff,
citizens representative of our city's diversity, elected officials, police
officers and other department staff, as well as academics and others with
expertise, we can begin a thoughtful and thorough discourse. Through that
discourse solutions can be developed to help rebuild trust in the police
department and to insure that there is more openness, tolerance and restraint
used by the police in the future.
It should be
one of our aims to develop a truly effective, empowered and adequately funded
civilian review system so that those officers that do engage in excessive force
or discriminatory practices can be held accountable. I would consider both
strengthening the current Civilian Review Board and establishing and elected
Board of Police Commissioners.
Our goal
ought to be on building safe and nonviolent communities based on respect, trust
and tolerance, not fear and intimidation. We need a community-based and
community-oriented approach to where citizens and police work together to make
safer neighborhoods.
As we work
to come to terms with ongoing reports of police misconduct, and what will
likely be more information and incidents in the future, let us remember, in the
midst of it all that are many good police officers doing good work.
-
Transportation/City Planning I advocate for improved public transportation. We
should work to develop more bicycle roadways separate from automobile traffic
and support pedestrian friendly development. I support the establishment of a
free bus district within the center of the city, as exists in other cityÕs
including Portland OR. I also think that it is important that we maintain safe
roadways and bridges and that the city must take responsibility for maintaining
those that are its responsibility
I would like
to see more citizen participation in city planning decisions and review how the
Department relates to the MCDA and NRP. Some reform may indeed be called for in
the way these departments function and relate.
-Environmental
Quality We should provide grants and incentives, through NRP and elsewhere, for
cleaning up polluted areas. We should also establish zoning & building
codes to allow alternative building materials and designs that are proven to be
more environmentally friendly and energy efficient. I believe the city should
also ban the use of phosphorous in fertilizer used in the city.
I am opposed
to the use of ground water for cooling buildings and would to see this phased
out over time. I would like to promote energy efficiency in all government
buildings.
Finally, we
should all work to support our parks, lakes, parkways, greenways. These and our
wonderful Mississippi River deserve special care to improve, reclaim and
sustain them for future generations. I also support the development of new
parks and green spaces where needed and appropriate including the establishment
of more green space downtown.
-Airport
Noise Our airport is clearly a concern. Minneapolis and its city council and
mayor should be strong advocates for reducing airport noise and pollution. We
should support efforts to require noise and air pollution reduction in the
future. I support efforts of the organization ROAR.
-Crime
Please see my ideas for Community Justice Centers under the key value of
nonviolence and comments under police/community relations above. I support
community-oriented and community based policing efforts.
-Economic
Development I support economic develop efforts that create living wage jobs,
fit into the plans and texture of the communities in which they are established
and help work to further a neighborhood and community’s goals, not work against
them. By focusing on and supporting social and environmentally responsible
businesses and community-based economics we can build a sustainable economy
that will make our city an even better place to work, to live and to run a
business.
-Civil
Rights We must be vigorous in working for equal opportunity and equal justice
for all. I would be glad to work with the Greens and other groups to identify
some additional areas where action and emphasis are needed in this area. We
must take efforts to be sure that everyone knows what our civil rights are and
how to help protect them. We also need to ensure that the Minneapolis Civil
Rights Commission is meeting its responsibility to protect everyone's civil
rights and we must hold those who deny and obstruct these rights accountable.
8. If you discovered a significant budget
surplus, what would advocate the City Council do with the money?
First I
would look to restore some of the cuts in basic service and public works to
ensure that basic services for the common good were being provided including
roads, sewers, water treatment and waste management. I would also like to set
up a fund to support environmental clean up efforts and for every conversion,
especially of government owned land and property. If there were enough funds I
would like to use them to fund another full 20 year round of the Neighborhood
Revitalization Program after a full review of how to improve it and provide
more support to neighborhoods. A large portion of the funds could be targeted
to support neighborhood initiated (through the NRP) projects. I would also
target funds through NRP initiated projects and perhaps elsewhere in special
areas like Affordable Housing, Community-based economic development and
establishing Community Justice Centers and community oriented policing pilot
programs. Two other projects I would like to investigate include improved
public transportation and campaign finance reform, although I think it is
important to identify an outgoing, sustainable source of revenue for both of
these. Still, in order to demonstrate there desirability, special funding for a
period of time, if it was available, might be worth using.
9. Are there
any issues that are specific to you ward, and if so, what is your position on
these?
There
certainly are issues that are specific to the ward, although most are reflected
elsewhere and in the city as a whole. Certainly we find a great deal of
economic and cultural diversity in the second ward. I think it is important that a city council person is ready and
willing to listen to and respond to all people in the ward.
In
addition,two of its most striking things are the Mississippi River, which cuts
through it, and the University of Minnesota whose Minneapolis campus sits in
the middle of it. I think that it is
important that the city council member from this ward is willing to work in
collaboration with other council members to preserve the River and restore it.
I also think it is important that the council member can represent the citizens
in working with the University to ensure that it is a resource working with,
and not against, the communities that surround it.
In general,
however, the issues of concern in the second ward, I believe, can be and
addressed in the more general concerns above.
10. If you
are endorsed, what, if any, expectations do you have of the Minneapolis/5th
District Green Party regarding you campaign, and if elected, your service in
office?
I would
expect to be able to publicize the endorsement widely and proudly and to join
in the party’s effort to run credible and winning city campaigns in 2001. I would welcome the opportunity to meet
with, address and listen to the concerns of party members and to utilize their
ideas and energy for our campaign. I would welcome any support and assistance
the party felt it was able and willing to offer that my campaign committee
feels is appropriate.
Thank you
very much for the opportunity to respond to your questions and I look forward
to meeting in person and answering any further questions you have at our
screening meeting.
In peace and cooperation,
Cam Gordon
Candidate for Minneapolis City Council, Ward 2
914 Franklin
Terrace Minneapolis, MN 55406-1101 (612) 332-6210