Minnesota voters want leaders to stay the course
Posted Online 11/16/00
An unprecedented and close election in a nation evenly divided is sending a puzzling message to decision makers.
In the nation, with the margins in the House and Senate so close and with a president winning by a slight margin, there is little wiggle room for making big changes. Voters said they want a leader who will stay the course, who will keep the economy strong and make some well thought-out changes in funding Social Security, the economy and prescription drugs.
At the same time they want a president who will dignify and honor the office.
Minnesotans, also, didn’t veer much from the status quo. The Democratic party, however, continued its dominance, by favoring Vice President Al Gore, electing five Congress persons, U. S. Senator Mark Dayton, controlling the Senate and failing by two members to control the State House. While the Independence Party was established, Jesse Ventura’s influence was not a factor in this election. Not one Independence Party member was elected.
In the Twin Cities suburban and exurban area covered by ECM publications, voters returned almost every incumbent to the Minnesota Legislature, indicating a satisfaction with legislative progress, some tax reform, tax rebates and lower license tabs, and accomodating a very popular Governor Jesse Ventura.
While not wanting big changes, voters are putting the all-important redistricting in the hands of a divided Legislature where partisanship is bound to erupt.
State legislators must have on their agenda the need to fund K-12 education to meet the salary demands caused by a growing shortage of teachers. They will have to examine seriously Governor Ventura’s trial balloon of total state funding for K-12 education. Other priorities expressed by voters deal with transportation problems, help for seniors to buy prescription drugs, and continued monitoring of the Profiles of Learning.
Voters surprisingly approved excess levy referendums in Minneapolis and St. Paul but rejected them in Forest Lake and Apple Valley-Rosemount. Equity funding for schools in outer ring suburbs again will be a battle cry.
On the bright side, the Elk River School District passed a badly needed school bond issue of $109 million and an excess levy.
Some incumbent school board members were rejected as voters struggle with the school’s constant call for funds which mostly go to pay higher salaries for staff and administrators.
In the main, voters said they want an end to the Clinton era, one in which they prospered but felt ashamed of their president. With either George Bush or Al Gore, they believe they have an honorable president who will lead the nation down the center aisle, trying to unite a country that is feeling uneasy and looking for answers.
Editor’s note: This editorial is the opinion of ECM Editorial Board.
