Twice More Before the Cock Crows?
I received an e-mail this morning from city council candidate DelRay Rokke. He writes, in apparent reference to my Monday entry:
Re-reading Rocky's e-mail, it's not clear to me that he actually denies supporting Mayor Longrie, or if he is just saying that he doesn't think there's any public proof of it. He also does not actually deny that Hjelle supports his slate; he only states that Hjelle didn't in advance know they were running. Perhaps he'll come forward with a more clear and unequivocal statement about these matters.
I sent him the following reply.
John,
I would like to know where I have ever done one thing publicly to support Diana as the Mayor of Maplewood. Also, I am certain that Erik Hjelle knew nothing about Ken Smart except through seeing the same Truth-in-Taxation meeting you attended until he saw the list of candidates. And I am absolutely certain that Erik knew noting of Dave's or my plans to run until he saw us registering the last day of filings. If you continue to print what I know to be pure guesses and speculation about Ken, Dave and me, it is hard to believe much of the rest of what you have to print about anyone else. That kind of political speculation and blogging is both an embarrassment to the City of Maplewood and the DFL Party. It may fit well in a fantasy RPG you are playing, but it does not now, nor will it serve Maplewood well when we have a new Mayor and two new Council Members about whom you've been lying.
Take Care,
DelRay
Dear DelRay,
Remember that I ran against you in 2007. I spoke to a lot of Maplewood voters, and I think any reasonable observer could see that most people supporting you then did so understanding that you were running as part of Mayor Longrie's team. After you signed on to run with Rebecca Cave, you even adopted the mayor's conservation easements as a major campaign issue.
Mr. Hafner has numerous statements on the record since 2006 praising Mayor Longrie, Erik Hjelle and Rebecca Cave, and attacking their critics (in council meetings, letters to the editor, and at the mayor's forum).
Your campaign literature at the DFL meeting made it clear that you, Mr. Hafner, and Mr. Smart are running as a single team with a common perspective. It lists various qualifications and life experiences without stating which applied to whom. So if one of you is linked to Mr. Hjelle or Ms. Longrie, a reasonable person would link all of you -- after all, your own literature emphasizes how you all stand for the same things. Since Mr. Smart made the decision to run as a team with you and Mr. Hafner, I assume he knows of and accepts your past political associations and allegiances -- if not, that may itself raise questions about his political judgment.
If you are concerned by the public perception of your team's past support for the dysfunctional city council of 2006-2007, you are the one who needs to persuade people that now it's different -- and you need to take that message directly to the voters. I'd suggest that some very clear and public repudiations of Hjelle, Longrie, Cave, and their failed policies and leadership might do something to put some distance between you. Even then, people may not believe you. You'll need to provide a plausible narrative of how you and Mr. Hafner came to reexamine your past political collaboration with them, and why you have both decided now to reject them.
I have to tell you that I'm pretty skeptical about your statements. At the DFL meeting, I overheard you telling someone that you did not run as a team with Rebecca Cave in 2007, despite your numerous examples of joint literature. At the same meeting, Dave Hafner stated to the audience that he did not campaign against the DFL-endorsed candidates in 2007, which would surprise some folks in his neighborhood. People who are familiar with you guys may already have been given the impression that you're more interested in winning votes than in being truthful.
Best of luck,
John
P.S. I will post your message and my reply to my blog, so that readers can be aware of your objections.
Re-reading Rocky's e-mail, it's not clear to me that he actually denies supporting Mayor Longrie, or if he is just saying that he doesn't think there's any public proof of it. He also does not actually deny that Hjelle supports his slate; he only states that Hjelle didn't in advance know they were running. Perhaps he'll come forward with a more clear and unequivocal statement about these matters.
Labels: campaign 2009, Dave Hafner
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