An email from today:
From: “Jane Hoffman”
To: “Harrywelty”
Sent: Tue, 25 Aug 2015 11:13:26 +0000 (UTC)
Subject: critical news.I need help. the DNT endorsed Obije and Kirby and said i did not have enough experience. I am the ONLY teacher, i work in triage like Charles daily. Read my response below. Can you put something on your blog about it? I AM SO [NOT HAPPY].
Jane Hoffman
M.A. Political Science[included to me was this email message to the Editors] On Tuesday, August 25, 2015 6:30 AM, Jane Hoffman wrote:
I appreciate the professional response but what I am really angry about is that you didn’t mention I am a parent. I also work in 4 different group homes where I have been hit, threatened to be killed, put people in manual restraints, drive people in STS who are on the verge of suicide. I work in triage every day and I am the only one working 70 hours a week. I am angry but not explosive. I think if you guys are going to allow us to write candidate view articles, you should really find out what we do in our everyday lives. My son used to be severely autistic and now he is vastly improved. He is crew manager at McDonald’s. I don’t want to get into the whole story. I believe in endorsing one candidate, not two. Also I am the only woman and only teacher so what does that say about the editorial board? I work in the same field as what school board examines. A major downer in my book.
Jane Hoffman
To which I replied:
Jane,
I have to live with the person who is elected in the second district for two years so, for the time being, I will not be taking sides. A poor decision in this election could make my next two years as miserable as the last one. I will be supporting two other candidate’s in this election. The first is Alanna Oswald because she is smart, knows the District inside out and because she stands head and shoulders over the other candidates. My greatest fear for her campaign is that my open support of her will undermine support for her from folks who don’t cotton to me. I was reluctant to put her lawnsign in my yard but I did it anyway.
Likewise, I will be supporting Loren Martell but for slightly different reasons. Together they add up to poetic justice. Loren was put in handcuffs for speaking at a school board meeting (For heaven’s sake he was standing silently at the microphone waiting for it to be turned back on when he was handcuffed). He then went on to pick up the torch I dropped after beating my head against a wall for four years trying to get the School Board to be reasonable. In helping Loren I put myself at risk of alienating Nora Sandstad who is a very attractive candidate in her own right. If she wins I will have to work hard to persuade her that I am not her enemy. I can do that with one new board member but not two should either Charles Obije or Dr. David David Kirby get elected to form a coalition dedicated to keeping me in a persecuted minority. I have endured one censure for my candor. That was enough for me.
Although I am currently neutral I will offer you some observations that may be useful to you. First and foremost, the Tribune’s endorsement is not make or break. I’ve only received it once in my three successful elections and got it once when losing a legislative race to Mike Jaros in the 1970’s.
If you get past the primary it will be because you campaigned more effectively than who ever loses. Kirby is a white doctor who will have credibility for that reason. Obije may do well because he has said the right things about listening to all people and because even largely white east Duluth knows that our minority students could use someone they can identify with on the Board. You have a resume that offers its own interesting possibilities. I will post our email correspondence for what it is worth. I presume several hundred of my readers live in the Second District.
As for your challengers both said hopeful things to the Trib’s editorial board about getting past our last awful year. At the moment I do have reservations about Dr. Kirby. When announcing his candidacy he told the Trib that a single board member was our problem. I presume he meant Art Johnston. In today’s editorial he said a couple of board members were to blame: “I understand some folks have made the board) very toxic.” That could me mean Dr. Kirby now includes me as well but not necessarily.
It could mean that he sees that there are two sides to the conflict and recognizes that his ardent supporters, Seliga-Punyko, Loeffler-Kemp and Harala have all played their part in the toxic brew. He also said quite rightly, “We need to work together.”
I have given the Doctor a chance to begin that process by calling him a couple weeks ago and asking him if he’d share a cup of coffee with me. I’ve not heard back but it’s premature to pass judgment on his willingness to “work together.”
You and I have been corresponding through email and I have had that cup of coffee with Charles Obije. I deduced from that meeting that Charles intends to be independent minded which is just what he told the Trib’s editors. “My job going to the School Board is not to pick sides.” That’s what I want to hear.
Despite his talk about toxicity the verdict is still out on Dr. Kirby. So far, all of the Seliga-Punyko allies have friended him on his Facebook account and Harala and Loeffler-Kemp were at his campaign announcement. He also carried a VanNett sign in the Spirit Valley Day’s parade and Renee also has Harala and Loeffler-Kemp in her corner. He has indicated that he is a fan of the Red Plan but not acknowledged that its implementation left a lot to be desired. If we have that cup of coffee he may be able to put my concerns to rest.
Dr. Kirby may not be as allergic as his supporters to my blog posts. If he is elected he will have to figure out how to cope intelligently with my my proclivity to blog. If he is the pragmatic person he told the Trib’s editors, “If you work together and have consensus you can (accomplish more),” he won’t have much to fear from my commentary. However, if he chooses sides I won’t hesitate to contrast his alliances with his call in today’s Trib for consensus.
You say you are angry about the editorial but I’d advise you to channel your frustration into campaigning harder and smarter. Put up lawnsigns and pass out flyers that tell voters about your resume. Your experiences are valuable and neither Charles or Dr. Kirby have your set of talents.
Finally, as I told you once before, I’ve only won three elections while losing twelve. I am philosophical about losing because I truly believe the decision is or should be in the voter’s hand. Don’t be short tempered with the Trib’s editors. Prove to them that they should have endorsed you. They meant nothing personal. They call “em as they see “em. It’s your challenge to open their eyes.
Best of luck,
Harry
