[Justicecircle] Straw Vote Results

[Duke Schempp]

Straw Poll Results
The Voter Collaborative held a Moorhead City Council Candidate’s Forum on
November 1st.  The forum was attended by all 10 Candidates and drew a
crowd of nearly 80 community members.

A Straw Vote Ballot was conducted and participants were given the
following instructions:

After attending this forum, whom would you vote for? Please choose one
person for each ward regardless of where you live or if you can vote on
November 6, 2007.

Candidates for Moorhead City Council
November 1 Straw Vote Ballot Results:
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Number of Ballots cast = 37
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1st Ward:
1   -Pete Marinucci
10  -Nancy Otto
26  -Tammie Yak

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2nd Ward:
8   -Barry K. Chouinard
17  -Diane Wray Williams
9   -Alexander Ellsworth
2   -Larry Nicholson

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3rd Ward:
22  -Dan Hunt

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4th Ward:
7   -Mark Wallert
30  -Greg Lemke

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Candidates sound off
J. Shane Mercer
The Forum - 11/02/2007

Paratransit, parking and the pay disparity between men and women were
among topics addressed at a public forum Thursday when Moorhead City
Council candidates as a group made their pitch to voters.

Several of the 10 candidates agreed that the paratransit system for
disabled riders in Moorhead is solid.

But Ward 1 candidate Tammie Yak, who serves on the city’s Human Rights
Commission, said she has heard complaints that some people have had to
prove they were disabled enough to qualify for paratransit. She suggested
extending paratransit hours and routes.

Parking issues near Minnesota State University Moorhead were also at issue
at the forum, which was organized by nonprofit organizations and
spearheaded by the People Escaping Poverty Project.

Ward 2 candidate Barry Chouinard said he hears from constituents that the
city has “done nothing for too long” about parking. But incumbent Nancy
Otto said parking issues are now being studied.

Ward 4 candidate Mark Wallert said the “reality is this is about parking
convenience,” adding that some lots on the MSUM campus are not full even
in the heart of the day.

Ward 1 candidate Pete Marinucci said it is the responsibility of the
university, not the city, to provide parking for students and staff.

Candidates were also asked about what they would do to give enforcement
authority to the Human Rights Commission. Yak disagreed with Councilman
Dan Hunt, who said only the state can grant the commission enforcement
power. Chouinard said he would not want the commission to have enforcement
power, but did say it is time for the city to look at developing a
municipal court system.

Human Rights Commission member Phyllis Emmel asked how candidates would
address overly aggressive tenant screening.

Most candidates said they favor the current screening process.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Shane Mercer at (701) 451-5734

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