Flickr.com Photo, Minneapolis City Hall Here is the latest breaking news in the ongoing, colorful and controversial "political re-alignment" in the Jordan Neighborhood...
I'm now in possession of two letters written by Stacy L. Sorenson, Neighborhood Specialist for the Minneapolis Neighborhood Revitalization Program. (NRP) For those unfamiliar with this entity, basically NRP gives money to neighborhoods to help those neighborhoods improve. Arguably, JACC couldn't even FUNCTION without NRP funding.
NRP Helped Count The Votes
First of all, Sorenson was actually involved as a "teller/ballot counter" as requested by the JACC Nominating Committee. Sorenson said, "Because NRP invests a significant amount of public funds in Jordan, it is in our interest for the neighborhood association to have a board of directors that is both elected fairly and functions effectively."
Sorenson said, "In my view, the elections were run exceptionally well and in accordance with the JACC bylaws. At one point early in the meeting, a member of the organization suggested that nominations from the floor be accepted. The suggesting was respectfully received, but it was pointed out by an attendee and confirmed by a member of the Nominating Committee that the JACC bylaws call for candidates's eligibility for the board to be verified and for members to be mailed a list of all candidates prior to the elections. Accepting nominations from the floor would have violated JACC's bylaws."
Results Of The Vote Were "Not Close"
According to Sorenson, she counted ballots along with Bob Cooper and Jay Clark, under the observation of two individuals, one being the chair of the nominating committee. (I believe that would be Kip Browne)
Notably, Sorenson says "Results of the vote were not close."
New Board, New Officers
In a second letter, dated January 16, 2009, and addressed to Councilmembers Samuels and Johnson, as well as JACC Chair Kip Browne, information is revealed about talks with the "Assistant City attorney responsible for citizen participation." According to Sorenson, she reviewed the events of January 12 and 14th with this (unnamed) Assistant City Attorney, and "He advised me that the new board (as elected on January 12) had the responsibility to elect its officers. (Parenthetical info in orginal text) After consulting with the City Attorney, Sorenson consulted with NRP Director Bob Miller.
The conclusion of all this consulting?
"Based on these events and on the advice that we have received from the Assistant City Attorney on this issue, the NRP will recognize the JACC board with its full complement of members as elected on January 12 and with the officers elected on January 14th."
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