Furthermore,  RCTC is an 180 mile trip from Minneapolis City Hall.  If you use the IRS level of reimbursement for mileage the total cost for Rybak was $99.00.  According to MN State Campaign Finance Law (pg. 6) any person spending more than $100 in an effort to seek an office must declare themselves a candidate and file the proper forms.  This is not by any means the first event that Rybak has traveled and spent money for his campaign for Governor.  The MNGOP collected several pieces of data on all of his recent travels outside of Minneapolis.  They also included information about specific expenditures.

Both Minnesota Public Radio and Rochester Post Bulletin ran stories today about the event.  Here’s the part about Rybak from MPR:

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak explained that the governor is a chief executive, not a legislator. He described how his own executive experience would help navigate the state out of a looming budget deficit. Rybak also said he would look at expanding the state sales tax to clothing.

“I think clothing is a necessity for many people,” Rybak said. “Underwear, yes. Fur coats, maybe not. So maybe over $100 we would introduce a clothing tax. That’s one example. It’s not something I’m glued to but I think it’s only fair for me to say something.

The last time I checked, the mayor of Minneapolis was not in charge of setting statewide tax policy.  Clearly, Mayor Rybak needs to file the proper forms to be a candidate for Governor and avoid any fines the Campaign Finance Board may issue.  His actions are absolutely in violation of state law.

"The second-term mayor of the state's largest city, a DFL stronghold, says that he has 'done nothing to encourage speculation' about a candidacy and that he is 'completely focused' on being mayor. He says he is encouraging Franken 'and many other people' to run." Source: Star Tribune, December 18, 2006

But a month ago, Rybak said he's "not closing any doors" on a run for the U.S. Senate:

"But Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, a feisty vote-getter, said in an interview that Minnesota needs more change on Capitol Hill and he's 'not closing any doors' on a Senate contest. His election would come 60 years after another Minneapolis mayor made the jump. His name was Hubert Humphrey." Source: Pioneer Press, November 11, 2006

Rybak's public battles with Minneapolis Fire Chief Bonnie Bleskachek have not helped his candidacy. Three weeks ago I wrote "that a Rybak candidacy for the U.S. Senate may never get off the ground."  It looks like even Rybak understands this now.

Rybak is attempting to show leadership by giving the impression he is being tough on Bleskachek, but this week's media circus reflects very poorly on the job he is doing as mayor. 

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DFL activists against a Rybak candidacy for the U.S. Senate will love these quotes.

• "I am not confident that Ms. Bleskachek can lead the Fire Department in a way that best positions the Department to protect the citizens of Minneapolis." Source: Mayor R.T. Rybak, November 27, 2006 

BUT RYBAK PRAISED BLESKACHEK'S LEADERSHIP AND TOOK CREDIT IN DEBATE WITH '05 OPPONENT FOR HER APPOINTMENT: 

• "Bonnie is a great example of how a very focused, talented employee can clear a successful path and can rise to the top…" Source: Star Tribune, November 7, 2005
• "Rybak opened with a list of projects for which he took credit, from creating 2,000 affordable housing units to appointing the 'first openly gay fire chief in Minnesota,' Bonnie Bleskachek, and taking the side of immigrants against the federal government." Source: Star Tribune, February 25, 2005

SUDDENLY IN '06, RYBAK DEVELOPED PATTERN OF NOT COMMENTING ON BLESKACHEK: 

• "Mayor R.T. Ryback and spokesmen for the city also declined to comment." Source: Pioneer Press, March 15, 2006
• "Mayor R.T. Rybak also declined to comment." Source: Star Tribune, March 16, 2006
• "Mayor R.T. Rybak also declined to discuss either the case or her performance as fire chief, citing the sensitivity of pending litigation, said his spokesman, Jeremy Hanson." Source: Star Tribune, March 20, 2006
• "Mayor R.T. Rybak was out of town and unavailable to comment." Source: Star Tribune, March 23, 2006
• "Bleskachek was appointed chief in 2004 by Mayor R.T. Rybak. Rybak's spokesman said the mayor had no comment on the dispute." Source: Associated Press, September 22, 2006
• "After the council's vote, Mayor R.T. Rybak said the right decision was made reaching a settlement. He would not comment further, citing personnel reasons." Source: Star Tribune, October 7, 2006

MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT SAID RYBAK IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CITY'S MANAGMENT PROBLEMS

• "As for Rybak's culpability in the management problems, 'He's the one who recommended all three people,' [Council Member Barb] Johnson said." Source: Star Tribune, March 20, 2006 

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If Rybak can't run Minneapolis, how can he run for the U.S. Senate in '08?

'I am not running for Senate,' Rybak told the Pioneer Press over a commercial break during his inaugural radio show with St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman on Friday.

Speculation about his political future has been growing since his all-but-landslide re-election last fall. Rybak hired several prominent DFL operatives for his campaign and said in a February interview it was 'possible' that he could be persuaded to run for the Senate in 2008.

Rybak also has been raising his profile in St. Paul, meeting with Ramsey County sheriff candidate Bill Finney and promising to campaign for St. Paul's smoking ban if it were on the ballot. His agreement to join first-term St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman for a biweekly radio show on WCCO radio further fueled speculation that Rybak might be positioning himself for a statewide run." Source: Pioneer Press, July 15, 2006

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"Rybak's spokesman, Jeremy Hanson, later downplayed the significance of the mayor's February comments, noting that Rybak said in the same interview he intended to finish out his second term and might consider higher office after that. The next mayoral election in Minneapolis is scheduled for 2009, a year after the Senate race.

'It's the same thing he's been saying all along,' Hanson said. 'He loves being mayor of Minneapolis.'

If so, that leaves just a few names on the list of potential challengers to the first-term incumbent, including radio host Al Franken. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum has been mentioned as another possibility, and David Lilly, a spokesman for Ford Bell, said the erstwhile challenger to DFLer Amy Klobuchar 'stands by' his statement that he'd ended his campaign 'for this year.'

'Speaking for myself, though, I'm going to do all I can to encourage him to think about 2008,' Lilly said." Source: Pioneer Press, July 15, 2006

Click here to see the complete thread.

"But a run against Coleman in 2008 would mean Rybak would need to campaign during his current mayoral term and then head to Washington a year before the term is over, should he win. He said he won't do that.

 

'I will absolutely finish my four-year term,' Rybak said. 'I may run for something when I'm done being mayor, but I was just re-elected to the job that I wanted all my life, and I want to make sure I do it well and finish the job.'" Source: Pioneer Press, February 3, 2006

But Rybak told WCCO Radio today he may run for U.S. Senate in '08:  

"Democrats are already talking about mounting a challenge to Coleman in two years. Comedian Al Franken, who is considering a run, has started a political action committee, and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak told WCCO Radio Friday he wouldn't close the door on a race." Source: Associated Press, November 10, 2006

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Majority of Primary Voters Agree: Anyone But Rybak

Minneapolis, MN – Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis President John Delmonico today congratulated primary voters for taking the Federation's advice and voting for Anyone But Rybak.

"The primary election is a story about a man who's lost touch with the city of Minneapolis," commented Delmonico. "It's obvious Mayor Rybak is in trouble when – with all the powers of city hall at his disposal and a fund raising lead of thousands of dollars – he can't get a majority at his convention and then can't get a majority in the primary. That's two strikes as of today and the third strike could be coming in November."

In the week prior to the election, the Federation ran a radio commercial criticizing Rybak on his lack of focus on crime and public safety and urged primary voters to vote ABR: Anyone But Rybak. Delmonico said that Rybak's weak 44 percent showing in the primary, less than ten points ahead of his nearest competition, proves that voters are fed up with the Rybak administrations cuts in the police force and disorganized response to a public safety emergency.

"Mayor Rybak doesn't have to be concerned about crime because he doesn't leave his house without a police escort," explained Delmonico. "But voters are sending a message that they want more cops, more focus on public safety and a concrete plan to bring the police department back up to strength. They also want some initiative out of city hall, and not more waiting for Santa to come down the chimney with money from the state or federal government."

Delmonico observed that Mayor Rybak has only eight weeks before the general election to convince voters that he received their message on crime and is going to do something about it. "It's obvious voters are worried about crime. The candidate who addresses that concern and convinces voters that he's going to get tough on crime, is the candidate who will be the next mayor."

Since 1972, the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis has represented police officers up to the rank of captain who are employed by the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board.

Currently the Federation has more than 800 members and is the largest non-affiliated law enforcement union in the state of Minnesota. The Federation Board of Directors consists of 10 elected members (nine from the Minneapolis Police Department and one from the Park Police Department), each serving a two-year term. The Federation president serves full-time, along with one other designated board member. The rest of the board serves part-time, while remaining full-time members of the police force.

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Source: Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis