The DFL Ward 7-Precinct 3, commonly referred to as 7-3, caucus on Feb. 27 was the usual blend of neighborly bonhomie and chaos, although far more of the former.
It was held this year at Kenwood School, which is in 7-2, but this year the school played host to 7-3 (Lowry Hill) and 7-4 (Cedar-Isles-Dean) and others. The conveners — one experienced, one a newbie — had arrived to find the school was locked, but somehow the principal was contacted, and the school magically opened.
7-3 and 7-4 met in the school cafeteria. And while it seemed like it would be impossible to conduct two caucuses in one school lunchroom, the seasoned convener was able to steer both groups through the procedural steps required by law and the new convener read greetings from party leaders with verve and good humor. We do know how to get along!
We were there to elect delegates to the city convention (school board only this year) and to the Senate District convention, where at least four candidates are vying for the seat being vacated by State Rep. Frank Hornstein. Each of them, Dylan McMahon, Will Stancil, Katie Jones and Isabel Rolfes, spoke to the group.
Katie Jones appeared to be the most politically experienced, with volunteers wearing Katie Cashman T-shirts, the Cashman part covered by tape and Jones written in, handing out literature. The other candidates handed out their own literature, no apparent volunteers or T-shirts. All four spoke well and have impressive backgrounds. Their next stop? The Senate District convention at Washburn High School on March 23, where the candidates will vie for the DFL endorsement. After that comes the primary election on August 13.
After hearing from the candidates, attendees split into separate caucuses to elect delegates. Because there were more slots open for delegates than people who wanted to be delegates, there was no contest. Delegates are allotted based on turnout at the previous caucus. Our precincts always have a high turnout, so we get a lot of delegates. I believe last night that number for 7-3 was 47.
On the 7-3 side of the room there were only two resolutions. In truth, they were very hard to hear given the general din in the room, so this is a rough recap. One had to do with protecting free speech on campuses and it passed. The second one called for the state of Minnesota to condemn genocide and divest from Israel. It did not pass.
Our work in 7-3 was done, so I crossed the aisle to listen to the resolutions being presented in 7-4. I only heard the last two. One called for the city to conduct an Environmental Impact Statement of the Minneapolis 2040 Plan and for the legislature to oppose efforts to exempt Minneapolis from Minnesota Environmental Rights Act. The other one called for making reform of the Met Council a top priority of the 2024 session. Both passed.
And with that it was a wrap. We tidied up and walked out into the blustery frigid night, our civic duty done, for now.
