Updated: 11/02/2009 7:04 PM KSTP.com | Print |  Email
By: Becky Nahm

Mpls. Mayoral Candidates Try Singing for Votes

A small chorus of mayoral candidates tried one last time before Tuesday's election to draw attention to Mayor R.T. Rybak's refusal to debate his fiscal policies.

Five of his ten challengers sang for votes Monday. They sang, "Take me out to find Rybak" to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." They didn't have much of choice.

Besides a lack of debates, the challengers were also faced with a cash shortage.

While Rybak raised more than $260,000 for his re-election bid, his opponents raised little to nothing.

Across the river in St. Paul, Eva Ng faces an uphill battle against incumbent Chris Coleman.

Both races have been two of Minnesota's quietest mayoral campaigns in recent memory.

Challengers tried to go after both incumbents for increasing taxes, which can be a hot button issue. But they're so underfunded and unknown, they didn't get any traction on the issue.

Candidate for Minneapolis Mayor Dick Franson said, "I coined the phrase 'Raise Taxes Rybak' and that's a good phrase for him and of course he won't debate any of us because he doesn't want to talk about that."

Rybak defended his record.

He said, "Property taxes have gone up during the time I have been mayor and it's also a time we've paid off significant debt and made the city safer."

Ng has criticized Coleman for tax increases, including a six-percent proposal for 2010.

Ng said, "We've got to hold the line right now on fees and property taxes."

Coleman responded, "The increase in taxes in the City of St. Paul and across Minnesota are the direct result of the aid we have lost from the State of Minnesota."

The challengers in both cities said the mayors could do a better job cutting spending to keep taxes lower.

Rybak and Coleman said they've been doing that.

Tuesday voters will let them know if they agree.