April 30, 2005.

Martin Luther King Park


The convention was called to order at 10:08 AM by convener Sue Ponsford.

The first Credentials Committee report was given by Fred Markus and showed 218 delegates and 25 alternates registered.

The Rules Committee Report was given by Rules Chair , Mark Hinds. The agenda was presented and was adopted without amendment. The rules were presented. Heather Martens moved to use a parallel system of Instant Runoff Voting to test that system in a controlled environment. The motion was defeated on a voice vote. The rules were then adopted as presented on a voice vote.

The Affirmative Action Statement was read.

Brian Melendez was elected as Convention Chair. He appointed Bert Black as parliamenta5rian, Tim Bonham as head teller and various others to assist in the running of the convention.

The Credentials Committee gave the second credentials report.

Tim Bonham and others circulated collection cans for further donations to defray the costs of the convention and the City Convention , May 14 at Augsburg College.

The convention moved on to the endorsement process.

Nominations from the floor were opened and the following candidates were nominated: Dennis Tifft, Elizabeth Glidden, Marie Hauser, Jeff Hayden and Titi Bediako,

There were no further nominations and nomination were closed. There was a motion to suspend the rules and reopen nominations. The motion failed on a voice vote.

The candidates for City Council spoke in the following order, which had been determined by lot: Glidden, Hauser, Hayden, Tifft and Bediako.

There then followed 50 minutes of questions and answers, put to the candidates in a rotating order, followed by a one-minute closing statement in the reverse order of the initial speeches. At the conclusion of this there was a motion by David Brauer to suspend the rules for the purpose of asking the candidates whether they would abide by the endorsement and support the endorsed candidate. The motion passed on a voice vote. All of the candidates answered "Yes" to this question.

A motion was made to suspend the rules for the purpose of reopening nominations, but the motion failed.

The first ballot was cast and collected at 12:54 PM.

The following individuals addressed the convention: R.T. Rybak, Peter McLaughlin, Mark Ritchie , Jim Klobuchar on behalf of Amy Klobuchar, Jason Stone.

Titi Bediako addressed the convention.

The results of the first ballot were read:

On the 1st Ballot there were 274 votes cast, with 165 needed to reach the 60% required for endorsement.

Candidates received votes as follows:

Bediako, 32 votes 12%
Tifft, 42 votes 15.3%
Hauser, 60 votes 22%
Glidden, 65 votes 24%
Hayden, 69 votes 25%
No Endorsement, 6 votes 2%

By rule, Titi Bediako was eliminated.

The 2nd ballot was cast and collected at 1:20 PM

The following individuals addressed the convention: Paula Gilbertson, Laura Waterman-Wittstock, Sheldon Mains, Rod Krueger, Jill Schwimmer, Alan Hooker.

Dennis Tifft addressed the convention.

The results of the second ballot were read:

On the 2nd Ballot there were 269 votes cast, with 162 needed to reach the 60% required for endorsement.

Candidates received votes as follows:

Tifft, 34 votes 13%
Hauser, 60 votes 22%
Glidden, 71 votes 26%
Hayden, 102 votes 38%
No Endorsement, 2 votes 1%

By rule, Dennis Tifft was eliminated.

The 3rd ballot was cast and collected at 1:50 PM

The following individuals addressed the convention: Senator Linda Berglin, Matthea Little Smith on behalf of Representative Neva Walker, Eric Hinsdale and City Council Member Robert Lilligren.

The results of the third ballot were read:

On the 3rd Ballot there were 268 votes cast, with 161 needed to reach the 60% required for endorsement.

Candidates received votes as follows:

Hauser, 70 votes 26%
Glidden, 89 votes 33%
Hayden, 101 votes 38%
No Endorsement, 8 votes %

The 4th ballot was cast and collected at 2:12 PM

The following persons were nominated as Ward Coordinators: Frangena Johnson and Michael La Brosse. No further nominations were made. These nominees were elected by acclamation.

The following individuals addressed the convention: Meg Forney, Rochelle Berry-Graves, ???? Miller, John Lilly, Carol Becker.

The results of the fourth ballot were read:

On the 4th Ballot there were 260 votes cast, with 156 needed to reach the 60% required for endorsement.

Candidates received votes as follows:

Hauser, 67 votes 26%
Glidden, 85 votes 33%
Hayden, 104 votes 40%
No Endorsement, 4 votes 1%


By rule, Marie Hauser was eliminated.

The 5th ballot was cast and collected at 2:40 PM

The following persons were nominated and elected by acclamation to the City Preconvention Committees, to meet Monday, May 2, at 6:30 PM at the Hennepin County Government Center Jury Assembly Room.

Credentials: Jed Burkett, Heather Martens.
Nominating: Mary Cann, Aaron C. Street

For the Rules Committee, the following persons were nominated: Ron Bell, Brian Elliott, Nathae Richardson and Betty Ellison-Harpole.
There was a contest for the Rules Committee, and all candidates spoke and a written ballot was taken.

The results of the fifth ballot were read:

On the 5th Ballot there were 263 votes cast, with 159 needed to reach the 60% required for endorsement.

Candidates received votes as follows:

Glidden, 120 votes 46%
Hayden, 113 votes 42%
No Endorsement.,30 votes 11%

David Finke and Dan St. Martin moved for no endorsement. The Chair ruled that the motion was not debatable. Paul Birnberg challenged the ruling of the chair. The Ruling of the chair was upheld by the body on a voice vote. The original motion was then considered and the motion failed on a voice vote.

The 6th ballot was cast and collected.

Marie Hauser addressed the convention.

The following persons were nominated and elected by acclamation to the City Constitution Commission: Jed Burkett, Nathae Richardson.

The following individuals addressed the convention: Darryl Robinson, Bob Fine, Commissioner Gail Dorfman, Gary Thaden..

Jeff Tate moved to suspend the rules for the purpose of hearing for one-minute from each remaining candidate. The motion passed, and the candidates spoke in the following order: Hayden, Glidden.

The following individuals addressed the convention: Scott Vreeland, Tom Nordyke, Carol Kummer, Gordon Nelson, Pam Costain

The results of the Rules Committee vote were reported:

Bell, 102, Elliott 128. Elliott elected
Ellison-Harpole 99, Richardson 152, Richardson elected.

The results of the 6th ballot were read.

On the 6th ballot there were 256 votes, with 154 needed to reach the 60% required for endorsement.

Candidates received votes as follows:

Glidden 109 votes 43%
Hayden 108 votes 42%
No Endorsement, 39 votes, 15%

Scott Olson moved to adjourn, and the motion was seconded. On a counted vote, the motion passed 135 votes aye , 92 votes opposed.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bert Black
Parliamentarian.