Minneapolis council president wins tough endorsement fight

A neighborhood and party activist pushed Minneapolis City Council President Barbara Johnson to 10 ballots on Saturday before she secured DFL endorsement in the Fourth Ward.

Troy Parker said on Monday he'll take his campaign for the council to the November election, despite a pledge Saturday to abide by the party's endorsement. Johnson, who is seeking a fourth term, didn't even have a contest in her past two endorsing conventions.

Parker hit a high-water mark of 42.4 percent of ballots on the second ballot and was able to stave off a Johnson endorsement for hours. However, his support slipped after the nonprofit Minnesota ACORN's political arm distributed a leaflet attacking Johnson's record on foreclosure issues.

Johnson was given the floor to dispute the leaflet's claims but Parker did not get a chance to respond until after more balloting. Parker said he knew nothing of the leaflet despite the distribution of it by people wearing his campaign T-shirts. He said that bias in conducting the convention has caused him to change his position on honoring the endorsement.

Johnson came within one vote of the necessary 60 percent on the fifth ballot, and did so twice more before gaining that threshold. Convention rules prohibited a motion for no endorsement until after the fifth ballot, but delegates then voted down a no-endorsement option four times. The tight contest had both campaigns calling in delegates who hadn't shown up.

"I was so proud of my delegates who just stuck it out," Johnson said. "It was just wonderful."

A third candidate, Marcus Harcus, was eliminated on the first ballot, but said he wouldn't abide by the endorsement.

Johnson said she's never taken bank contributions, but A. Nurack, ACORN's lead Minnesota organizer, said the contributions came from bank lobbyists. Johnson said she voted against the proposals in council because a high proportion of North Side foreclosures were against investors, not homeowners.

Johnson is seeking a fourth term on the council which she has presided over since 2006. Parker, 38, is a disabled pipefitter and a former business owner. He sits on the Shingle Creek neighborhood board and the Patrick Henry High School site council, and he formerly coached in the Police Athletic League.

His platform includes increasing business and job opportunities, revitalizing the city's commercial arteries, working with youth and rebuilding the North Side at a faster pace than what the mayor and council have accomplished.