Incumbent Lisa Goodman is challenged by Michael Katch and Jeffrey Alan Wagner in Minneapolis' Ward Seven city council race.

But Goodman has also been dogged by a lawsuit filed by developer Bradley Hoyt and his company, Continental Property Group. The suit alleges that the City of Minneapolis, primarily through the actions of Goodman, violated Hoyt’s rights by conspiring to thwart a proposed housing development in the Lowry Hill neighborhood.

Last week Hennepin County District Court Judge Stephen Aldrich ruled that the city had indeed violated Hoyt’s right to procedural due process. In the order Aldrich specifically singled out Goodman’s actions and email correspondence in stopping the development.

“She was clearly involved in an effort not only to assist to organize and mobilize neighborhood opposition to the project, but also to sway the opinions of her fellow council members,” Aldrich wrote. “Such actions were improper and impermissible for the someone acting in a quasi-judicial capacity.”

A hearing to establish what damages the city might be on the hook for is slated for later this month. Hoyt’s lawsuit states that’s he’s seeking $23.6 million in compensation.

The ruling has clouded a re-election campaign that would almost certainly have been a cakewalk. The Ward Seven representative has long held a reputation for throwing sharp elbows at City Hall, and the lawsuit has provided fresh evidence for that characterization.

Goodman won’t talk about the case, citing orders from the city attorney’s office. But she vigorously defends her tenure on the council. She argues that the dire economic situation currently facing the city requires experienced hands at City Hall.

“I believe that stability on the city council during this time of financial uncertainly is really, really important,” she says. “We need people who can offer up solutions short of tax increases, and I am one of those people.”

Ward Seven is dominated by downtown Minneapolis, but also includes the adjoining neighborhoods of Kenwood, Lowry Hill and Bryn Mawr. The district incorporates neighborhoods of extreme wealth and stark poverty. At the time of the 2000 census, the median household income in Kenwood topped $100,000, while the equivalent figure in the ward’s Elliot Park neighborhood was just $18,000.

Goodman serves as chair of the city council’s Community Development committee and cites her work on downtown development issues as a hallmark of her tenure. In particular she’s proud of plans to re-open Hennepin Avenue to two-way traffic and efforts to spur development in the area surrounding the new Minnesota Twins stadium. She repeatedly harps on the need for public-private partnerships in order to bolster business at a time of economic malaise. Goodman also cites renovations of the Kenwood and Lake of the Isles parkways as proof of her effectiveness.

“It’s one thing to talk about all the fabulous things you can do,” she says. “I have a track record of doing them.”

Goodman has attracted two challengers. Michael Katch is a familiar face to City Hall denizens. In recent years he’s been a ubiquitous presence at city council meetings and committee hearings, and a regular contributor to the MPLS Mirror web site. It’s not his first foray into electoral politics: In 2006, he challenged state Rep. Willie Dominguez in the DFL primary, losing with 33 percent of the vote. This time he’s running with endorsements from the Republican and Independence parties. In the past, Katch says he’s worked as a trader at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and as a taxi cab dispatcher.

Katch has a long litany of criticisms regarding the incumbent, starting with the Hoyt lawsuit. He argues that it’s emblematic of Goodman’s penchant for rewarding patrons and punishing those who oppose her agenda.

“Anytime that we have elected officials that are setting their own interests over and above the interests of the community it’s generally a big deal,” he says.

Katch is also upset that Goodman spearheaded an effort to eliminate sandwich-board advertising from downtown, believing it will hurt small businesses that can’t afford more expensive forms of marketing. In addition, he’s disturbed that Goodman supports eliminating the Board of Estimate and Taxation, a decision that will be put before the voters in November. Katch argues that the council needs to return its focus to the nuts-and-bolts of municipal governance.

“Fill potholes, resurface the streets, provide police and fire service,” he says. “It’s not one of those organizations where you’re going to make breathtaking decisions about our morality. You have to do those things that people count on every day to live their lives.”

Goodman’s other challenger, Jeffrey Alan Wagner, doesn’t have a traditional resume for a politician. He works as a baggage handler for Delta Airlines at the airport and runs a video-production company. The Loring Park resident attended his first city council meeting last Friday and says he initially jumped into the race on a lark after drinking too much alcohol on the day of the filing deadline.

“Do you have to be able to spell Minneapolis to be a city council member?” he laughs.

Wagner has not raised any money or sought any political endorsements. But the 42-year old insists he is running a credible campaign and argues that the taint from the Hoyt lawsuit has rendered Goodman unelectable.

“You know what dude? Sometimes you need a lunatic in office,” says Wagner.

At the least he will bring some unique ideas to the contest. Wagner plans to lobby for a 10-percent reduction in city council salaries. If such a cut isn’t adopted, he vows to donate 10 percent of his salary to the nonprofit group Sharing and Caring Hands.

Wagner wants to expand bar operating hours to 4 a.m. in the downtown district. He also intends to keep a keg of beer in his office at all times so that constituents can drop by for a cold one and discuss issues. “I can’t drink all the time, obviously, but they can,” he says.

Goodman says the criticism of her 12-year tenure at City Hall is misguided. The incumbent argues that she simply takes time to educate herself on the views of her constituents and then defends their interests vigorously.

“I have no intention of running for anything else,” she says. “I’m not trying to curry favor with anyone. I’m trying to represent my constituents.”

For instance, Goodman points out that she voted in favor of the smoking ban despite being personally opposed to it.

“Why did I vote for the smoking ban?” she asks. “Because that’s what my constituents wanted. That’s how I approach the job.”

She further argues that the ban on sandwich boards in downtown was a common-sense solution to navigation problems for people with disabilities on the busy corridor. In addition, she argues that abolishing the Board of Estimate and Taxation will lead to more accountable representative government.

“No one knows who their board of estimate representative is,” she says. “They’re not accountable.”

As for that $100,000-plus bank account, Goodman says she’s simply being a prudent politician.

“I don’t think any incumbent should take anything for granted,” she says. “It’s important to get your message out.”

This is the sixth in a 13-part series on Minneapolis City Council races.

The full series:

Ward One: Five seek open seat in northeast Minneapolis
Ward Two: Gordon, Aigbogun and … no DFLer
Ward Three: Hofstede tries to hold off four challengers
Ward Four: Trio of challengers take on political dynasty
Ward Five: Crime and economic development dominate North Side race
Ward Six: South Minneapolis contest draws crowded field of contenders
Ward Seven: Despite full campaign coffers, lawsuit clouds Goodman’s prospects
Ward Eight: Glidden faces four rivals in south Minneapolis
Ward Nine: Schiff, Bicking vie again
Ward Ten: Four candidates vie for Uptown council seat
Ward Eleven: Three vie for Benson’s South Minneapolis seat
Ward Twelve: Colvin Roy faces three challengers
Ward Thirteen: The independent ward could see fireworks in November

Al Franken will comfortably advance from today’s primary election to take on Norm Coleman in the U. S. Senate race. With more than 80 percent of the results in, Franken is carrying 67 percent of the vote in the seven-candidate field. His most credible challenger, attorney Priscilla Lord Faris, is currently garnering support from 29 percent of voters.

Dean Barkley will be joining Franken and Coleman on the ballot as the Independence Party candidate. The former Senator, having served briefly after the death of Paul Wellstone, is routing the seven-candidate field with more than 60 percent of the vote.

In House races, only Reps. Michele Bachmann and Keith Ellison faced primary opposition. Both incumbents are earning support from more than 80 percent of voters in results so far reported by the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.

A pair of House districts featured primary battles to determine who will take on the incumbent. In the most intriguing showdown, GOP-endorsed challenger Brian Davis currently leads state Sen. Dick Day by a 62-38 margin in the First Congressional District and will advance easily. Less interesting is the contest in the Seventh Congressional District, where Glen Menze and Alan Roebke are battling to see who will run against nine-term incumbent Collin Peterson.

There were a handful of intriguing state-legislative contests taking place today. It appears to be a split decision for the override six. Two-term incumbent Neil Peterson is paying the price for his vote to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of the transportation bill earlier this year, losing to GOP-endorsed challenger Jan Schneider by a 57-43 margin. Rep. Jim Abeler, however, is headed to the general election, carrying 64 percent of the vote.

Minneapolis Rep. Willie Dominguez is finished serving at the Capitol after just one term. He was trounced by challenger Bobby Joe Champion, who garnered the DFL endorsement. Meanwhile veteran Reps. Phyllis Kahn and Joe Mullery have handily beaten back intra-party challengers.

Finally it looks unlikely that Rep. Mark Olson — who was kicked out of the Republican caucus and denied endorsement after being arrested for domestic assault — will be headed to the state senate. He’s currently trailing Alison Krueger in a contest to see who will represent the GOP in the general election.

(Photo courtesy of cursedthing)

There’s a primary election today in Minnesota. You can be forgiven for not having noticed. With the temporary Republican takeover of the Twin Cities and a U.S. Senate race that’s been billed as a two-candidate duel for months, it’s easy to overlook the September balloting. But there are some intriguing questions to consider in looking at tomorrow’s results:

1. How comfortably will Al Franken advance out of the Democratic primary? There’s little doubt that the DFL-endorsed candidate will ultimately emerge from the six-candidate scuffle. His most serious challenger is Priscilla Lord Faris, an attorney and former Sunfish Lake City Council member, who filed at the last minute after citing concerns over Franken’s viability. But Lord Faris has run a schizophrenic campaign, initially running TV spots attacking Franken, but then pulling the ads (only to see Sen. Norm Coleman adopt the footage for his own attacks). The other challengers are the usual cast of gadflies, including perennial candidates Ole Savior and Dick Franson. Coleman faces just one challenger on the Republican side: fugitive arsonist Jack Shepard. Anything less than a Franken romp could indicate lingering questions about his candidacy among the DFL faithful.

2. Who will survive the Independence Party scrum? Jesse Ventura ultimately proved more interested in press attention than running a political campaign, but there are seven contenders for the IP crown. Three notables stand out from the pack. Dean Barkley enjoys the greatest name recognition, having served as director of the Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning during the Ventura administration and briefly as a U.S. senator following the death of Paul Wellstone. He also has the backing of the former Governor. Jack Uldrich is an author and former IP chairman. Southeastern Minnesota farmer Stephen Williams earned the party’s endorsement prior to the emergence of his two chief rivals. Whoever survives Tuesday’s primary will face the formidable task of siphoning off attention from the much anticipated Coleman-Franken showdown.

3. Does Dick Day have a chance in hell? Almost certainly not. But the eccentric state legislator from Owatonna could benefit from low turnout. He’s raised no money (almost literally), but enjoys widespread name recognition in the First Congressional District and is popular with the far right. Conversely, Brian Davis has raised a formidable war chest and enjoys the GOP’s official backing, but is a political neophyte. The winner gets the opportunity to take on Rep. Tim Walz.

4. Who will survive to get throttled by Collin Peterson? The suspense is agonizing. Alan Roebke is a convicted felon who doesn’t have enough money to pay for gas to campaign in the sprawling Seventh Congressional District. Glen Menze is the GOP-endorsed candidate and a veteran of the 2000 campaign, when he lost to Peterson by a mere 40 percentage points. The powerful chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, who is seeking his tenth term, would have to be caught in a compromising position with livestock to lose this election.

5. How many times will Republicans chant “Drill, Baby, Drill!” at Michele Bachmann’s victory party? Poor Bachmann. She’s been eclipsed by Sarah Palin as the designated GOP pinup girl for oil drilling. But the freshman legislator should be able to take solace in a thumping primary victory. Her challenger, St. John’s University psychology professor Aubrey Immelman, walked the entire district during the campaign — but will almost certainly be spared a similar trek to Washington. Elwyn Tinklenberg, running as a Blue Dog Democrat, and the Independence Party’s Bob Anderson await Bachmann in the general election.

6. Will alleged wife beater Mark Olson represent the GOP in November? In the most intriguing grass fire of the primary campaign, Rep. Mark Olson — who was kicked out of the Republican caucus after being arrested for domestic abuse — won the local GOP chapter’s backing for a state senate seat. This incited state party officials to denounce the endorsement, with Sen. Coleman even bizarrely entering the fray and GOP flak Michael Brodkorb trashing the candidate. The heavy handed tactics of GOP poohbahs seems to have backfired, however, with local activists rallying to Olson’s defense. We’ll find out tomorrow as he squares off against Alison Krueger in the primary. The winner will face Democrat Lisa Fobbe.

7. What will happen to the Override Six? The six Republicans who flouted party dictates by voting to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s veto of the transportation bill last spring have faced stiff reprisals from their party. The GOP stripped the turncoats of their leadership positions and several were denied endorsement by local party activists. Will voters also punish them at the ballot box? We’ll get a partial answer tomorrow. Rep. Neil Peterson, who was denied the GOP endorsement in 41B, will take on Jan Schneider. And Rep. Jim Abeler will face a similar task in battling Don Huizenga for the right to appear on the November ballot.

8. Will Minneapolis pols Joe Mullery, Willie Dominguez and Phylis Kahn survive? All three legislators face seemingly formidable primary opposition. Six-term Rep. Mullery, who represents the North Side, was denied the DFL endorsement in favor of activist Peggy Flanagan. But after Flanagan dropped out owing to personal issues, park board member and Dairy Queen owner Jon Olson entered the fray in 58A. Rep. Willie Dominguez just completed his first term and will face off against attorney Bobby Joe Champion. The challenger secured the DFL endorsement and has been strongly backed by U. S. Rep. Keith Ellison, who formerly held the North Side post. Rep. Kahn has seemingly been serving in the legislature since the advent of electricity (1972, actually), cultivating a reputation for eccentricity and eliciting visceral hatred from conservatives. The DFL’er has survived many electoral challenges through the years, but this year she faces Joel Rainville, whose family has exerted an out-sized influence on Minneapolis politics for decades.

Flanagan said Tuesday that blocking the endorsement was a huge victory for her campaign. The convention went three ballots — two other candidates were dropped after the first ballot, and one threw his support behind Flanagan, where the votes on the next two ballots were deadlocked with Mullery leading 53-47 percent, well below the 60 percent threshold for an endorsement.

Continued: Click “Read more”Flanagan said the potential for new voter registration in the North Minneapolis district is high, citing the 46 percent of convention delegates who were new to the party process.  She also expressed excitement at being able to take the campaign to the streets in the primary. According to one independent report from the convention, Mullery may indeed be in trouble, at least as far as demographics go. The district was previously heavily eastern European, but has in recent years seen the addition of many minorities and members of the LGBT community move in. When I spoke with her last October about her then-nascent run, she noted that bringing those new community members to the political process was an important part of the campaign.

On the other hand, Mullery still has enough grassroots support among the party faithful to pull off a majority at convention despite an active challenger. He was not immediately available to comment, but gets a mulligan for being in the midst of a legislative session.

Tomorrow I’ll take a closer look at the Dominguez vs. Champion race, in the seat once held by Congressman Keith Ellison.  I’ll also take a look at the big picture in Minneapolis and across the state as pertains to endangered House incumbents.