From the Saturday, October 31st Star Tribune
Your failure to endorse Mary Merrill Anderson for reelection to the Park Board stands out as a monumental oversight and snub to perhaps the most inspiring and the most qualified candidate in the entire field of 25.
After graduating from the University of Minnesota, Mary worked her way up through the park system to become the first and only woman and the first and only African-American to become superintendent of Parks, leading the preeminent park system in the country.
Mary also is known for collaborating with the city’s mayors, City Councils, the Hennepin County Board and nonprofits, as well as the state Legislature, to achieve outstanding results; she builds coalitions and finds solutions.
Mary Merrill Anderson has always made our children her first priority. Since she was elected, youth sports team participation is up 30 percent throughout the city, the crime rate is down, and the parks are helping. The park system weathered a tough budget cycle but still kept all 49 recreation centers open. The Park Board completed its first comprehensive plan in 40 years and adopted its first sustainability plan toward a greener park system — that’s a record to be proud of!
Contrary to your assertions, it was members of the City Council who early this year started a “war” on the Park Board by calling for its abolition. Mary stood up for the parks, along with every single member of the Park Board.
We strongly urge every Minneapolitan to rank Mary Merrill Anderson as their first choice for at-large park commissioner next Tuesday.
SHARON SAYLES BELTON, MINNEAPOLIS; FORMER MAYOR, AND Joe Selvaggio, Minneapolis; founder, Project Pride in Living
The Star Tribune would only list 2 signatures of this letter in support of Mary; however, below the letter is a complete list of those who requested to sign in her support prior to the letter being printed.
Representative Jeffrey Hayden, Rep. Bobby Jo Champion, Sharon Sayles Belton, Representative Karen Clark, Commissioner Peter McLaughlin, Kari Dziedzic, Julie Idelkope, Lindsay Benjamin, Dana & Steve Williams, Harriet Solomon, Bill Davis, Adrienne Merrill Ratliff, Maya Sullivan, Esq, Jean Webb Bradford, Jesse Bradford, Betty Norris, Emily Ero-Phillips and Joe Selvaggio.
Host: Mary 4 Parks
On Saturday, May 16, 2009, Minneapolis delegates voted to endorse me for Commissioner-At-Large. I am both honored and grateful for your support. I look forward to continued support.
