Being at the DFL state convention last weekend reminded me of something I wanted to express: How incredibly important volunteers are to political campaigns and the political process. I sure came to appreciate them on the campaign trail last year. Being in a setting filled with with passionate, hard-working, and very unpaid supporters of multiple candidates (the Nelson-Pallmeyer and Franken volunteers were of course the most visible, given their contest for the Senate endorsement, but there were many more), reinforced that appreciation.

If you have ever volunteered for any candidate, for any party, I'd like to offer my thanks. Your participation is a key part of what makes our democracy work. As the election season moves forward, I encourage every citizen to get out there and participate in at least one campaign, for any candidate you support in any race. It's easy to become cynical about the political process if you only experience it through TV ads and the news media's jaded commentary. But when you join with other volunteers working towards your shared ideals and aspirations, it's hard not to be inspired and energized.

Here's another photo from last weekend, from the Franken war room. After accepting the convention's nomination, he gave a short and funny speech to thank his volunteers and rev them up for all the campaigning work yet to come.

Labels: campaign, photos

Posted by John Nephew at 6/10/2008 12:04:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

We won!

Media coverage this morning:

Maplewood Voices breaks down the numbers, including precinct results (in every precinct, either Will took first and I took second or vice versa).

The Pioneer Press offers a short article, headlined, "Upheaval in Maplewood; voters oust ally of Longrie."

A Star Tribune article surveying yesterday's election results also includes mention of Maplewood.

There are so many people I have to thank for making this possible. My wife, Michelle, has been my #1 supporter -- working so hard and committing her diverse talents to this campaign, and putting up with so much along the way. I can't imagine making it through this election without her love and support. Besides the rest of my family, who have been unwavering, I am so grateful to my campaign donors, volunteers, and mentors who gave me much needed advice to help me develop a practical campaign plan (and prodded me to stick to it), and helped it actually come together. Will Rossbach has been a pleasure to campaign with, and it is an honor that I will serve on the council with him. I barely knew Will when I decided back in February that I would run for city council, but it is now my privilege to call him a friend.

Most of all, I thank the voters of Maplewood, who are putting their faith in me. I will do my best to live up to your high expectations.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 11/07/2007 08:42:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The last of our campaign literature has begun arriving in mailboxes. We received our copy in Saturday's mail, and as I was out talking to voters this weekend I heard from folks from north to south who had also received it.


Throughout this campaign, I've used this guiding principle for my campaign's literature: Don't try to convince voters of something new; remind them of what they already know to be true. The purpose of the literature is not to change anyone's view of the world, but to inspire them to take action, to give them confidence that their vote can fix the problems that are plain for all of us to see.

In my first piece, the door-knocking palm card, I laid out my three campaign themes: fiscal responsibility (anyone who got a property tax bill for 2007, while seeing the elimination of the parks department, can understand this one); good government (anyone who had doubts about this can see Erik Hjelle spending our tax dollars to promote reeelection of his ally, Rebecca Cave, in the latest city newsletter that was rushed out just in time for the election); and pride in Maplewood, which is really the call to action -- persuading voters that we can restore our pride in Maplewood by using the ballot box to choose a better future for our city.

Before the primary, we created "Puzzled" as a metaphor for the divided and fractured city that we all have come to see, and to suggest me as a candidate who can solve it.

In "Shortchanged," we reprinted a number of headlines and quotes about the 2007 budget and reorganization and its fallout, reminding voters of the mess we've all watched unfold over the past two years. "Bad Apple" was a humorous spin on the feelings expressed to me by many voters all over the city, who felt angry and frustrated, even if they had voted for some or all in the council's current majority. We wanted to acknowledge those feelings, but turn them to a positive end of bringing needed change.

Coming into the home stretch, Will and I were again producing joint pieces. "Lightbulbs" further developed the motif of light and darkness from Will's mailer "Dutch Boy" (which compared him to Hans Brinker holding his finger in the dike through a long, cold night to hold back the flood while waiting for help to arrive). This council majority talks a good line about openness, but they have been surrounded by controversy over alleged violations of the open meeting law, and actions such as the 2 AM permanent appointment of Mr. Copeland as city manager "in the dark of night."

And this of course brings us to this last mailer, "New Day." It took a lot of crisp autumn mornings for me to get the right photograph of a beautiful Maplewood sunrise (that long rainy stretch in October wasn't helping!). We wanted something simple, positive, and inspirational -- as we've found throughout this campaign, the voters know what needs to be done. We just want to nudge more of them into the voting booth. (And to bring their neighbors!)

We've worked hard to keep our literature positive. While we have legitimately criticized the official actions and methods of this council majority (which includes one of my opponents), to remind voters why change is needed, we have avoided personal attacks on our opponents, and taken great care to comply with campaign laws. I believe that a victory built upon personal attacks, smears, threats, and lies is no victory for Maplewood; it deepens the divisions in the community, provokes resentment, and makes it hard to govern effectively (as the last two years demonstrate). If winning this race requires the use of such methods, I would rather not win.

I believe voters appreciate the difference. Take a look at the literature of my campaign and Will's, put it next to the literature that has come from the other candidates and their supporters (including those anonymous attacks and the use of our taxpayer-funded city newsletter for campaigning). Which campaigns have displayed the methods, attitude, and regard for the law that you would like to see speaking for you and your community in City Hall?

The answer should be as clear as day.

Labels: campaign, process

Posted by John Nephew at 11/05/2007 09:12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Here's another example of a joint piece of campaign literature for Will Rossbach and me. We printed 10,000 copies, and most of them were distributed to Maplewood doors by volunteers last weekend. (The remainder have been done throughout the week and this weekend.)



We wanted to do a piece that talked about our shared vision about how political leadership should be exercised in our city. While neighbors have different goals and wishes about individual projects and policy decisions, and those disagreements are part of a healthy "marketplace of ideas," we think there really is common ground that unites most of us all across the political spectrum, in terms of how we want decisions to be reached in our government. Unfortunately, what we've seen in the past couple of years has not lived up to our civic expectations. Tuesday gives us all as voters a chance to fix that.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 11/04/2007 10:46:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

In my project to post all the campaign lit we've produced, I probably should have started with this one. It's a "palm card" -- designed for handing out in person while knocking on doors, or leaving behind if no one is home. We produced it before the primary in September, and designed it for use in both the primary and general campaigns.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 11/03/2007 08:36:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Today I have another example of campaign literature to share. I'm pleased with all of the literature we've produced for this campaign, but "Bad Apple" is my favorite.


Even before I decided to run for city council, I met a lot of Maplewood residents who would admit to me, sometimes rather sheepishly, that they had voted for one or more of our present council majority. When I began door-knocking, I met a lot more. To say these folks had "buyer's remorse" is an understatement; feelings ranged from disappointment to anger and feelings of betrayal, of being deceived and used for other agendas than these voters had thought they were supporting. People who had felt some dissatisfaction with the old order had thought it might be good to shake things up a little bit -- but what has happened is not at all what they bargained for.

I wanted a campaign mailer that would tap into this sentiment, but I also felt it needed a light and whimsical touch, to transform feelings of anger and bitterness into laughter and hope for a better future through this year's election. We needed something that acknowledged voters' negative feelings about Maplewood's situation, but did not wallow in it, and humor seemed like the best approach.

Michelle and I talked about a few different visual concepts. The right image can communicate an idea much more quickly and effectively than a lot of text -- and candidates can't rely on getting a long attention span between the mailbox and the recycling bin. I proposed that we use a little girl with a grossed-out expression, and Michelle's idea of the wormy apple as the source of the grossness was visually perfect and also inspired fun turns of phrase. Our friends' daughter Zoe turned out to be the perfect model for the image as well, I think.

When we showed early drafts of the mailer to people and they reacted by instantly laughing out loud, we knew we were on the right track.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 11/01/2007 10:06:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Last night the League of Women Voters hosted a candidate forum at the Maplewood Community Center, with all four candidates for Maplewood City Council in attendance. The debate was broadcast live, and also recorded for later rebroadcast.

Each candidate was given the two minutes each for opening and closing statements, and in between answered questions submitted by the audience, with 1 1/2 minutes for each question. Here are the remarks I prepared for my opening and closing statements.

Opening Statement

Good evening. My name is John Nephew, and I'm running for Maplewood City Council. I'd like to thank all of you for attending this forum, and the League of Women Voters for hosting it.

Since you may not know me, I should begin with a quick biography. I grew up in Duluth, and graduated from Carleton College in 1991. I majored in Philosophy with a Concentration in Medieval Studies. I started writing professionally in high school, and used my freelance writing and editing to pay my way through college. Before graduating college I began my publishing company, Atlas Games, which I still run today. Michelle and I were married in 2000, and we moved to our home in Maplewood in 2001.

Creating and running my own business has given me a diverse range of skills. In particular, I would highlight my experience with communication, negotiation, customer service, and finance. These skills directly apply to the responsibilities of a city councilperson.

Most importantly, running my company has honed my ability to acquire new skills, to absorb and analyze information quickly, and react to changing circumstances. I believe that these traits are what best suit me to serve on the city council.

The success I have enjoyed in life also has been motivation for public service. As a small business owner who built a company from scratch into something that can support my family, I take pride in the success of my company. But I also realize that I can't claim all the credit. I wouldn't be where I am without the support of family, teachers, mentors, and many more – even competitors, who challenge us always to do better. And I couldn't be here without the opportunity that America gives each of us to achieve our own potential.

I am at a point in my life where I want to give something back, to ensure that the opportunities that I have enjoyed are available to others now and in the future. That's why I offer myself as a candidate for city council, and ask for your vote so that I have the chance to use my talents for our common good.

Closing Statement

My campaign has had three central themes.

The first is fiscal responsibility. As a business owner, I am well acquainted with financial planning and analysis, and I think it's important that we take a long-term view for the city's budget, rather than swinging from one extreme to another year to year.

My second theme is good government. We need to approach policy decisions by defining a problem, exploring the possible solutions, and building consensus as we make policy decisions. We need to respect and value the professional staff of the city and the talented and diverse volunteers who serve on citizen boards and commissions.

My third theme is pride in Maplewood. We've been in the news a lot over the past 18 months, and most of the coverage hasn't been flattering. While there have been unpleasant truths behind the headlines, we Maplewood residents understand a deeper truth about our community: that Maplewood really is a great place to live. Let's come together to fix our problems and reclaim the pride Maplewood so well deserves.

This is a very important year for our city. I urge all residents to go to the polls on November 6th, and I ask that you give me your vote and the opportunity to serve.

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 10/31/2007 10:17:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Here's another example of our campaign literature. This is a joint piece from my campaign and Will Rossbach's, highlighting our mutual concerns about last year's budget/reorganization and its fallout.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/30/2007 11:00:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

I wanted to post a quick "thank you" to the dozens of volunteers who turned out this past Saturday to help with the Rossbach/Nephew joint city-wide lit drop. The event surpassed our expectations -- I think something near 8,000 pieces of literature went out to Maplewood doorways, to judge from how little we had left at the end of the day. I had numerous positive conversations with voters along my South Leg routes, and similar reports came back from volunteers all over the city. Many thanks to Scott and Julie for letting us base operations in their home, and being so hospitable!

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/29/2007 08:21:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

This coming Tuesday, October 30th, the League of Women Voters is sponsoring a candidate forum at 7 PM. It appears from a blurb in the Pioneer Press that the venue has been changed to be the Maplewood Community Center, 2100 White Bear Ave.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/27/2007 09:02:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Michelle and I have had fun designing campaign literature for this election. Here's the first full-color mailer we did, before the primary. (Click on the images for enlarged views.)

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/26/2007 11:45:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Maplewood Review's voters' guide for the general election is now online. Besides giving candidates an opportunity to update or correct their biographical information, the Review also asked us three new questions.

Labels: biography, campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/25/2007 02:36:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

This coming weekend, we are planning a joint Nephew/Rossbach "lit drop," delivering campaign literature to voters. If you're interested in helping Will and me get elected, and getting out for some crisp autumn air and exercise at the same time, send me an e-mail!

Speaking of crisp autumn air -- I was up early this morning, and took the opportunity for some autumn sunrise photography. It was chilly, but beautiful.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/23/2007 09:21:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

In each neighborhood of Maplewood, it appears that candidates Rokke and Cave are distributing a customized joint flyer that identifies a nearby park or neighborhood preserve as needing "saving."

The flyers say that the "#1 issue of concern" from meeting with homeowners in that neighborhood was how to save public parks and open space. (This is funny to me, because after talking to people in every neighborhood of Maplewood, I'm pretty confident in saying that the #1 issue of concern to residents is, "When can we get rid of that mayor?")

It says the problem is "how to stop developers from smooth talking your city council into selling your Parks and Open Spaces for building condos or apartments." The flyer also says "The crucial thing that our opponents want to 'Preserve' - is the ability to sell to developers at the simple will of the city council!"

What is ironic about this is the fact that, as far as I am aware, only one candidate has suggested the possible desirability of selling public open space -- and that would be Delray Rokke, one of the people producing and distributing this flyer.

Take a look at the candidate profile that Rocky completed for the Lillie News, presumably before he decided to team up with Rebecca, turn 180°, and dump his own positions in favor of her campaign's talking points. In response to the question, "What does the city need to do to preserve Maplewood’s parks and open spaces? Do you think conservation easements should play a role?" Rocky wrote:

We need to let the voters decide again whether they still support the city controlling large quantities of undeveloped, non-park land. We need to let residents know how much this costs in additional taxes per household. We should consider some additional safe, attractive and affordable senior housing so that more young families may move into many neighborhoods to enjoy the parks. Conservation easements should be considered on a case by case basis—not encouraged.

Am I reading this wrong? It sounds like he was saying that some neighborhood preserves (the "large quantities of undeveloped, non-park land") might better be developed with senior housing.

Perhaps he misspoke? Well, at the Chamber of Commerce debate on August 30th, Rocky again suggested that the neighborhood preserves needed "development" to make them more useful and accessible (I think he meant trails and amenities); then he went on to say that some should maybe have parking lots built on them! (I guess that would keep them "open.") Listen for yourself (228 kB MP3).

He also seemed strongly opposed to conservation easements in the candidate profile; this was the impression I had from a conversation I had with Rocky in August, too. Now, he apparently has decided that conservation easements are not only OK, but a centerpiece of his campaign.

I have wondered how Rebecca and Rocky could team up, since on Rebecca's core campaign issue (at least, what she says is the most important issue), Rocky was the one candidate who held the most extreme opposite view. I guess it makes me wonder how important it really is to either of them.

Labels: campaign, parks

Posted by John Nephew at 10/15/2007 04:05:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

I'm very pleased to share the news that I have been endorsed by the REALTOR® Issues Fund Committee, the political action committee of the St. Paul Area Association of REALTORS.

In the letter I received today, Government Affairs Director Patrick Ruble wrote, "Your understanding of the issues facing Maplewood, commitment to fiscal responsibility and desire for a transparent city government were critical factors in the committee's decision. We look forward to your success in the November general election."

The letter also noted that answers to the SPAAR's questionnaire are posted on their website, and that they "will be directing our members to this website to learn more about your positions on matters that REALTORS® care about." (If you're only interested in my answers, I have my completed questionnaire archived as a PDF you can download.)

I'm very proud to have this endorsement, and I am also pleased that this is another endorsement that Will Rossbach and I have both received. To me, this further demonstrates how it is apparent to concerned voters and stakeholders all across the political spectrum that both Will and I need to be victorious in November in order to put Maplewood on the right track.

Labels: campaign, endorsements

Posted by John Nephew at 10/06/2007 05:21:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

It has come to my attention that anonymous postcards have been mailed to some voters, attacking my fellow candidate Will Rossbach. Some of these postcards say "Vote for Democrats John Nephew and Delray Rokke." Some repeat the familiar slogan of another candidate, "Our City is NOT FOR SALE!" (though I'm not aware of any candidate who thinks it is or should be).

I don't know if anyone takes the cards seriously. Just in case there is the slightest doubt, let three facts be clear.

First, I support Will Rossbach in his bid for re-election. I came to this decision by seeing him in action on the city council, and concluded from observation that he stands up for common sense and the good of Maplewood, even though that too often leaves him in the minority.

Second, while this is a non-partisan race, there are two endorsed Democrats -- I am one, and Will Rossbach is the other -- though we both are proud to have broad-based, bipartisan support. (One reason the postcard sender is anonymous is that it is illegal, under Minnesota statute 211B.02, to falsely imply that a party has endorsed a candidate.)

Third, I had nothing to do with this mailer, and I certainly would never have anything to do with lies and misrepresentations being made about Will's record and his goals.

On the contrary, I am working more closely with Will in the general election campaign. We share a common concern about the direction our city has taken, and we have been endorsed by most of the same organizations and leaders. To fix Maplewood's problems, we both must win, since our opponents have aligned themselves with each other. Voters will have a clear choice between, in effect, two slates of candidates on election day.

Who produced the postcards? I don't know, but I suspect it came from individuals who wish to sow confusion, to keep the choice on election day from being clear. That's what makes sense if you need only one of your two favored candidates to win, and if you would benefit from making voters cynical, discouraged, confused, and unlikely to turn out on election day.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/03/2007 11:58:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today I have another endorsement screening questionnaire to share with readers. This one was for ACORN. While ACORN did not endorse me, I appreciated the opportunity to meet with them, hear their concerns, and respond to their questions.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 10/01/2007 09:26:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS® invited all of the Maplewood city council candidates to complete a questionnaire with issues of concern to their members. I've put my own questionnaire online so that you can download it. Better yet, you can now see the answers of the primary winners (or at least the three of four who returned a completed questionnaire) on the realtors' public policy website, to compare and contrast our responses.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 9/18/2007 12:44:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Before getting back into campaigning mode, I wanted to take a moment to look back at the primary, with some links and some thoughts.

First of all, if you didn't catch it at the time, here are links to some of the media coverage from the primary. Star Tribune reporter Chris Havens wrote up a short piece, with quotes from several candidates on election night. The Star Tribune also has a results page (click on candidate names for their profiles). The Pioneer Press followed up Michael Enright's pre-election survey of the field of candidates and issues with a election results summary piece by Elizabeth Mohr (including other North Metro races as well). The most detailed look at the primary results came from Katy Zillmer in a special online extra for the Maplewood Review (it may also appear in this week's printed edition).

Second, I want to repeat my thanks to so many supporters and volunteers who made the success of last week possible. We had people making phone calls, knocking on doors, persuading their neighbors, and the result was a turnout that surpassed my wildest hopes. Before we get down to working on an even bigger turnout for the general election in November, it's time for the citizens of Maplewood to congratulate themselves for this big step toward taking back our city.

Finally, I want to offer my compliments and best wishes to three candidates who did not make it through the primary, but who impressed me each time I met them, with their passion for positive change, their commitment to our community, and their promise as leaders: Jim Llanas, Jim Meehan, and James Dykes. The primary results were somewhat lopsided, but I don't believe it is any negative reflection on these three; on the contrary, I talked to citizens who told me that they very much liked those candidates, but felt they had to send a strong message of disapproval to the current majority in city hall, and the way to do that was by voting for me and Will Rossbach. I'm sure we will see more of these men, and that's good news for Maplewood's future.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 9/17/2007 07:49:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

You can see results on the Ramsey County webpage here: http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/elections/results3.htm.

As I type this, we are sitting at the Buffalo Wild Wings at County Road D and White Bear (where they have wifi), and 15 of 16 precincts are in. I'll have to think of something eloquent to say later, but for now, I'm just speechless. It sure looks to me like the people have spoken, and they have a strong opinion to express. I am humbled to see this support, and to have the privilege of going into the general election and have the chance to serve all the people of Maplewood.

Edit, 9/12, 7:04 AM: The Maplewood city website includes detailed results by precinct.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 9/11/2007 09:35:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Hey, it's election day! Did you vote yet?

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 9/11/2007 08:42:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

At some point in the future, the Maplewood Voters' Coalition candidate forum will be broadcast on one of the cable access channels. But for those who couldn't make it to the event, don't want to wait until after the primary for the broadcast, or don't have cable, the MVC has posted a summary and audio of the event on their website, along with some still images.

While I'm on the subject, I also thought I'd post the prepared remarks I wrote for opening and closing statements at the MVC forum. At the actual event I wound up speaking more off the cuff, but I think my written remarks are worth sharing, especially on the eve of the primary election.

MVC Forum Opening Remarks

Let me begin by thanking the Maplewood Voters Coalition for their endorsement, and for hosting this forum.

There's a funny thing about campaigning for Maplewood City Council this year. We candidates get to stand up for the most common-sense things that everyone should agree with – for example, to say that the city should produce its budgetary documents and financial reports on time; or the city should not retaliate against workers who exercise their legal right to organize. This year, those common sense things that should go without saying actually need to be said, because they do in fact distinguish us from the majority that currently runs the city council.

This evening provides a wonderful change of pace. I think that in this company, with the engaged citizens of the Maplewood Voters Coalition, and this panel of candidates who have met the MVC's expectations, we share a common understanding of things gone wrong in city hall. So here we get to take the conversation a step further – away from critiques of the present, and into our visions for the future.

I am honored to have the endorsement of the informed and engaged members of the MVC. It is an honor to be here with other candidates that have received the MVC's seal of approval, and I look forward to this evening's forum.

Closing Remarks

For my closing remarks, I'd like to tell you what I've seen on the campaign trail. I decided to run back in February, so it's been almost seven months now for me. I began door-knocking on July 1st, and I've now visited every precinct and neighborhood in the city, to bring my message to voters who care about city government. I have to tell you, everywhere I've been in Maplewood, I have found voters ready to hear my message of restoring pride in Maplewood through fiscal responsibility and good government.

Something voters want is hope. Tonight, I'm here to tell you that there is good reason for hope. All over Maplewood, voters are overwhelmingly unhappy with the direction of the city, and ready to vote for change. Most of the candidates in this race, including my worthy opponents on this panel, offer a better future for Maplewood than the majority that controls the city council today. I am doing my very best to win, and I do want you all to vote for me as the very best candidate. But I have to tell you that I believe, even if I am not on the ballot after next week's primary, or not on the new city council in January, I believe that democracy will work, and the voters of Maplewood will vote for the positive change that this city longs to see.

Thank you again, and good night.

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 9/10/2007 09:32:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce website has posted the questionnaires completed by four of the candidates in the city council race, including yours truly.

Also, remember to check out the broadcasts on Channel 19 of the forum hosted by the Chamber, and tell your friends neighbors to tune in as well!

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 9/09/2007 11:06:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Today's Pioneer Press (or at least the North Metro edition) includes an article about next Tuesday's primary in Maplewood and the candidates.

Meanwhile, Maplewood Voices reports that the Maplewood Voters' Coalition has filed a fair campaign practices complaint against candidate Rebecca Cave and the Maplewood Firefighters' Association, Inc. You can read the details on the MVC website.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 9/08/2007 09:55:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

One of the most intimidating things I faced when working on a plan to run for Maplewood City Council was the idea of fundraising. Whether we like it or not, money is part of politics, and it's a major challenge for every candidate.

A candidate's fundraising may give us a hint about how they will manage the public purse once in office. For example, do they spend their money effectively? Do they follow the rules, by turning in the required reports, complete and on time? Only three candidates and one organization involved in this race turned in their pre-primary campaign finance reports on time. I think the last couple of years of Maplewood governance have shown us some unfortunate examples of what can happen when people ignore the rules or skip reading the fine print.

Some may say that it's suspicious for a candidate to raise money from out of town. It's really not, if you think about it.

When you need to raise money for a campaign, you first go to the people you know. I do not have family in Maplewood (besides my wife, Michelle, of course), so all my contributions from family come from out of town, often out of state. Many of my friends also are not local; our business associates and customers are located all over the country.

These people gave me money not because they care about Maplewood, but because they trust and believe in me -- they believe I have the passion, the integrity, the honesty, and the competence to accomplish something good. They have known me for years, know how I treat people, know the ethical standards by which I have conducted my business with them and their peers. (You can read an earlier entry I wrote about some of these supporters.) There is nothing I can do in Maplewood city council that will benefit a game publisher in Seattle or a New York Times bestselling science fiction novelist in Arizona. Is it better for a candidate to have all their money come from local people who may have a personal or financial stake in the city council's decisions?

My fundraising demonstrates that I have an ability to lead, to bring people together for a higher purpose than their personal, selfish interests. Some people may try and convince you this is a bad thing. Perhaps they want candidates in office who owe them something.

I would suggest that my fundraising demonstrates exactly what you should want in a councilperson. Rather than making enemies of my business competitors, I made them into friends who respect me enough to give me money just for asking, for a city council race a thousand miles away. Heck, I even got a contribution from a former high school girlfriend. And as of that finance report turned in last week, I had received cash donations from 92 individuals -- not just maximum contributions from a handful of big donors.

Ask yourself, why do some other candidates not have a huge list of supporters who willingly gave them money just because they asked? Were they unpersuasive? Do the people who know them best not find them trustworthy? Were they just afraid to ask? And -- here's the big question -- are those the people you want representing Maplewood when it comes time to go to the county, state, or federal government, or anywhere else, and ask for money?

So if someone tries to frighten you by saying that I raised more money from out-of-state donors than most candidates in this race have raised in total, ask yourself -- is that really a bad thing?

Labels: campaign, process

Posted by John Nephew at 9/07/2007 09:46:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Good news -- if the audio clip a couple days ago wasn't enough for you, the Chamber of Commerce candidates' forum is now on the broadcast schedule. (Thanks to BM for the tip!)

On the Channel 19 web schedule, the forum is listed as "Mplwd Forum." Broadcast dates and times are:

Saturday, September 8th: 3:00 PM
Sunday, September 9th: 9:30 PM
Monday, September 10th: 8:00 PM
Tuesday, September 11th: 5:30 PM

That appears to be all the showings before Tuesday's primary. There is also one I see scheduled for after, at 9:00 PM on Friday, September 14.

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 9/06/2007 04:10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

No word yet on when last week's Chamber of Commerce candidates' forum will be broadcast, but there is an article about it in this week's Maplewood Review.

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 9/06/2007 08:00:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The DFL has put out a call for volunteers to help with get-out-the-vote efforts this weekend. See their webpage for details and a sign-up form. They are calling for folks to help in both St. Paul and Maplewood races. There's a need for folks to help with phone calls, door-knocking, and the intensive work on election day to make sure that the supporters we've identified over the course of the campaign remember to get to the polls!

I should note, you certainly don't need to be a Democrat to help in this effort. I'm proud of my DFL endorsement, and pleased to make good use of the tools that endorsement gives my campaign -- but I am also proud that I have won supporters from all across the political spectrum. As citizens of Maplewood, we are united in our demand for a city government that is responsible, accountable, and well-managed. That's an agenda that should cross all the traditional partisan divides.

If we achieve that goal, and find we have time left over for heated arguments about foreign policy or federal entitlement reform, well, that would be what my Jerry, my Republican business partner, would call a "high-class problem."

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 9/05/2007 01:55:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

While we wait to learn when this past Thursday morning's candidate forum will be broadcast on Channel 19, I thought folks might enjoy an audio clip from the event.

This clip begins with a question about the city's reorganization, asked by moderator Ted Lillie. To keep the file size and time down, I edited to just the remarks of Rebecca Cave (who declared that "city staff is very happy") and myself on this subject.

Click here to download the audio (MP3 file, 6.8 MB, duration 5:53).

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 9/03/2007 10:44:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Over the course of this campaign, I've been posting questionnaires I've filled out for various groups (you should be able to find them under the endorsements link; look for entries with "questionnaire" in the title), and there are more on the way. Typically those questionnaires focus on the particular interests of a group (labor, business, etc.).

A lot of my actual campaign time is spent at peoples' doors and on the phone, listening to residents' individual concerns, which don't always get raised by the interest groups and media. One couple I spoke with took the time to send me a thoughtful e-mail with a list of questions and concerns. With their permission I wanted to post it here (names and address redacted), along with my responses, as examples of the kinds of questions we candidates hear out on there on the campaign trail.

First, their concerns and questions:

1. Graffiti – There has been an increased amount of graffiti in our community and for Maplewood to promote ourselves as a great place to live and work, this needs to change. First impressions are lasting and Maplewood as well as the Twin Cities area needs to take a pro-active role in preventing and prosecuting those that area caught vandalizing public property.

2. Crime & Education – Increase Police and civic involvement with our young residents in Maplewood. There should be City outreach programs in the schools and volunteer opportunities for students to be a part of and to make our community better.

3. Driver – Maplewood needs to increase enforcement of speed limits on Maplewood streets. Driver behavior has changed to “me first” and if you are a biker, walker, runner, adult, or child, one’s safety on the roads needs to be protected. I live on a busy street, as do you, and there is at least once a day that I hear the irresponsible driver racing their car down the road and not respecting residents who live in the area. I have asked the City of Maplewood Police Department on four different occassions to post a mobile speed advisory sign on County Road B to remind drivers of their speed; it has yet to happen. County Road B is not the only street with drivers not respecting others using the road.

4. Speed Limit - Decrease the speed on County Road B. Maplewood has jurisdiction of County Road B between Edgerton and Arcade and I would like to request the speed be reduced from 35mph to 30 mph in this area. Note the speed on Roselawn (30mph) and it carries more vehicles and is a thru-street. The stretch of County Road B has intersections, site distant challenges and residential driveways with a “T” intersection at Arcade and a speed of 30 mph is more fitting. Have you noticed Arcade is posted at 30 mph as well? Increased Police presence and speed traps would help drivers be more aware of there speed and the safety of others.

5. Taxes – Personally, I would be willing to pay higher taxes if there were results in items #1-#4 that resulted in a positive impact to Maplewood and improved our community.

6. Council - The City Council is supposed to represent the residents of Maplewood. We as residents are responsible for the current state of the City and Council; we elected them. I have watched too many interactions between Council members and City staff that are unprofessional and embarrassing to me as a tax payer in Maplewood. I would like to see a Council that works cohesively to make Maplewood a better City not posturing to make themselves look better. Have we forgotten that we are talking City Government and the focus should be what’s best for the City and not individual Council members or their own political aspirations? I also want a Council that works together to hire quality staff that can take care of daily business and relies on their staff’s abilities. We have lost quality staff over the last few years and it is unfortunate to the Community but truly the result of the current Council. Lastly, I would recommend Council meetings be efficient and be limited to 11PM. There should be no new business started after 11PM; if active items are being discussed they should be postponed to another meeting for further discussion.

Here are my responses:

1. Grafitti: I could be mis-remembering this, but I think someone told me that the city has not been as prompt this year at removing grafitti from city parks. It may be that the incidence is the same rate as before, but the recent elimination of the Parks & Recreation Department has meant that some tasks have slipped to a lower priority. I've heard complaints from other citizens about a whole range of park maintenance-related issues; for example, parents who have started going an hour early to games and bringing their own chalk, etc., to mark fields for their childrens' summer sports leagues. We need to reestablish the position of Parks & Recreation Director, and make sure we are taking proper care of these facilities.

2. Crime & Education: You have good suggestions. On the police side, Maplewood has had some problems with being short-staffed, and the situation was not helped when the city council eliminated the Deputy Police Chief at the end of last year, even as we were in the process of hiring more officers. There are a variety of volunteer opportunities for all ages -- I participated in a clean-up day at Joy Park earlier this year, and I know the latest city newsletter mentions upcoming projects for clearing buckthorn from city parks, for example. I'm sure more can be done to publicize these events and recruit more volunteers, and perhaps coordinate with the local schools. I should add the caution, though, that I think the city will have some higher priority basics to attend to -- continuing the unfortunate trend we began last year, it seems that we are woefully behind on our 2008 budget process, for example -- and the city council in January 2008 will have a full plate dealing with the most urgent issues the present regime has created.

3 & 4 - Driving & Speed Limit: As I look out my window and watch cars zip by while I'm typing this, I fully understand what you mean about the traffic on County Road B. Michelle and I enjoy taking walks around the neighborhood, as you and [your wife] do, so we too are sensitive about the safety issues. I used to bike to work, and know how little attention drivers typically pay to bicyclists; one time I almost ran into the side of a mini-van that turned right in front of me, without apparently being aware that I was even there. If I were a yard further ahead I might have been killed. Being not far from the stop sign at Edgerton, we get to "enjoy" the throaty sounds of fast-accelerating cars at all hours. I'd love to see one of those speed advisory signs, even on a temporary basis like I've seen on Larpenteur recently — there are a couple between home and my workplace in St. Paul that I pass every day, and they always make me check if I'm creeping up a little too fast.

While I share your concerns, I don't want to make any big promises, for two reasons. The first is that this is a county road, so I don't believe the city is actually able to change the speed limit. This may explain the difference between B and Arcade.

Second is the issue of police availability. I have fairly often seen police cars passing our house on County Road B, so I do actually think our street gets more police presence than a lot of areas of Maplewood I've visited. The squad cars are equipped with radar that lets them measure the speed of oncoming traffic while they are driving. But the reality is that traffic stops usually take lower priority than other police duties. I did a ride-along in a police car a couple of weeks ago, and it was a very informative experience. We did pull over a couple of speeders in various parts of the city, and stopped a few times to create a "speed trap.". But more of the officer's time was spent responding to more serious crimes, such as a domestic assault in the Gladstone neighborhood, a man at St John's Hospital who had been stabbed, and a group of teens and one adult who were breaking into cars and stealing stereos, speakers, GPS systems, etc., down near Stillwater Road. Perhaps with the new officers added to the force this year, there will be more opportunities for traffic enforcement city-wide. Certainly that's something that, as a council member, I would encourage our police force to do.

5. Taxes: I am interested in holding taxes down, but not at the expense of safety and quality of life. And I also think that prudent investments pay off -- safer roads mean fewer accidents, which means lower cost of insurance community-wide. Investments in our quality of life mean a more attractive community, higher property values, etc.

6. Council: What you say here is so aligned with my own thoughts, I should have you writing my campaign literature!

Each neighborhood has unique issues, as this list of questions shows, and my city-wide door-knocking has given me a great chance to learn about them. Often I find citizens with the same concerns that have motivated me to run. I don't know the answers to all the questions I get asked -- but that's one of the reasons the campaigning process is important to good government, to get out there and listen to voters, to find out what are the important things to the community that we candidates haven't even thought of before.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 9/02/2007 10:58:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The next public candidate forum/debate coming up before the September 11th primary will be hosted by the Maplewood Voters' Coalition. Details provided by MVC Chair Bob Schmidt (lifted from Maplewood Voices):

Maplewood Voters Coalition hosts candidate forum
The Maplewood Voters Coalition is sponsoring a public forum with Maplewood City Council incumbent Will Rossbach and candidates John Nephew, James Llanas, and James Dykes at 7:00 - 8:30 PM on Wednesday, September 5, 2007, at the Maplewood Public Library (3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood). Issues to be discussed include parks, public safety, public works, and city management. Please visit http://www.mvc07.com for further information.

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 9/01/2007 09:12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

This morning I was one of five city council candidates who participated in the candidate forum hosted at the Maplewood branch of the Ramsey County Library by the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, numerous partner organizations, and sponsor Keystone Computer Solutions.

Cable channel 19 was taping the event for later broadcast. The camera person I spoke with was not sure when the broadcast would be scheduled — so watch their schedule to see when it appears. (From a quick look at their programming schedule, it will probably be played back more than once, too.)

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 8/30/2007 03:42:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

This past weekend, my campaign and Will Rossbach's campaign did a joint "lit drop" (volunteers delivering our literature to targeted voters' doors) all over the city. I think it's fair to say that we were both blown away by the number of volunteers who turned out to help, and I wanted to publicly thank them all. There is such a thirst for positive change in Maplewood -- people are tired of a regime that governs with the same kind of disregard for facts and reality that they use in campaigning. Our volunteers had the chance to witness that firsthand.

I'd also like to thank these elected officials who support my election campaign, and who all turned out to work with us last weekend: State Sen. Chuck Wiger, Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, State Rep. Nora Slawik, and State Rep. Leon Lillie. They have all been sources of inspiration, advice, and encouragement, and I'm proud that they are campaigning on my behalf. If I am elected, I also look forward to working together with them and their respective governmental bodies on the issues important to Maplewood residents.

Labels: campaign, endorsements

Posted by John Nephew at 8/29/2007 09:40:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Thursday morning this week will be the forum hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Whether or not you can make it to that event, be sure to mark your calendar with the next candidate forum, hosted by the Maplewood Voters Coalition -- next Wednesday evening, September 5th, from 7:00 to 8:30 at the Maplewood Public Library (3025 Southlawn Drive, Maplewood).

I believe the four candidates endorsed by the MVC are all planning to attend.

You may also be interested in the MVC voter guides. They have a summary version for quick candidate comparison, and a detailed version with questionnaire answers and press clippings.

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 8/28/2007 11:10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Star Tribune voter guide is now online.

(Hat tip to fellow candidate Jim L. for spotting it and sharing the word!)

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 8/27/2007 01:49:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

Today is going to be a busy one on the campaign trail for me, but while I'm out knocking on doors you can enjoy the latest questionnaire in my growing online collection. This is the one I filled out for the Maplewood Voters' Coalition, who selected me as one of their four endorsements for the primary.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 8/25/2007 09:40:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

I am looking for more volunteers to join us on a lit drop on Saturday, and also for phone banking next week. We will also be needing volunteers to help with more calling afterwards, and get-out-the-vote efforts. If you would like to help, please send me an e-mail.

The primary is only 18 days away!

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 8/24/2007 08:44:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

The Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce is planning to host a Maplewood City Council candidate debate on Thursday, August 30 at 7:30 a.m. I haven't heard the details yet (such as the location), but wanted to let interested folks know to mark their calendars for it!

Update: See comments for details on the event.

Labels: campaign, events

Posted by John Nephew at 8/23/2007 05:08:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

One of my recent endorsements, as I wrote this past weekend, was from the St. Paul Building & Construction Trades Council. I have uploaded the questionnaire that I submitted to the Council, prior to my in-person screening, for anyone interested in reading it.

Labels: campaign, endorsements

Posted by John Nephew at 8/15/2007 09:04:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Did you know that some of your neighbors have already voted in next month's primary?

Absentee voting in Ramsey County began last Friday, August 10th. Even if you are unable to make it to the polls on election day, absentee voting allows your voice to be heard at the ballot box.

You can vote in person at city hall — I've never done it myself, but it sounds like you can register, apply for your absentee ballot, receive the ballot and use it to vote all in the same visit! Just stop by city hall during regular weekday office hours, 8 AM to 4:30 PM.

You can mail an absentee ballot application. You can call the city at 651-249-2105 to ask for an application to be sent to you; or you can e-mail Deb Schmidt with your request. If you like, you can get a ballot even faster by using the digital absentee ballot application on the city website. This is a PDF file with form fields, so you can fill in the information on-screen, print, sign, and mail!

In order to be counted, absentee ballots must be received at the Maplewood City Hall by Election Day, so do not delay if you will need to vote by mail.

For more information, visit the absentee voting information page on the City of Maplewood website.

Labels: campaign

Posted by John Nephew at 8/14/2007 04:51:00 PM | Permalink | Comments

I am pleased to announce that I am one of four candidates who have been endorsed by the Maplewood Voters' Coalition.

Four? you ask. Yep -- the MVC has taken an unusual approach, endorsing more candidates than there are seats available in the general election. Their intent is to endorse "all candidates we judge to meet our standards for public office: a respect for process, reliance on professionalism, and a commitment to public service rather than a personal agenda" (to quote the endorsing letter from Endorsement Committee Chair Deb Birkholz and MVC Chair Robert Schmidt).

I am pleased that this group of citizens has come together to work for better local government, and it is an honor to have the MVC endorsement.

On a personal note, Michelle and I live in western Maplewood, which is part of the Roseville school district, so we have school board elections this year as well. I am pleased that the MVC is endorsing in that race as well, and I look forward to reading their evaluations of those candidates.

Labels: campaign, endorsements

Posted by John Nephew at 8/13/2007 09:31:00 AM | Permalink | Comments

Yesterday was the Senate District 55 DFL picnic just over in Oakdale. Besides the local party activists, the gathering included volunteers from the Hilary Clinton and Mike Ciresi campaigns, and a visit from senate candidate Al Franken. (Franken was also at the Maplewood endorsing convention, and even mentioned it in his campaign blog.) Also present, as you might expect, were State Senator Chuck Wiger (district 55) and State Representative Nora Slawik (district 55B, representing south Maplewood and Oakdale). Rep. Leon Lillie (55A, representing northern Maplewood and North St. Paul) stopped by the picnic early on, before Michelle and I had arrived.