Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's frequent declarations that he loves his job leave few wondering whether he will seek a second term.
If he decides to run again in 2005, his competition currently looks far from fearsome, in contrast with St. Paul. Attention there is focused on former police Chief William Finney, who contemplates what would be a formidable challenge to his ex-boss, Mayor Randy Kelly.
But a search for possible mayoral candidates in Minneapolis yields a single, tentative challenger.
Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin said in February that he is seriously considering a mayoral run. Although the buzz about a potential challenge to his fellow DFLer Rybak has grown in recent weeks, McLaughlin was cagey in a recent, and brief, phone interview. But his self-congratulatory tone sounded like he's ready to take a shot.
"People have come to me and suggested I run for everything short of vice president," McLaughlin said. "It is a product of the fact that I produce."
McLaughlin said he is particularly gratified by last month's opening of Hiawatha light-rail line, of which he was an early, committed supporter. "Every morning when I ride in, I do smile when I realize what it took to get that done and the role I played," he said.
He refused to grant a longer interview on his mayoral prospects, saying he is focused on sending President Bush back to Texas.
But at least some of McLaughlin's actions show he is very much focused on expanding his own profile. He has pumped up his publicity machine, stumping for presidential candidate John Kerry and touting his role in light-rail transit. The monthly newsletter he usually sends to constituents in his district has started showing up in the mailboxes of DFL city convention delegates.
Rybak also declined an interview request, releasing only a written statement. "There are going to be a lot of trial balloons floated, some with the same old names, some wild cards. I'll stay focused on doing the best job I can at the only job I've wanted all my life," he said.
A race between the two wouldn't offer voters much contrast. Both are middle-aged white men who live in comfortable neighborhoods in the southern half of the city. Both men proclaim to be ardent environmentalists. McLaughlin tends to be more of a traditional liberal and ally of organized labor. Rybak has taken on the role of lead budget-cutter in City Hall.
One difference: Rybak, a former Internet consultant, was a political novice when he ran and upset two-term Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton in 2001; McLaughlin has been in his current office since 1990.
Satisfaction
Few are reading the present dearth of potential opponents as a sign city residents are satisfied with Rybak. The debate on the extent to which he has delivered on campaign promises is still to come, but even supporters concede the Rybak administration has often lacked an intensity of focus and follow-through.
"I think R.T. is doing a good job, but not so good that no one should consider challenging him," said Independence Party Vice Chairman Jack Uldrich, a Minneapolis resident.
Republican analyst and city resident Sarah Janacek was more critical. "In my opinion, R.T. Rybak should be beatable. He has not delivered on any of the promises he has made. Not the least of which was plowing snow in 24 hours."
As a candidate, Rybak ran on a four-pronged platform: creating vibrant, affordable neighborhoods; restoring trust in City Hall; improving fiscal management and basic services, and protecting the environment. He's been compelled to fix much of his attention on the ever-tightening city budget.
Some attribute the lack of mayoral challengers to the nature of the job. Minneapolis is a weak mayoral system, leaving much of the power with the 13-member City Council.
"People who understand ... know the mayoral position isn't terribly strong and people who want to have an impact on public policy look elsewhere to use their talents," Uldrich said.
Janacek expressed a similar thought. "We have the weak mayoral system, so what credible conservative would want the job when the City Council has the power?"
Still, Janacek was impressed enough with 3rd Ward DFL Council Member Donald Samuels that she encouraged the notion of his mayoral candidacy in her newsletter Politics in Minnesota.
Samuels, who took office in a special election in 2003, was out of town and unavailable for comment.
The North Side resident hasn't given any indication he will run for mayor, although he has set up the nonprofit citywide Peace Foundation to raise money for troubled neighborhoods.
If he did run, however, he would face the handicap of geography. To win citywide, a candidate almost has to win - or at least make a respectable showing - in the vote-rich 13th Ward in the southwest corner of the city.
State GOP Chairman Ron Eibensteiner has the right southwestern Minneapolis home address to make a bid himself, but doesn't plan to.
"I think I am the only conservative in the city," he said. "Minneapolis definitely needs new leadership. The old leadership of the Democratic Party is tired. I think people are getting frustrated and that's why the Greens are doing so well."
Two Green Party members were elected to the council in 2001. One council member is an independent and the remaining 10 are DFLers.
Eibensteiner didn't fault Rybak. "I think under the current charter, he's doing about as well as he can. That's not to say I agree with many of his policies," he said, but added, "He's not able to influence city politics as much as a big-city mayor should."
Eibensteiner said he'd love to see a strong Republican emerge as a candidate, but he'd also support a charter change to give the mayor more power. "People want to see their cities work and not be a platform for social ideology of the left," he said.
"A Republican should run," said Hennepin County Commissioner Mark Stenglein. "Look at what's happening at the state. When you've got two-thirds of the state controlled by Republicans, Minneapolis gets left out."
Stenglein, an independent who ran for mayor in 2001 but didn't survive the primary, downplayed any lack of power in the job.
"It's the largest city in the state," he said. "It's certainly a bully pulpit."
Staff writer Mike Kaszuba contributed to this report.
Rochelle Olson is at raolson@startribune.com.
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