MRLF endorses three for Park Board

From the Minneapolis Labor Review, February 26, 2009

By Steve Share, Labor Review editor

MINNEAPOLIS — All nine seats on the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board are up for re-election this year. Three park commissioners are elected at-large and six are elected from park districts.

The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation’s first round of Park Board endorsements backed candidates in three of the park district races.

District 1: Michael Rainville

In District 1, now AFL-CIO endorsed Michael Rainville is seeking the open seat vacated by Walt Dziedzic.

District 1 includes northeast and southeast Minneapolis.

This is Rainville’s first run for public office. He was a member of HERE Local 17 from 1968-1993 and served Local 17 as shop steward, strike captain, and for eight years, executive board member.

District 5: Marty Demgen

In District 5, now AFL-CIO endorsed Marty Demgen is seeking the open seat vacated by Carol Kummer.

District 5 includes the corner of the city east of Interstate 35W and south of about 35th Street.

Demgen is a first-time candidate for public office. He has a long history with the labor movement in the Twin Cities. Demgen currently is a business agent for the Minnesota Newspaper Guild and a member of the Guild since 2001. He also has been a member of three other unions and is a former president of Steelworkers Local 12106.

District 6: Bob Fine

In District 6, incumbent Bob Fine is running for Park Board with AFL-CIO endorsement for a fourth term.

District 6 lies west of Interstate 35W and roughly south of Lake Street.

Fine was first elected to the park board as an at-large member in 1997 and was elected to represent District 6 in 1997, 2001, and 2005. Fine is a real estate attorney and a longtime coach in the Minneapolis parks. He has run each campaign with AFL-CIO endorsement.

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