There’s an election in Saint Paul on Tuesday.  It’s the biggest election in the state this year – Mayor of Saint Paul.

If you live in Saint Paul, you know what dire straits this city is in.  Taxes are booming, services are crumbling, and our school system is by any rational standard a complete failure, especially for the kids who need it the most – immigrants, the poor, and so on.

Saint Paul shows the sclerosis that happens when you have one-party rule; having competition in government brings accountabilty; if there’s anything Saint Paul needs, it’s a whole lot of exactly that.

So I’m gonna give a plug for Eva Ng. I’ve been writing about her ever since she announced her campaign.  She’s a businesswoman and a turnaround specialist – which Saint Paul needs.  Desperately.

So here’s the deal; if you are a conservative – by which I mean a Republican, sure, but also the vast throngs of union guys on the East Side who’ve seen your property values shrivel even as the City Council makes it impossible to buy vacant houses, the small landlords who have seen your prices dropping even as city regulations strangle you, the small businessperson who is hanging on by the skin of your teeth even as the government tries to destroy you – then you need to turn out to the polls on Tuesday.  And bring friends.  And family.  And tell ’em that this isn’t just another rubber-stamp mayoral election; this is a time for choosing.

And if you don’t live in Saint Paul?  Call your friends in Saint Paul who you think might be amenable, and who might yet be thinking of sitting this one out.  Change their minds. Get them out.

And if you’re able to?  Check out the website, and give Eva a hand. There is no more David v. Goliath battle in the world than a Republican running for mayor in Saint Paul.  She needs all the help she can get.
As far as Saint Paul is concerned, this really is for all the marbles – and this weekend is the two-minute warning.  With office vacancy rates up close to the school system’s minority graduation rate, this city – the place where I’ve raised my kids this past 18 years – stands a good chance of becoming a cold Flint.

So let’s get some turnout, shall we?

And it should go without saying that anyone voting for Eva Ng needs to vote as well for John Krenik, Pat Igo and Chris Conner for School Board.  If you are a Saint Paul resident, remember the names, and don’t vote for anyone else; everyone else on the ballot stands for the status quo, and it’s hard to describe how bad the status quo is.  And if you’re outside Saint Paul, but have friends here?  Call ’em, and tell ’em.  Quiz ’em on the names.  Hell, send them this article, if it helps.

People get the government they deserve.  Saint Paul deserves a hell of a lot better than it’s had this past four years.