R. T. Rybak: Difference between revisions
SusanLesch (talk | contribs) m →Controversy: wl |
Set up birth date/death date template and/or general fixes |
||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
| predecessor = [[Sharon Sayles Belton]] |
| predecessor = [[Sharon Sayles Belton]] |
||
| successor = ''Incumbent'' |
| successor = ''Incumbent'' |
||
| birth_date = |
| birth_date = {{birth date|1955|11|12|mf=y}} |
||
| birth_place = |
| birth_place = |
||
| death_date = |
| death_date = |
||
| Line 25: | Line 25: | ||
'''Raymond Thomas Rybak, Jr.''' (born [[November 12]], [[1955]]), universally known as '''R.T. Rybak''', is the current [[mayor]] of the city of [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], and a member of the [[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]]. In 2001, Rybak defeated [[Sharon Sayles Belton]], the first [[African-American]] and first female mayor of the city. Rybak ran a [[populism|populist]] campaign, listening to the concerns of residents while he brought his message door-to-door. In the 2001 election, he won 65% of the vote to Belton's 35%—the widest margin in city history for a challenge to an [[incumbent]]. He took office in January 2002, and was elected to a second term in November 2005. |
'''Raymond Thomas Rybak, Jr.''' (born [[November 12]], [[1955]]), universally known as '''R.T. Rybak''', is the current [[mayor]] of the city of [[Minneapolis, Minnesota|Minneapolis]], [[Minnesota]], and a member of the [[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party]]. In 2001, Rybak defeated [[Sharon Sayles Belton]], the first [[African-American]] and first female mayor of the city. Rybak ran a [[populism|populist]] campaign, listening to the concerns of residents while he brought his message door-to-door. In the 2001 election, he won 65% of the vote to Belton's 35%—the widest margin in city history for a challenge to an [[incumbent]]. He took office in January 2002, and was elected to a second term in November 2005. |
||
==Early |
==Early life== |
||
Rybak grew up in Minneapolis. He has said that he first became interested in becoming mayor at the age of 13. After graduating from [[Boston College]] in 1978, he worked as a [[journalist]]; he worked for the ''[[Minneapolis Tribune]]'' in the 1970s and '80s, then went on to run the ''[[Twin Cities Reader]]'', which was sold off and shut down in 1997. He headed [[Internet Broadcasting Systems]] for a few years before striking out on his own. That company, which started as an online division of Minneapolis [[television station]] [[WCCO]], runs websites for many stations across the [[United States]]. Following his job there, he went on to do consulting work as an Internet strategist, and also assisted on some projects with [[Minnesota Public Radio]] and [[Public Radio International]]. |
Rybak grew up in Minneapolis. He has said that he first became interested in becoming mayor at the age of 13. After graduating from [[Boston College]] in 1978, he worked as a [[journalist]]; he worked for the ''[[Minneapolis Tribune]]'' in the 1970s and '80s, then went on to run the ''[[Twin Cities Reader]]'', which was sold off and shut down in 1997. He headed [[Internet Broadcasting Systems]] for a few years before striking out on his own. That company, which started as an online division of Minneapolis [[television station]] [[WCCO]], runs websites for many stations across the [[United States]]. Following his job there, he went on to do consulting work as an Internet strategist, and also assisted on some projects with [[Minnesota Public Radio]] and [[Public Radio International]]. |
||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
Rybak's mayorship since taking office in 2001 has dealt mostly with funding services, affordable housing, and balancing the City's budget.<ref>{{cite web| last =Anderson Jr.| first =G.R.| title =Sign of Things to Come| publisher =City Pages| date =2002-04-10| url =http://citypages.com/databank/23/1114/article10296.asp| accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref> He attends public events in the city on a regular basis. He also is one of probably a very small number of mayors to have ever [[crowd surfing|crowd surfed]]—he [[stage diving|dove from the stage]] during a "Rock for Democracy" event at the popular Minneapolis club [[First Avenue]] in July 2004.<ref>{{cite web| last =Scholtes| first =Peter| title =Local Music Yearbook '04| publisher =City Pages| date =2004-12-15| url =http://citypages.com/databank/25/1254/article12779.asp| accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref><ref>http://howwastheshow.blogspot.com/2004/07/mayor-rt-rybak-stage-dives-and-crowd.html</ref> |
Rybak's mayorship since taking office in 2001 has dealt mostly with funding services, affordable housing, and balancing the City's budget.<ref>{{cite web| last =Anderson Jr.| first =G.R.| title =Sign of Things to Come| publisher =City Pages| date =2002-04-10| url =http://citypages.com/databank/23/1114/article10296.asp| accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref> He attends public events in the city on a regular basis. He also is one of probably a very small number of mayors to have ever [[crowd surfing|crowd surfed]]—he [[stage diving|dove from the stage]] during a "Rock for Democracy" event at the popular Minneapolis club [[First Avenue]] in July 2004.<ref>{{cite web| last =Scholtes| first =Peter| title =Local Music Yearbook '04| publisher =City Pages| date =2004-12-15| url =http://citypages.com/databank/25/1254/article12779.asp| accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref><ref>http://howwastheshow.blogspot.com/2004/07/mayor-rt-rybak-stage-dives-and-crowd.html</ref> |
||
In 2002, Rybak developed the [http://cityoflakesloppet.com/ City of Lakes Loppet], a 35 kilometer urban [[cross country skiing|cross country ski]] race through [[Theodore Wirth Park]] and across [[Cedar Lake (Minnesota)|Cedar Lake]], [[Lake of the Isles]] and [[Lake Calhoun]] which ends on the streets in the [[Uptown, Minneapolis|Uptown]] area of Minneapolis. The event attracts nearly 2000 skiers. Rybak, a skier himself, has participated in races. (see [[ |
In 2002, Rybak developed the [http://cityoflakesloppet.com/ City of Lakes Loppet], a 35 kilometer urban [[cross country skiing|cross country ski]] race through [[Theodore Wirth Park]] and across [[Cedar Lake (Minnesota)|Cedar Lake]], [[Lake of the Isles]] and [[Lake Calhoun]] which ends on the streets in the [[Uptown, Minneapolis|Uptown]] area of Minneapolis. The event attracts nearly 2000 skiers. Rybak, a skier himself, has participated in races. (see [[Worldloppet Ski Federation|Swedish loppet]]) |
||
Rybak is known to be an outspoken advocate even when the mayor's office has no formal power in metropolitan issues. In April 2004 he led a rally of striking [[Metro Transit]] workers at the [[Hennepin County Government Center]] plaza. In these situations, he also tends to appeal to the business community to create solutions when local government cannot.<ref>{{cite web| last =Anderson Jr.| first =G.R.| title =Does This Bus Stop at the Capitol?| publisher =City Pages| date =2004-04-07| url =http://citypages.com/databank/25/1218/article12021.asp| accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> |
Rybak is known to be an outspoken advocate even when the mayor's office has no formal power in metropolitan issues. In April 2004 he led a rally of striking [[Metro Transit]] workers at the [[Hennepin County Government Center]] plaza. In these situations, he also tends to appeal to the business community to create solutions when local government cannot.<ref>{{cite web| last =Anderson Jr.| first =G.R.| title =Does This Bus Stop at the Capitol?| publisher =City Pages| date =2004-04-07| url =http://citypages.com/databank/25/1218/article12021.asp| accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> |
||
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
In his 2005 re-election campaign he consistently led challenger (and fellow [[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|DFL]]er) [[Peter McLaughlin]]. He won the election with close to 62% of the votes and performed another crowd surf.<ref>{{cite web| last =Scheck| first =Tom| title =Rybak, McLaughlin advance in Minneapolis mayor race| publisher =City Pages| date =2005-09-14| url =http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/09/14_scheckt_mplsprimary/| accessdate = 2007-08-22}}</ref><ref>http://s4xton.com/1057/hnrt-rybak-at-the-ukranian-event-center/</ref> |
In his 2005 re-election campaign he consistently led challenger (and fellow [[Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party|DFL]]er) [[Peter McLaughlin]]. He won the election with close to 62% of the votes and performed another crowd surf.<ref>{{cite web| last =Scheck| first =Tom| title =Rybak, McLaughlin advance in Minneapolis mayor race| publisher =City Pages| date =2005-09-14| url =http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/09/14_scheckt_mplsprimary/| accessdate = 2007-08-22}}</ref><ref>http://s4xton.com/1057/hnrt-rybak-at-the-ukranian-event-center/</ref> |
||
In August 2007, after the collapse of the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge]], Rybak worked with Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] and Minnesota state officials to implement its [[St. Anthony Falls (35W) Bridge|replacement]]. Rybak pushed that future needs and policy considerations shouldn't be ignored in the rush to build a replacement.<ref>{{cite web| last =Scheck| first =Tom| title =I-35W bridge reconstruction could delay other projects| publisher =Minnesota Public Radio| date =2007-08-05| url =http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/08/05/mndot/| accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> His leadership resulted in a bridge plan which included improvements to carry a future light rail line. Rybak was quoted as saying "we (the City) have a vision that we believe will be for a bridge that will serve us for many years to come."<ref>{{cite web| last =Foti| first =Jim| title =State's plans for new I-35W bridge include light rail| publisher =Star Tribune| date =2007-08-21| url =http://www.startribune.com/10204/story/1375093.html| accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref> His role also involved authorizing [[ |
In August 2007, after the collapse of the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge]], Rybak worked with Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] and Minnesota state officials to implement its [[St. Anthony Falls (35W) Bridge|replacement]]. Rybak pushed that future needs and policy considerations shouldn't be ignored in the rush to build a replacement.<ref>{{cite web| last =Scheck| first =Tom| title =I-35W bridge reconstruction could delay other projects| publisher =Minnesota Public Radio| date =2007-08-05| url =http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2007/08/05/mndot/| accessdate = 2007-08-07}}</ref> His leadership resulted in a bridge plan which included improvements to carry a future light rail line. Rybak was quoted as saying "we (the City) have a vision that we believe will be for a bridge that will serve us for many years to come."<ref>{{cite web| last =Foti| first =Jim| title =State's plans for new I-35W bridge include light rail| publisher =Star Tribune| date =2007-08-21| url =http://www.startribune.com/10204/story/1375093.html| accessdate = 2007-08-21}}</ref> His role also involved authorizing [[Local government in the United States|municipal consent]] of the final bridge replacement.<ref>{{cite web| last =Thomas| first =Dylan| title =Pawlenty plan for bridge includes LRT| publisher =Downtown Journal| date =2007-08-22| url =http://www.downtownjournal.com/index.php?&story=9796&page=65&category=54| accessdate = 2007-08-22}}</ref> |
||
He is a member of the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members}} Retrieved on [[June 19]], [[2007]]</ref>, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by [[New York City]] mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] and [[Boston]] mayor [[Thomas Menino]]. |
He is a member of the [[Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org/html/about/members.shtml| title=Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members}} Retrieved on [[June 19]], [[2007]]</ref>, an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by [[New York City]] mayor [[Michael Bloomberg]] and [[Boston]] mayor [[Thomas Menino]]. |
||
Revision as of 18:04, 7 September 2007
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
No issues specified. Please specify issues, or remove this template. |
R.T. Rybak | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 46th Mayor of Minneapolis | |
| In office 2002–Present | |
| Preceded by | Sharon Sayles Belton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 12, 1955 |
| Political party | Democratic-Farmer-Labor |
Raymond Thomas Rybak, Jr. (born November 12, 1955), universally known as R.T. Rybak, is the current mayor of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. In 2001, Rybak defeated Sharon Sayles Belton, the first African-American and first female mayor of the city. Rybak ran a populist campaign, listening to the concerns of residents while he brought his message door-to-door. In the 2001 election, he won 65% of the vote to Belton's 35%—the widest margin in city history for a challenge to an incumbent. He took office in January 2002, and was elected to a second term in November 2005.
Early life
Rybak grew up in Minneapolis. He has said that he first became interested in becoming mayor at the age of 13. After graduating from Boston College in 1978, he worked as a journalist; he worked for the Minneapolis Tribune in the 1970s and '80s, then went on to run the Twin Cities Reader, which was sold off and shut down in 1997. He headed Internet Broadcasting Systems for a few years before striking out on his own. That company, which started as an online division of Minneapolis television station WCCO, runs websites for many stations across the United States. Following his job there, he went on to do consulting work as an Internet strategist, and also assisted on some projects with Minnesota Public Radio and Public Radio International.
During this time, Rybak also worked as an activist with a number of different groups. In 1994, he was campaign manager for Tony Bouza, the former Minneapolis chief of police who unsuccessfully sought the DFL nomination for Governor of Minnesota. He has been an active supporter of the GLBT community in the Twin Cities and also supported the presidential campaign of Ralph Nader in 2000. However, Rybak is best known for being an early member of the group ROAR ("Residents Opposed to Airport Racket"), which campaigned to fund noise mitigation projects in neighborhoods around the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport. The group staged a memorable "pajama protest," where area residents wore their nighttime clothes at the airport to show that they were losing sleep because of airplane noise.
Controversy
Rybak has been involved in a number of controversies as mayor. One of the earliest involved the shutdown of a group that oversaw complaints about the Minneapolis Police Department. Although it was considered a model for the nation, Rybak closed it down partly because of funding concerns (he had inherited a situation requiring $5 million to be shaved from the city's budget). After the September 11, 2001 attacks and the U.S. military actions that followed, Rybak opposed sending American forces into Iraq, but pledged to veto any city resolution stating the same since it would be nothing more than a symbolic gesture.
He has drawn attacks for sending his children to a private school, giving the impression to some that he doesn't fully support the Minneapolis Public Schools. Rybak went to the same school, Breck, when he was growing up because his mother had been given a job there during a difficult period, so he has said that sending his own children there is paying back a debt as much as anything else. Rybak, who graduated in 1974, was awarded the "Distinguished Alumnus" award from Breck in 2002.
As mayor
Rybak's mayorship since taking office in 2001 has dealt mostly with funding services, affordable housing, and balancing the City's budget.[1] He attends public events in the city on a regular basis. He also is one of probably a very small number of mayors to have ever crowd surfed—he dove from the stage during a "Rock for Democracy" event at the popular Minneapolis club First Avenue in July 2004.[2][3]
In 2002, Rybak developed the City of Lakes Loppet, a 35 kilometer urban cross country ski race through Theodore Wirth Park and across Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles and Lake Calhoun which ends on the streets in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. The event attracts nearly 2000 skiers. Rybak, a skier himself, has participated in races. (see Swedish loppet)
Rybak is known to be an outspoken advocate even when the mayor's office has no formal power in metropolitan issues. In April 2004 he led a rally of striking Metro Transit workers at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza. In these situations, he also tends to appeal to the business community to create solutions when local government cannot.[4]
In his 2005 re-election campaign he consistently led challenger (and fellow DFLer) Peter McLaughlin. He won the election with close to 62% of the votes and performed another crowd surf.[5][6]
In August 2007, after the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge, Rybak worked with Governor Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota state officials to implement its replacement. Rybak pushed that future needs and policy considerations shouldn't be ignored in the rush to build a replacement.[7] His leadership resulted in a bridge plan which included improvements to carry a future light rail line. Rybak was quoted as saying "we (the City) have a vision that we believe will be for a bridge that will serve us for many years to come."[8] His role also involved authorizing municipal consent of the final bridge replacement.[9]
He is a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns Coalition[10], an organization formed in 2006 and co-chaired by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston mayor Thomas Menino.
Rybak lives in the city's East Harriet neighborhood with his wife, Megan, and their children, Charlie and Grace.[11]
References
- ^ Anderson Jr., G.R. (2002-04-10). "Sign of Things to Come". City Pages. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- ^ Scholtes, Peter (2004-12-15). "Local Music Yearbook '04". City Pages. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
- ^ http://howwastheshow.blogspot.com/2004/07/mayor-rt-rybak-stage-dives-and-crowd.html
- ^ Anderson Jr., G.R. (2004-04-07). "Does This Bus Stop at the Capitol?". City Pages. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
- ^ Scheck, Tom (2005-09-14). "Rybak, McLaughlin advance in Minneapolis mayor race". City Pages. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ http://s4xton.com/1057/hnrt-rybak-at-the-ukranian-event-center/
- ^ Scheck, Tom (2007-08-05). "I-35W bridge reconstruction could delay other projects". Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-08-07.
- ^ Foti, Jim (2007-08-21). "State's plans for new I-35W bridge include light rail". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- ^ Thomas, Dylan (2007-08-22). "Pawlenty plan for bridge includes LRT". Downtown Journal. Retrieved 2007-08-22.
- ^ "Mayors Against Illegal Guns: Coalition Members". Retrieved on June 19, 2007
- ^ http://www.citymayors.com/mayors/minneapolis-mayor.html
- Art Hughes (October 23, 2001). Campaign Profile: R.T. Rybak. Minnesota Public Radio. Accessed December 5, 2004.
- Art Hughes (January 2, 2001). R.T. Rybak becomes mayor. Minnesota Public Radio. Accessed December 5, 2004.