It probably doesn't relate much to most of the readers here, but my dad Dave Bicking is running for Minneapolis City Council.

There must be a couple of you in Minneapolis. If you are in Ward 9 you can vote for him, but anyone in the city can volunteer with his campaign or donate. If you aren't from Minneapolis, then I still have a query -- since I'm making his website, what makes a good campaign website? Are there campaign websites (especially for local campaigns like this) that you've been impressed with? That you've found helpful or interesting? I suspect bringing interest to the race is more important than advocating for the candidate.

If you are in Minneapolis, you might ask: why should you support my father?

• He is intelligent, and I expect that is valued here more than in many circles.
• He is competent. Simple competence matters a great deal in local politics, where it is neither a given, nor will incompetence be as easily be evened out by the surrounding bureaucracy.
• He is thoughtful, which is different from intelligent, and sometimes I fear less common. Intelligence helps you achieve goals; thoughtfulness leads you to choose the right goals.
• He is dedicated to the city. This is not a stepping stone to other offices. Many worldly connections -- aspirations to other offices, and conflicts of interest in business -- are what lead to the coopting and corruption of politicians.
• He is a Green Party candidate. The Green Party is making Minneapolis a two-party city again, essential for a real democratic process. But redistricting tricks have threatened those gains.
• He is fiscally conservative.
• He is progressive. I think these two things -- fiscal conservatism and progressive values -- provide an interesting compliment. I think true fiscal conservatism is a democratic and progressive approach. It's not fiscally conservative to save money by shifting responsibilities elsewhere. Nor is it fiscally conservative to privatize services that government can provide more efficiently. These are ways of shirking duties. Fiscal conservatism should recognize that government is a collectivist approach, which applies to some parts of society and not to others. Extreme positions -- that government should be part of all parts of life, or no part of life -- are ill-considered.
• He was once a programmer. Fortran and dBase, but whatd'ya gonna do?

Why does this race matter?

• The City Council in Minneapolis is relatively powerful, so its membership is important.
• As a resident, your city government effects your daily life in an important and intimate way. It effects your quality of life more than most parts of government.
• Think locally act globally isn't just about NIMBY, it's about a real culture war, and I for one want places like Minneapolis to win the war for our country's soul.