Sometimes the best way to get what you want at the Legislature is
to speak clearly -- and bring 300 voices.
That's the tactic Duluthians plan to use at the sixth annual Duluth
Days celebration today and Tuesday in St. Paul.
"It's a very interesting lobbying situation,'' said Andy
Peterson, director of public affairs for the Duluth Area Chamber of
Commerce. "The lobbying is not done by professionals, it's done
by the people of Duluth.''
Duluth Days is the chamber's effort to bring the best of Duluth to
St. Paul and lobby for the projects the agency deems most important to
the city.
Chamber officials spent months crafting legislative priorities that
include money for restoration of the Aerial Lift Bridge to a plea to
minimize cuts to local government assistance.
"It's best to focus on projects that are going to help all of
Duluth,'' said Donny Ness, a Duluth city councilor who led the setting
of priorities for the trip.
Most of the army of Duluthians heading to St. Paul will shuttle
down on a bus that leaves Monday afternoon. That night, legislators
can attend a three-hour reception at the armory in St. Paul, where
Duluth organizations like Spirit Mountain and Cirrus Design will show
off their best assets or explain their needs.
Some will return on the bus Monday night, but others will attend a
breakfast for legislators the next morning. Sam Solon, the Duluth
senator who died in late December, will posthumously receive the first
Sam Solon Legislative Service Award. His wife, Yvonne Prettner Solon,
who won a special election to fill his seat, will accept the award in
his honor.
Then the muscle-flexing continues when Duluthians meet with
legislative leaders and have individual appointments with key
lawmakers.
Duluth's two-day, $25,000 lobbying trip is the biggest organized
event by a city at the Capitol.
But Duluth Days is a dramatically scaled down version of the Duluth
Legislative Weekend.
Lawmakers and their families were bused to Duluth for an
all-expenses-paid weekend that included free Spirit Mountain ski
passes, Bulldog hockey tickets, Glensheen Mansion tours and lavish
gifts.
The freebie festival ran from 1971 to 1993, when lawmakers' ethics
came under fire and significant gift-giving was banned.
Duluth Days started in 1996 as a revamped attempt to bring
legislators' attention to city needs. Instead of bringing lawmakers to
Duluth, Duluthians traveled to St. Paul.
"We are lucky that most legislators have been to Duluth
because it is such a growing tourism destination,'' Ness said. But
having it in St. Paul means "it's more difficult to expose people
to projects, such as the wear and tear on the lift bridge, or the
disrepair of Spirit Mountain.''
Sponsors include the chamber, St. Louis County, St. Luke's
hospital, Cirrus Design, Western Lake Superior Sanitary District and
Uniprise/United Health Group.
Duluth Days is widely praised in the community, but a leader of a
local small business group said she wishes it was more affordable to
participate.
"It's a great idea,'' said Louise Curnow, co-owner of the
Green Mercantile and a leader of the Northland Sustainable Business
Alliance. "But it would be nice if it was more accessible to
small business.''
The chamber charges at least $500 for groups to have a booth at the
Monday night reception. The fee goes to defray the cost of the event,
Peterson said.
Many said the event is useful -- not because it necessarily wins
votes for the city, but because it fosters face-to-face contact
between Duluthians and lawmakers.
"Will it ultimately affect which projects are funded and which
ones aren't? No,'' said Rep. Dale Swapinski, DFL-Duluth. "But
Duluth Days is a really nice social event and can be very informative
for members who aren't aware of the needs of the city.''
