Mitchell Rasansky is not going to run for mayor, in spite of poll results showing him at the head of a crowded field in citywide name recognition. I will have a more detailed description of the poll in tomorrow's paper. He told me a week ago, before he told anybody else.
Why? I don't know. He and I have a whole lot of mutual respect. Maybe that's part of it. I think this was a tough decision for him, although he will tell you it absolutely was not. He says he's too busy with other things.
In his office you see the other things all around him. The walls are covered with really wonderful candid photographs of his family, especially the grandchildren -- and not studio shots either, but pictures of the children at play, the kind of pictures that are there for him to look at, not for impressing visitors.
But I'm really disappointed.
Rasansky was probably the only shot we're going to get for somebody with experience who would have talked about real issues. I called several of the other candidates and got the predictable stuff.
One thing about Mitchell: He's not predictable.
I'm also suspicious about why he's not running, in spite of his protestations that it was all his choice. Listen closely, and I think you will hear him saying other things between the lines.
He will run for re-election to the District 13 seat on the council. District 13's boon, the city's loss. --Jim Schutze
