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Angela Epperson, R.T. (R)(M)(C.D.T.) lrdc.com | Iowa Radiology - De Ann Weuve, R.T. (R) (M) iowarad.com | of NJ Hamilton: Barbara Foley, MS, R.T.... rwjuhh.net |
Raymond Thomas Rybak, Jr. (born November 12, 1955), 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. In the 2001 election, after running a populist campaign, Rybak won 65% of the vote to Belton's 35%—the widest margin in city history for a challenge to an incumbent[citation needed]. He took office in January 2002, was elected to a second term in November 2005 and was elected to a third term November 2009. On May 16, 2009, at the Minneapolis DFL Convention, he was endorsed as the DFL candidate for a 3rd term as Mayor of Minneapolis. (This was his first endorsement; in both his previous campaigns the DFL party did not endorse anyone for Mayor.)
[edit] BackgroundRybak grew up in Minneapolis. He has said he first became interested in becoming mayor at the age of 13. After graduating from Boston College in 1978, he worked as a journalist 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. For a few years, he headed Internet Broadcasting Systems, which started as an online division of Minneapolis television station WCCO and runs websites for many stations across the United States. Following his job there, Rybak did consulting work as an Internet strategist, and assisted some projects with Minnesota Public Radio and Public Radio International.  During this time, Rybak also worked as a community and political activist. 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 LGBT community in the Twin Cities. Rybak is initially known for being an early member of the group ROAR ("Residents Opposed to Airport Racket"), which campaigned for 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. Rybak also serves on the Board of Directors of Nice Ride Minnesota a public bicycle sharing program[1] Rybak lives in the city's East Harriet neighborhood with his wife, Megan, and their children, Charlie and Grace.[2] Rybak sent his children to Breck School, an Episcopal private school where he also attended. His mother had been given a job there during a difficult period in his childhood. Rybak, who graduated in 1974, was awarded the "Distinguished Alumnus" award from Breck in 2002. He later obtained his degree from Boston College in 1978. He began a career in journalism, working on the Minneapolis Tribune (the later Star Tribune) in the late 1970s and 1980s, before going on to edit the Twin Cities Reader. He also acted as Development Director for Minneapolis' Downtown Council.[3] [edit] MayorshipIn 2001 Rybak (57,739 votes for 64.69%) defeated incumbent Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton (30,896 votes for 34.61%)[4]. Rybak's mayorship has dealt mostly with lowering crime, creating jobs, building affordable housing, and balancing the City's budget. He attends public events in the city on a regular basis. He 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.[5][6] 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 has made many public appearances at rallies and protests. In April 2004 he spoke to a rally of striking Metro Transit workers at the Hennepin County Government Center plaza.[7] Like many Twin Cities politicians, he marches in the annual Twin Cities Pride Parade. In his 2005 re-election campaign he defeated challenger (and fellow DFLer) Peter McLaughlin. He won the election by nearly 25 percentage points[8] 61.47% to 36.72% (43,198 votes for Rybak and 25,807 votes for McLaughlin[9]) and performed another crowd surf.[10]  In August 2007, after the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge, Rybak asked Governor Tim Pawlenty and Minnesota state officials to implement its replacement, ensuring that the new bridge would be capable of handling mass transit.[11] Rybak pushed that future needs and policy considerations shouldn't be ignored in the rush to build a replacement.[12] His leadership resulted in a bridge plan which included improvements to carry a future light rail line[citation needed]. 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."[13] His role also involved authorizing municipal consent of the final bridge replacement.[14]  He was listed as a finalist for the 2008 World Mayor award[15] In June 2008 was elected Vice President (Communications) of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors[16] R.T. Rybak was the first mayor in the nation to endorse the presidential campaign of Illinois Senator Barack Obama[citation needed]. Mayor Rybak campaigned on Obama's behalf, being active in the youth wing of the campaign. In January 2009, Rybak announced his intention to run for re-election as Mayor in the 2009 Minneapolis City Council elections.[17] On November 3rd 2009 Rybak was elected to a third term as mayor, winning more than 72% of the first place votes based on unofficial results. He announced on November 5th 2009 that he filed the paperwork to create the R.T. Rybak for Governor Committee. [edit] References
[edit] External links
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