The following item by Nick Halter was published in the August 29, 2013 issue of the Southwest Journal:

LATE ENTRANTS MAKE FOR COMPETITIVE PARK BOARD ELECTION

Lots of challengers emerged in the final days of filing for public office, announcing runs for Minneapolis Park Board this November.

The most competitive race will be for the three at-large seats that are elected citywide.

One of the incumbents, Bob Fine, decided to instead run for mayor. Now, 10 candidates are vying for the three seats.

John Erwin and Annie Young are incumbents. Tom Nordyke is a former Park Board president and got the DFL endorsement along with Erwin and Fine.

Also running are Meg Forney and Jason Stone, who lost Park Board elections in 2009.

The field is rounded out by Hashim Yonis, Mary Lynn McPherson, Steve Barland, Casper Hill and Ishmael Israel.

Hill works for the city of Minneapolis communications department.

In the Park Board’s sixth district in Southwest, incumbent Brad Bourn is facing Josh Neiman. Bourn got the DFL endorsement. Neiman’s father and grandfather were Park Board commissioners.

In the fourth district, incumbent Anita Tabb faces Bobby Davis.