Tenth Ward Preview: Scott Fine is running for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 10

Scott Fine is running for Minneapolis City Council against Lisa Bender in Ward 10.

We'll start with a few things about our current council member. I find this endorsement of Lisa Bender very persuasive:

In three short years, she has passed more progressive ordinances than other Council Members have managed to pass in two or three whole terms. Parking reform, ADUs, flexibility for homeless shelters, a nation-leading Complete Streets policy, parklets, sick and safe time, relaxing regulations for beekeeping... I could go on, but won't.

The quality I appreciate most in a politician is the sense that they are running for office because they care about policies more than just the idea of getting elected. Lisa Bender cares about policy; she wants to make those policies happen; and she's talented enough to have been successful making them happen in her first three years in office. Most importantly, she inspires enough confidence in her colleagues that they're willing to follow her lead.

Lisa Bender has a challenger in the 10th Ward this year. His name is Scott Fine. His campaign Facebook page describes him as a web developer who's lived and rented in Ward 10 since 1970.

Guy on twitter makes this observation:

@WedgeLIVE "I'm a web developer."
*Launches campaign with FB page only*

— Scott Shaffer (@scttdvd) February 16, 2017

In terms of Scott Fine's policy, advocacy, or activist experience, this is all there is:

• His page lists DFL involvement from 2004 to 2006.
• His campaign has been distributing a flyer which links to an article from 2014 quoting his opposition to construction of an apartment building on a parking lot at Franklin and Lyndale: "I and my neighbors have very carefully, with great effort and diligence, cultivated the local culture – a very vibrant neighborhood that exists … now. We don’t want somebody coming from outside and realigning the culture, rewiring our way of life."

That sounds like I'm being unfair. But you can check for yourself.

Fine highlights "Democratic Neighborhoods" as one of his top three issues. I've been covering neighborhood politics since the last election in 2013, and I have never come across Scott Fine.

It's also notable that Scott Fine is from the Wedge neighborhood. Ward 10 has many neighborhoods, including CARAG, Whittier, ECCO, and East Harriet. But recently, all our council candidates are Wedge-based. Lisa Bender is from the Wedge. Lisa Bender's predecessor, Meg Tuthill, is from the Wedge. We should be very proud of this. Other neighborhoods should be ashamed for making the Wedge neighborhood do all the council membering.

You might be wondering:

• Is Scott Fine's candidacy propped up by the forces of the Wedge Shitstorm? I'm pretty sure.

• Has HGTV's Nicole Curtis "stockpiled" her money to write a $600 check to his campaign? I wouldn't count on Nicole Curtis to pay up on her promises.