By: Abdirahman Aynte

       Fellow, The Center for Independent Media

Minneapolis, MN – (HOL)  - Rich Stanek, a Republican, who’s running for Hennepin County Sheriff, emerged at a Somali event Saturday, a member of the community, who’s sprinkling his campaign literature, in tow.

Stanek, who commands the Criminal Investigations Division of Minneapolis Police Department (MPD), has yard signs all over the Somali malls and other minority businesses.

At times, his signs are inches away from those of Keith Ellison, a Democrat, who not only endorsed Stanek’s opponent, Juan Lopez, but spearheaded an effort that led to Stanek’s resignation as the Public Safety Commissioner two years ago.

Stanek, a 23-year veteran of MPD, admitted to making racial epithets in a deposition during one of three police brutality cases against him in 1989.

Unwitting Partners

But now, Stanek and Ellison are unwitting partners—in many circles.

Stanek is being backed by the same people who support Ellison’s bid for Congress. And some of the activists that led his demise are talking about “redemption.”

Insight News, a large African-American newspaper endorsed both Stanek and Ellison.

“Stanek is being challenged by some for racial remarks he made in the past. He has confronted his own past and the environment that he was pare of, that nurtures racial insensitivity” the paper said.

Stanek’s honorary campaign co-chairman is Abdulkadir (Dalmar) Hashi, the president of Somali Business Association of North America, who also actively campaigns for Ellison.

“He shows us more interest,” he said of Stanek. “And he regretted his past.”

Hashi, whose office in the Somali mall, Karmell Plaza, is filled with Stanek and Ellison signs, said Stanek has been “instrumental” in dealing with crime in the mall and helped increase police patrol. The Somali community, he added, isn’t affiliated with one political party, but “awesomely rewards whoever approaches them.”

From mosque arson, to an event condemning assassination attempt against Somali president in Brian Coyle, to crime scenes in Karmell Mall, Stanek is fixed on events important to the community.

“I want to do something about the real challenges facing the community,” he said in an interview. “Many law enforcement agencies don’t understand the Somali culture.”

Source: HOL, Oct. 16, 2006

gaaboow @ 10/18/2006 12:29 AM EST  WoW, I just can't figure you guys out, in away, most of you are supporting hashi like how some mentioned they knew him; with all do respect, do you guys thing that you are making any sense? I mean wat our first brother said may not be rigth, but on the other hand he have the rigth to express his thoughts so stop attacking while you guys thinking you doin right. and to agree with you bro abdikarim on how you said "you never put your eggs in one basket it's a good thing to have people on both sides of American politics republican or democrat" I mean support who ever is good to you; but again some somali brothers do get paid to bring the somali community to particular political group. and I aslo agree with abdirisak, there are a lot of people who give them selves titles and it does happen, and that does not mean to belittle some or decree them. I think everyone should express thir thoughts with out gettin attacked, me, i believe everyone shouild criticise wateva they like to nowadays, and it ain't like as somali we will like each other which is douptly high.....so all i got to say is express your feelings but know your limits thats 4 everyone. peace out

mohamedamin @ 10/17/2006 5:30 PM EST  Abdirizak that was a cheap shot. the organization exist and Dalmar is a hardworking brother. I personally know him and Mr Stanek. We don't want be taken for granted by any party just like the Democrats did to our Black American brothers. we deal with who is taking care of our issues than party. thanks

Abdikarim @ 10/17/2006 12:33 AM EST  It's Somalia and the civil war all over again, what I mean by that is we all know what we went through and how it started and continued for 16 yrs, lack off respect for one another. If Abdirizak (Dalmar) said he is the president of Somali business in N/America why some of us take the time to prove that he is not, it shows that we (Somalis) don't want another Somali to succeed,and the root of it is based on clanship, which means if Abdirizak is your clan it's given that you will support him. I don't know the man and never met him but, I have to give him a credit for organizing our people in that part of world so they can become a force to be reckon with, specially in a democracy like USA where a strong community can go a long way. We must stop to bring down any one of us who want to do something for his/her people and be united so we can help ourselves here and those were left at home. For the question of him campaigning for a republican party, that's his choice for one thing, others in the community will also make their choice at the ballot box, the second thing you never put your eggs in one basket it's a good thing to have people on both sides of American politics republican or democrat. Way to go brother Abdirizak for bringing our people together, keep up the good work and never in your life use your office to divide the community, always remember "United we stand divided we fall" Thank you. Abdikarim

Abdik @ 10/16/2006 3:23 PM EST  I know Mr. Dalmar too and he is a fine gentleman who cares about issues facing Somali community in Minnesota and around the United States. Its important to work with both sides in order to accomplish a lot for the community. Mr. Dalmar understands, and also wants to makre sure, that people don't see them as just foot soldiers for the Dems. By the way, such organization does exist. I am a member of it. :)

zio-tom @ 10/16/2006 12:16 PM EST  Why we Somalis like to belittle each other, I don't know if this man and his Org. exist but he seems speaking and campagning for Republican party, which I don't care for it and again he has right to vote and campaign whoever who he sees fit, that is democracy.