R.T.
to feel like a slog, he turned to the Netflix Rybak has always
political series House of Cards, starring
been impressed
Kevin Spacey as an unscrupulous career
by the kindness of
politician.
Minneapolis resi-
“I saw what great TV it was, but also
dents. Once, while
how outrageously inaccurate it portrayed
he was taking a walk
what I consider to be public service,”
during a particularly
Rybak said. “I wanted to put out some-
stressful period in the city’s struggle over youth violence, someone simply
thing that was real — and hopefully
walked to up to him and patted him on the back. Minneapolis constituents,
inspirational to people who want to do it
though compassionate, hold their leaders to a high standard, Rybak said,
for a living.”
adding: “But they always had my back.”
Rybak regrets not keeping a journal for his many years before, during and after office to help with his memoir, billed as
These days, those who catch Rybak buzzing around town assume the high-energy public figure — who once officiated 46 weddings in a marathon midnight ceremony after the state’s same-sex marriage law went into effect — has slowed down. “What’s it like to be retired?” is a question he’s often asked, and
“a political coming-of-age story and a behind-the-scenes look at the running of a great city.” Rybak did have one important, perhaps even better, historical record to jog his memory — 12 years of scrapbooks meticulously kept by his mother, Lorraine, who saved every article written
it’s hard for him, sometimes, to conceal the steam pouring out of
about her son (and who famously crowd surfed with him after
his ears.
Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election).
Today he’s executive director of Generation Next, a Minneap-
“My mother giving me 12 years of scrapbooks of everything —
olis-based coalition devoted to reducing education achievement gaps in Minneapolis and St. Paul. He’s also vice chairman of the Democratic National Committee (during a presidential election year no less). Rybak insists he’s working harder than ever. “The work I’m doing now is strangely similar to what I was doing before,” he said. “People draw this line around political work. Political work to me is one part of a civic life.” Now more than two years removed from his three terms in office, the 60-year-old is reflecting on his time at City Hall — and his road to get there — in his new book, Pothole Confidential: My Life As Mayor of Minneapolis.
Embedded at City Hall Writing isn’t a new skill for Rybak, who started his career as a journalist covering crime and urban development for the Star Tribune. Rather than copying the style of a typical political memoir for his book, Rybak chose to go with a tone more like that of a reporter “embedded” at City Hall for 12 years. In fact, Rybak said he didn’t read any political autobiographies while writing his book. Instead, when the long, hard work of writing his book started 30 / April 2016 / Minnesota Good Age
▲▲Supporters carry then-mayor R.T. Rybak to Powderhorn Park at the conclusion of the 2010 May Day parade in Minneapolis. Photo by Jonathunder / Wikimedia Commons