Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - US Vice President Al Gore visits Eagan - Despite cloudy, rainy weather it was...
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Vice President Al Gore,flanked by Sen.Paul Wellstone (at left)and Eagan Police Chief Pat Geagan(at right) responds to
comments by Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson during a stop in Eagan Oct.23 to discuss the Community Orient-
ed Policing(COPS) program. (Jan Abbott/Staff Photographer)
Cityduringshowcased visit from vice resident
By Sue Hegarty and the Community Oriented Policing a chance to see the vice president.
Staff Writer (Clinton COPS)Program. "Cops and Secret Service people were all
The 2:30 p.m.scheduled visit pre-empt- over. He got out and waved. I stuck my
Well wishers, curiosity seekers, as well ed an electionjudge training class for about hand out and he shook it and said,'Thanks
as a few protesters toting orange Rudy 40 Burnsville High School students in for coming,"' Leah said. "We can't believe
Boschwitz campaign signs turned up at teacher Mary Lenhardt's government class. this happened. It took me by surprise that
Eagan's Municipal Center last Wednesday Instead of training, the students were he came to Eagan instead of a bigger city."
afternoon to see Vice President Al Gore. allowed to stand behind the yellow tape re- Leah said Gore had a "nice grip" for a
The city of Eagan rolled out the welcome ceiving line as Gore made his way from the handshake.
mat to act as host for an hour-long chat be- black limousine into the City Council Lenhardt said the students will be trained
tween Gore, Sen. Paul Wellstone and law Chambers. Student Leah Anderson of
enforcement officials about the crime bill Burnsville stood in a cold,drizzling rain for GORE:To Page 11A
Gore
From Page 1A
as election judges in the classroom since • x b a
they canceled last week's class. Leah is
more excited than ever now to serve at the
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church polling site
in Eagan during the Nov 5 election.
Eagan Mayor Tom Egan did not go un-
AWK
noticed by the vice president,who noted the ° 4
similarity between the mayor's last name
and the city.Egan presented Gore with the
trademark blue and green Eagan shopping 1
bag filled with gifts that included an Eagan
necktie,baseball cap and coffee mug.
Gore didn't make the same connection s
between the city's name and its Police Chief
Patrick Geagan,who was all smiles during
the vice presidential visit. f z
Geagan said Eagan has been the recipi- Nick Wirth, 9, grins after seeing Al
ent of the COPS More federal grant and Gore's motorbade leave the Eagan
used the funds to purchase dictaphones for Municipal Center. (Jan Abbott/Staff
officers. Photographer)
Last spring,the Police Department and
city were hosts for a meeting between
Dakota County law enforcement officials knowledgment and funding for others in-
and Wellstone. volved such as parole officers and judges,
"Because of the success of that meeting, he said.For example, a group of 72 police
Wellstone wanted to repeat it with the vice chaplains came together last week for a
president,"Geagan said. conference on restorative justice.
Eagan Crime Prevention Officer Bill Also present for the Gore visit were Twin
White told Gore and other elected officials Cities police chiefs Robert Olson and
that the COPS grant helped establish the William Finney, U.S. Congressman Bill
city's Crime Free Multi-Housing Program. Luther,Minnesota Attorney General Skip
The program teaches landlords how to Humphrey and all but one of Eagan's City
screen tenants.They also attach a lease ad- Council members.
dendum to be signed by tenants who pledge Absent was Councilmember Pat Awada,
not to engage in criminal activity or they a Republican and owner of a direct mail
may be evicted, a move Gore called, "One printing company.
strike and you're out." "First and foremost I was busy at work.
Officers who teach the program perform This is our busy time ofyear,"Awada said,
an inspection of the apartment premises before adding,"The visit was simply a cam-
and may require the landlord to install paign stop for Paul Wellstone."
deadbolt locks, improved outdoor lighting Awada said she did not protest the use
or other crime prevention improvements. of City Hall because it is a public building
"Owners have to shell out money to im- and "anyone can use it if they follow the
prove conditions,"White told Gore. rules we've set down. We can't discrimi-
Apartment residents also are invited to nate.
a meeting to learn what is expected of "He chose Eagan because its suburban
them,he said. and close to the airport.Wellstone needs to
"I have an obligation as a police officer, increase his exposure in the suburbs."