R.T. Rybak

Raymond Thomas Rybak, Jr. (born December 11, 1955), who is universally known as R.T. Rybak, is the current mayor of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota and a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. Rybak's election was a shock to many political observers, as he defeated Sharon Sayles Belton, the first African-American and first female mayor of the city, without the help of campaign consultants or a vast war chest of funding. To win, Rybak ran an energetic and highly populist campaign, listening intently to the concerns of residents while he brought his message door-to-door. In the 2001 election, he won 65% of the vote to Belton's 35%—the widest margin in city history for a challenge to an incumbent. He took office in January 2002.

External links

• Mayor R.T. Rybak
• R.T. Rybak's campaign website
• Mayor R.T. Rybak Stage Dives and Crowd Surfs at First Avenue during Rock for Democracy