The council president isn’t talking, but we’re hearing that one of Barb Johnson’s daughters may run for her mom’s council seat in 2009. We’ve already reported that Johnson is considering a mayoral run, so if all falls into place, she’d find herself in the mayor’s office and Ward 4 would be represented by a third generation of Rainville women. Johnson’s mother, Alice Rainville, represented the ward from 1975 to 1997 (she was appointed to fill a vacancy left when her cousin, John Derus, won a seat on the Hennepin County Board), at which time daughter Barbara succeeded here. We’re not guessing about which of Johnson’s daughters might be in the mix. Both of her eldest — Sarah and Emily — are lawyers; the youngest, Margaret, made her name as a college basketball star. But, who cares? We’re talking dynasty here.

Mullery Under Fire
Another Northside politico, State Rep. Joe Mullery, is facing a barrage of DFL challengers as he approaches his seventh term in the Legislature. Along with School Board member Peggy Flanagan, we’re told that Minneapolis Empowerment Zone director Jonathan Palmer and Jon Munger, grandson of environmental icon Willard Munger, are also considering a run. We’re not sure why all the heat is on Mullery, but if we had to speculate, we’d look at his support for the city’s Neighborhood Revitalization Program, which has come under significant attack at City Hall in recent years. Mayor R.T. Rybak has been pushing back on the program, and Palmer and Flanagan are Rybak allies.

And More Northside Fireworks
And, finally, State Rep. Willie Dominguez, who won a nasty DFL endorsement race in 2006 to succeed Keith Ellison and subsequently cruised to victory, is likely to be challenged this time around by Michael Browne, last seen running the city’s Civil Rights agency as interim director. Browne, an articulate and polished advocate for the underclass, could provide a lively challenge to a vulnerable first-termer.