Minneapolis has what is known as a “weak mayor system,” but R.T. Rybak is suddenly positioned as one of the country’s strongest mayors. Rybak has been elected as vice president for communications of the National Conference of Democratic Mayors, which means he’ll be a spokesman on national urban issues for that organization.

In addition to that platform, Rybak long has had strong connections in the Barack Obama organization because  he was among the first in the country to urge  Obama to run for president.