Mayor Jacob Frey is seeking a final term in office, telling voters at the Northside Candidate Forum at Zion Baptist Church, “I’m running for one final term to get the job done. I want to partner with you all to make that happen.”
Frey faces eight challengers in his bid for a third term, including Ward 11 Councilmember Emily Koski; Rev. DeWayne Davis of Plymouth Congregational Church; Jazz Hampton, CEO of legal services app TurnSignl; and Brenda Short, a former retail and corporate worker known for her criticisms of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). DSA-backed candidate Omar Fateh was absent from the forum due to state Senate deliberations running overtime.
At the forum, Frey highlighted the Great River Landing Project as a model for criminal justice reform. “We should have wraparound services that make sure that people have homes, jobs, and a direct connection to the community,” he said, emphasizing support for those reentering society after incarceration.
Hampton, whose TurnSignl app helps drivers record interactions with police, criticized the lack of resources for formerly incarcerated individuals. Citing the case of Marvin Haynes, whose wrongful conviction was overturned due to faulty eyewitness reports, Hampton said, “He didn’t have a cell phone to put a number down on a piece of paper to get a call back for an interview,” referring to the challenges inmates face when transitioning back into society. “These are wraparound services that we need to provide.”
Davis underscored the role churches play in filling financial gaps for entrepreneurs with criminal records. “If you have been convicted and incarcerated, no one wants to loan you anything. Churches have been very good at backing people with good ideas who just need someone to believe in them,” he said.
Koski pointed to job opportunities within the city. “We have 4,000 jobs at the City of Minneapolis, over 3,000 part-time jobs,” she said, touting the Southside Community Center and the council’s funding of the Fourth Precinct as ways to bolster the Community Safety Department.
Davis expressed optimism about the Neighborhood Safety Department’s efforts to increase public trust through data transparency. Meanwhile, Short, a self-described “Peace Officer,” dismissed the concept of reform entirely. “I don’t believe in reform. I believe in rebuilding,” she said.
Frey also cited his administration’s initiatives, including the Office of Safety Commissioner and mental health response services, as commitments made in the wake of George Floyd’s killing by Minneapolis police. “I’m sure there are people now that say we’re not going to be able to set up a Safety Center, either on the South Side or the North Side, that has all these services under one roof,” Frey said. “Doubt it now. We’re going to do that too.”
Candidates also addressed labor issues, with many voicing support for public unions. Short referenced a March 14 strike by workers at Providence Place in Minneapolis. “Our workers have the right to be paid fairly and to work in a safe environment,” she said.
Frey acknowledged challenges stemming from President Donald Trump’s executive order rolling back collective bargaining rights for public unions. “We need to stand with our partners in labor. We need to ensure that workers have fair jobs and fair wages, and we are actively addressing this in our city,” he said.
Koski expressed support for a city board governing labor policy, saying, “That is what I will continue to advocate for, and as mayor, I will ensure that we have a Labor Standards Board.”
Frey had previously backed a similar measure but later vetoed a labor standards board ordinance, calling it lopsided. Councilmembers Andrea Jenkins (Ward 9) and Jamal Osman (Ward 6) changed their votes from yes to no, ultimately preventing an override of Frey’s veto. Koski, Davis and Fateh indicated they would support such a measure if elected mayor.
On environmental concerns, candidates debated the future of the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC), which has been criticized the last few years by both community and council members due to its alleged hazardous effect on the surrounding air quality. When asked about the incinerator’s potential closure before 2028, Hampton did not confirm whether he would take immediate action, despite the city’s resolution mandating its shutdown within three years.
Instead, Hampton pointed to accessing the data: “If you don’t do it now, it’s going to get more expensive and more deadly for the folks that are living there,” he said, referring to evaluating whether or not HERC is responsible for making its neighbors sick.
Minneapolis voters will head to the polls on Nov. 5. Under the city’s Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) system, voters can rank candidates in order of preference. If a voter’s top choice is eliminated, their vote is transferred to their next choice, ensuring votes are counted even if a preferred candidate does not win.
In Minneapolis, RCV applies to elections for mayor, city council, the Board of Estimate and Taxation, and the Park and Recreation Board.
Clint Combs welcomes reader responses at ccombs@spokesman-recorder.com.