Ward 5 Candidate Answers

The following candidates running in Ward 5 filled out our survey. Click a name to see all that candidate’s answers. The score next to a candidate’s name represents their rating, on a scale of 1 to 5. One is “does not align with any values,” and five is “aligns with all values.” Ratings are not endorsements.

• Jeremiah Ellison (I)

• Kristel Porter

If elected, how do you plan on being accountable to your constituents? Please emphasize ways in which marginalized and oppressed people who have been neglected in the past will be a part of your accountability plan.

I'm always strived in build a broad grassroots coalition of my neighbors. That starts with setting your intention and putting it in writing, which is why I've always run on a platform I can be held accountable to. In the past, basic outreach like a regular newsletter, open office hours, and consistent assemblies have been absent. I've made those this the norm during my time in office. I've expanded excess to the office, as a result, I've received more constituent cases (an indication that people feel more comfortable reaching out to my office) and have resolved more constituent cases than any of my predecessors.

How are young people included in your campaign, and how will they be included in your decisions if elected?

I began my career as a Teaching Artist at JXTA, a Northside youth arts and employment organization, and a youth counselor at Avenues for Homeless Youth. I know the importance of young peoples' perspectives and I know how to invite those voices into conversations about housing or safety or economic development, etc. Utilizing resources like the Youth Coordinating Board, developing youth panels on specific topics, and investing in youth employment are all ways I plan to continue promoting youth voices, both in and beyond an advisory capacity.

How would you describe your relationship with mass movement work and non-violent direct action? If you are elected, what will you do to try to protect people who organize and participate in this work?

I was on the ground before my time in office, and I've continued to be on the ground during. I will continue to show up, but now I'm in a position to more boldly advocate for peoples' first amendment rights. I will continue to demand that protesters have their charges dropped if they have not violated the law, and that protesting itself not be criminalized.

Last summer in Minneapolis, Uprisings occurred in response to the murder of George Floyd and against state-sanctioned violence and militarized, white supremacist police. How have the events of last summer impacted your leadership and relationship to your community? If you were involved in any way, we would love to hear about it.

I was on the ground for much of the protest, and when reports of white supremacists starting fires in my community came in, I began doing nightly patrols alongside my neighbors in North Minneapolis, looking to prevent fires. For the most part, community appreciated my activism and hands-on approach to governing at that time. But the Northside is also challenged by community violence, so some of my neighbors have interpreted my fight against police brutality and my call to change the way we keep each other safe, as lack of care for their safety. Obviously, keeping people safe is my top priority, and I do not think over a century of our police-only approach has resulted in secure or thriving communities on the Northside.

When you began considering running for office, who did you speak with who helped inform your decision to run? What motivated you most in deciding to run for office?

When I first ran on 2017, my neighbors recruited me to run, and I have been motivated to run again by that same support.

Why is your campaign more capable of reaching and connecting with voters, and why are you more able to represent your ward than other candidates in the race?

Not only was I born and raised on the Northside, but I've always had a grassroots approach to everything I've done, even my art practice was a public and inclusive process. As the incumbent and the youngest person in my race, I not only have the most experience, but my life experience is closer to that of the residents in my ward where the average age is 27. I know this community, and I understand that this job is about building genuine relationships on the ground, and committing to action. This job is not a popularity contest.

If elected, how do you plan on being accountable to your constituents? Please emphasize ways in which marginalized and oppressed people who have been neglected in the past will be a part of your accountability plan.

Currently over 2000 people in North Minneapolis already have my personal cell phone number which I always answer and respond to. I am also very accessible since many folks know that they can find me outside working in my yard every Sunday. I am also a head coach at North, Henry and Edison High Schools, volunteer in community gardens and check in with the community that frequently hangs out in hot spots along our business corridors.

How are young people included in your campaign, and how will they be included in your decisions if elected?

Half my team are between the ages of 14 - 23. This is due to the fact that I coach High School Gymnastics and coach soccer at Farview Park in North Minneapolis. I am also a partner in Seeds to Harvest which offers employment, training, and volunteer opportunities to Northside youth every Saturday. With the non-profit organization I lead; I am constantly providing paid engagement, training, and service learning projects around Environmental Justice issues addressing Climate Change and environmental racism.

How would you describe your relationship with mass movement work and non-violent direct action? If you are elected, what will you do to try to protect people who organize and participate in this work?

I have always supported peaceful protest. I am someone who played a major role in the Occupy Movement, MN 350 marches to the capital and Justice For Jamar. The role of activists is to take to the streets, and keep the issue at the forefront of everyone's minds. To disrupt our comfortable and convenient life's so it is impossible to ignore the oppression our community faces. While the activists are doing this they must simultaneously work with elected officials to push policy and legislation that will change the narrative of the oppressed.

Last summer in Minneapolis, Uprisings occurred in response to the murder of George Floyd and against state-sanctioned violence and militarized, white supremacist police. How have the events of last summer impacted your leadership and relationship to your community? If you were involved in any way, we would love to hear about it.

It hasn't changed my relationship with my community at all. I have always been a Black and Indigenous woman living in North Minneapolis with Black and Indigenous children. The work that I have done, no matter what capacity, has always been to serve my neighbors. I have turned down major opportunities to instead work with organizations that provide resources to North Residents that they otherwise would not have access to. In 2020, because there was a pandemic and a major decrease in my professional demands, I was able to ramp up the service I provided to my community. Whether it was staying up all night and walking the block, while communicating with a coalition of neighbors to dismantle abandoned vehicles and tow them outside of our neighborhood before they caught on fire. I helped clean up the locally owned businesses that were severely damaged. I printed off a stack of applications for County Grants and I walked along every business corridor and passed them out while connecting the business owners with a contact person at Hennepin County in order to heighten their chances of getting the funding they needed. I also helped the only Somali owned business in North Minneapolis on Lowry with my connections at Abubakar As-Sadique and she was able to get her windows repaired, new signage, and a new awning! There is a lot more, but hopefully this explains the passion and deep love I have for my community and the desire to see North Minneapolis prosper.