Ward 9 Candidate Answers

The following candidates running in Ward 9 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.

• Jason Chavez

• Carmen Means

• Mickey Moore

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.

Accountability is a key component of our campaign and we hope to accomplish this through an accountability team, accessibility, and a “community led, community centered” campaign. Our plan is to create an accountability team once we get to City Hall to ensure we are on track to meet the community’s goals and to help keep our vision accountable to the people. This team will consist of community members in the 9th Ward, organizers, and those most impacted by policy. We are building intentional relationships with community members through the campaign and we want to create a structure where they are able to hold us accountable if I am elected. Additionally, I plan on holding my office the majority of the time in the Ward so I am accessible and responsive to constituent needs, concerns, and vision. I seek to breakdown barriers that make government inaccessible to working peoples.

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

I am proud to be the 2nd youngest person running for office in Minneapolis this year with a team of young people that are running our campaign for the 9th Ward. We are at a pivotal time in our movement where young people are often the ones left to clean the messes of the decisions made by our elected leaders. I will continue to work closely with young folks on the ground, here in Ward 9. My plan is to host a planning meeting with young organizers in the 9th Ward, the movement, and especially young folks in immigrant communities. In immigrant communities, it is often young people who are the ones that inform their parents, grandparents, and other relatives on how to take political action. They are key to expanding community power to those who have been left out because of work, language barrier, or fear of deportation.

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 would describe my relationship as innate, I could not see myself in political work without the movement. Without mass movements or direct action, my people would not be able to rise up against the powers that oppress them. I feel deeply connected to the movement for housing justice because I watched my family face homelessness as a young child and now watch my unhoused community members continue to struggle. I feel in a community with families that have experienced police brutality and violence because my own family has suffered from violence from ICE and I have experienced police brutality first-hand. I’m a leader with Pueblos de Lucha y Esperanza, a movement organization that has been working alongside Latine residents at Powderhorn Park. I advocate for a community that speaks only Spanish, is undocumented, and distrusts the government. This organizing allows this community to feel heard and seen.

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.

If elected, some of the things I will do to protect people is make substantive changes to the Minneapolis Police Department. While I believe in fighting for a City without police I also want to work on other tactics that will protect people who organize and participate in movement work. We have a system in place that continues to criminalize protesting and brutalizes those fighting for their rights. We can immediately demilitarize the police and ban chemical weapons to ensure we keep our communities safe. We need a council that will stand-up against national guard deployment, put an end to repressive curfews that criminalize, and is willing to work with legislators to protect people’s rights and freedom to protest without facing incarceration and bogus charges.

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?

I was approached by my community to run. The 9th Ward has the biggest Latine and Undocumented community in the entire State of Minnesota. I had many people from the immigration justice movement approach when this was not an open seat. The 9th Ward is impacted by the most pressing issues in Minneapolis. From the inaction of the government to house our community, lack of job opportunities, and to MPD’s record of police violence. These are all things I have seen my whole life in Ward 9 either dismissed or addressed without community in the forefront. I ran because I see my personal life story in the stories of my neighbors. I both feel the pain many have in Ward 9 and see the wonders that exist here and the potential of the world we can build in our own backyards.

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?

Our campaign from the start has been built and held up by individuals in the community putting in their time to help develop policy, make calls, and ensure that this campaign stayed true to its value of collaborative vision. We plan on focusing our community contact efforts by building organizing structures in immigrant communities regardless of status, Indigenous communities, and meeting working people where they are. Most able to represent the Ward because I am the only one that speaks Spanish and our Spanish-speaking community is sorely underrepresented, language is survival for many. I also feel that I am running with values that are most aligned with Ward 9. I am the only one that is running who has a plan to redirect funds from MPD to community, who believes abolition is possible and is involved first hand in housing justice work in the Ward.

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.

We have a culture that is power driven so using verbiage such as “we want to invite black, brown folks to the table seen sufficient. However the power does not lie in “who is invited to the table” but rather “who built the table”. Marginalized communities are more that capable of building and leading the change in our communities. As City Council I will be intentional about inviting our community to grass root, starter initiatives. I will meet with my constituents bi-weekly. I plan on forming a community accountable group that will closely hold me accountable as there partner and representative.

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

Young people have been at the center of my campaign by grassroots involvement from hosting community listening sessions as well as door knocking, canvassing and phone calls. I’ve partners with local organizations that are youth leaders to implement organizing - anti racism training.

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 am currently connected to organizations that focus on restorative justice practices with an emphasis on cultural relevant trainings. As well as a working with training from Non-violent Peaceforce to do a training with Ward9 residents.

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.

At my full-time job I serve as the Executive Director of Central and Bryant Neighborhood. The murder of George Floyd took place steps from our office in the Central Neighborhood. The impact of last summer impacted my leadership as it propelled our board, my staff and I to lead multiple protest, BIPOC Women’s March, Fathers Day march, countless information community meetings. I facilitated weekly anti-racism focused community conversations. Partnered with The People Institute for Survival and Beyond (New Orleans, LA) to train over 20 leaders on anti/racism and leadership development. Because the businesses that sit on 38th Chicago are barricaded in as the community protest- I’ve organized the businesses to share resources, created untraditional ways to generate income as well as hold the City of Minneapolis accountable for the lack of response. Facilitated community meetings with Mayor of Mpls, Chief Arradondo and City Council reps

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?

I spoke with my sons, community members mentors and elders. I believe our community deserves better leadership. The fact of the matter is that George Floyd did not have to happen. The systemic placing of Poverty is the root cause of our communities sickness. The power game is keep community poor to keep the powers that be in place. We are in need of leadership that are willing to dive in deep and partner with the community to heal and develop accessibility to all its residents. The uprise and the April 20th verdict has taught us that the power is in the people.

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?

I believe in the simple but powerful move of grassroots. I have the experience, flexibility and boldness to make the necessary moves that will bring a wholistic approach and re-building the community that reflects the very essence of equity .

Please feel free to tell us anything else you would like us to know here.

I’m interested in building community driven and based solutions to dismantle racism at its core. One that operates with a shared power model. To rebuild all that was lost with our community.

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.

1.) Ward 9 is the most diverse community on the city and I will have the most inclusive and reflective administration in city govt. As a bi-racial man, I understand completely what it means to be unheard, discriminated against and left out of critical decision making processes. I have spent my life working across lines and labels and we will include representatives of every racial, religious and ethnic community group, including black, white, Latinx, immigrant, indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ community members. 2.) I will open a local ward office. Fully staffed and available everyday for local residents without any appointment to access city, county, state and federal resources and assistance regarding any matter of concern. 3.) I have already pledged to attend every neighborhood meeting possible, making myself available to community members, before, during and after these gatherings for discussion of any topic or issue.

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

Both my Campaign Chair and my Campaign Manager are in their early 30s. (32, as a matter of fact...) This means our campaign utilizes social media and trends towards issues that not only matter to our current population, but also reflect our youth and our future generations. Despite being the oldest candidate in this particular race, I have strong mixture of highly experienced people, and enthusiastic young people working with me, including both college and high school students. I appeal to young people, because my 11 year old daughter, keeps me young at heart. I plan to immediately make available internship opportunities for young people to gain practical experience and have a voice in our city leadership. I place a tremendous value on the involvement and input that we get from our youngest volunteers, and I would definitely look to continue that resource after I become the next city councilmember.

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 raised by a single mom who could be described as an extreme activist. WAMM, ERA, AIM, NOW, Gray Panthers, MADD, etc. In the 70s or early 80s, if there was a cause or a protest, my mother was either directly involved or leading it. It is her culture of non-violent dissent and demonstration-oriented activism which I inherited and hold dear to our social change process. I believe we have a constitutional duty to preserve and protect the rights of the people to assemble and to peaceably protest. Based on the events of the past year, I believe that our city ought to have well established guidelines and policies ensuring these protections. Additionally, when appropriate, I will use the inherent added publicity associated with my elected office to lend to the voice of causes with which my Ward is deeply invested.

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.

The morning after the murder of George Floyd, I registered as a candidate for U.S. Congress. I did not run to win, but rather simply to lend my experience, leadership and help give direction to the frustrated and disillusioned masses that I knew would be traumatized by such a tragic and public display of callous injustice. As the owner of The Braid Factory, which for 25 years has remained the most popular hair braiding salon in the Twin Cities, I have a long-standing, intimate and abiding connection with the African-American community throughout the area. Also, The Braid Factory is located just a few blocks down Chicago Ave. from where George Floyd was killed. I had hoped to use this trust and familiarity with our community to help initiate a process of healing and understanding that might ultimately benefit people and lead towards greater social justice.

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?

As I stated earlier, I felt immediately compelled to run for office by the murder of George Floyd. My decision to run for city council in 2021 was based on the tremendous success of my 2020 run for U.S. Congress. Despite only being involved in the race for a few months, having taken a pledge of NO fundraising in a race where others spent 22 million dollars. Despite no press coverage, no prior experience and all the covid-19 and protest-related curfew restrictions, I received almost 10% of 5th district support and more votes than any independent Congressional candidate in the country...by far. So, well-wishing supporters and volunteers who wanted me to try again were instrumental in convincing me to run for a local office where I could not only win, but actually have an impact and influence on the very local issues for which I had been advocating.

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?

As a bi-racial man, born and raised in Minneapolis, I automatically connect with the residents and business owners of the 9th Ward. People know me, they know my businesses. Many are customers, or family, friends and neighbors of customers. I've been lucky to have a popular and successful business that has been extremely well supported for over 25 years. I also just received almost 38 thousand votes for U.S. Congress, so by choosing me as their representative, people are choosing continuity. A proven and trusted partner, with whom they have already decided to make a worthwhile and beneficial personal investment. I know them and they know me. People recognize that I possess the professional, disciplined and responsive leadership skills necessary to solve serious problems and implement intelligent solutions that work for everyone. My deep love for this community has been proven across a long commitment to helping others achieve their goals.

Please feel free to tell us anything else you would like us to know here.

I was born in South Minneapolis, the son of a single mother. In many ways, I am the product of the programs, services, and extended families who helped nurture me as a child. From the Boy’s Club, to the Boy Scouts. From Latchkey to Park and Rec. sports, and so many others. Since running for Congress last year, I've spoken with thousands of residents, and although our individual problems are as diverse as our community, 1 common theme is the lack of responsive and responsible govt. I’m running to represent the 9th Ward because I believe that now, more than ever, our city needs an attentive, experienced, professional leader, with a proven track record of success. I am that leader. I will work hard for this community and partner with every resident and business owner to make sure that we all achieve the American dream.