It's been about 20 years since a Republican served on the Minneapolis City Council, but the city's GOP hasn't given up hope.
Minneapolis Republicans endorse six candidates for city elections
They are seeking seats on the City Council and Park Board.
July 20, 2017 at 3:31AM
The Minneapolis City Republican Committee endorsed six candidates at its convention Tuesday night for municipal elections taking place this fall — its first such convention in at least eight years. Three of the endorsed candidates are running for City Council. Three others are running for seats on the Park Board.
"We had an upbeat convention. Everybody's rejuvenated," said committee Chairwoman Christina Pierson.
The three Republican endorsed council candidates — Joe Kovacs, Bruce Lundeen and Fadumo Yusuf — are seeking to represent wards covering a portion of downtown, the Uptown area and an area straddling Franklin Avenue and Cedar-Riverside.
Kovacs is vying for the seat held by City Council Member Lisa Goodman in the Seventh Ward. Lundeen, who has run previously for state Senate and City Council, is running for Council Member Lisa Bender's 10th Ward seat. Fadumo Yusuf is running in the Sixth Ward, now represented by Council Member Abdi Warsame.
Pierson said there was discussion at the convention of the labor policies being pursued by City Hall, such as a $15 minimum wage.
"We're just not convinced as a group that the current policies being passed actually get us to where we want to be, [which is] everybody higher in employment and a higher standard of living for everybody," Pierson said.
The endorsed Park Board candidates are Jonathan Honerbrink and Robert Sullentrop for at-large seats, and Jennifer Zielinski to represent District 6 in southwest Minneapolis. District 6 is represented by Commissioner Brad Bourn, who is seeking re-election.
Candidate filing officially opens on Aug. 1.
There are no primaries for municipal elections in Minneapolis, which are decided using ranked-choice voting. Voters will head to the polls on Nov. 7 to vote for mayor, City Council, Park Board and Board of Estimate and Taxation.
Eric Roper • 612-673-1732
Twitter: @StribRoper
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