Minneapolis voters in the City Council's Sixth Ward, home to the Twin Cities' largest East African community, will choose between two Somali-born Democrats: a first-term incumbent and a longtime community activist, with contrasting views on policing and the division of power in City Hall.
Council Member Jamal Osman got a crash course in local government when he joined the council last year during one of its most trying times in the city's history. He found himself under intense public scrutiny over his stance on public safety following the police killing of George Floyd.
During his short stint in City Hall, Osman, 37, has consistently voted for more police funding. But in a recent council debate over how to phrase a ballot question on policing, Osman voted in different ways, sometimes siding with the mayor and sometimes siding with colleagues who support the proposal.
Osman, a certified mental health first aid instructor, supports the Question 2 ballot amendment that would replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a public safety office. He said it's vital to constituents that the existing system of policing is replaced with a new one that prioritizes violence prevention and other alternative approaches, such as a mental health response.
"It's been a very challenging twelve months," he said, "but I did what was best for my residents and not really joined one group here or there."
His sole opponent, Abdirizak Bihi, a longtime community organizer, says he wants the dwindling Minneapolis police force to be at the same level as that of other major U.S. cities. But Bihi has declined to share his stance on the public safety charter amendment.
"I will let the people vote," said Bihi, 57. "But if they decide no or yes, both ways, I would like to see resources for social workers and mental health professionals."
Bihi was one of 11 candidates who challenged Osman last year in a competitive special election to fill a seat vacated by Abdi Warsame, who resigned to lead the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.