Stephens, 43, a health care business analyst and community organizer endorsed by the DFL caucus, said she was not planning to run for mayor until she was encouraged consistently by Brooklyn Park residents.

"I know it's a huge sacrifice of time and money," Stephens said. "I feel really honored to have been asked to run, since women aren't typically asked to run for office."

She has touted phrases like "Coming together as a city" and "one Brooklyn Park," and said the current leadership is "outdated and out-of-touch." She has said Lunde "is a mayor for who Brooklyn Park used to be, not where it's going."

"We are very divided," said Stephens, associate director of business analysis at UnitedHealth Group. "And a true sense from many, many people that we need to come together as a city and we need a stronger sense of community identity."

She wants to develop the southern end of Brooklyn Park, bring her business experience to streamline city expenses "wherever we can," and return "the greatest value back to the people who live in Brooklyn Park."

Stephens has criticized the way the city handled the Target deal, which she has said doesn't help the city's many lower-income and racially diverse residents.

She supports the Bottineau Light Rail Transit project. She said it would bring a variety of benefits to the community, including easy access to the Twin Cities, and attracting younger people to live or work in Brooklyn Park. The economic development it would bring would benefit smaller businesses, as well, she said.

She has spoken against Lunde for tabling the discussion and further delaying the project.

"We need to talk through any challenges and not dismiss a $1 billion investment, which it has the potential of doing," she said. "It's a huge investment opportunity for the city. We need to stay at the table, stay in the conversation about Bottineau, talk through what solutions we have and not hold the entire city hostage because a portion of the city [has concerns]."

A Brooklyn Park resident for 16 years, Stephens has endorsements from several DFL, including state Rep. Debra Hilstrom and state Sens. John Hoffman and Chris Eaton.

"The message that you have to be able to work with all different types of people is fundamentally sound. I do not disagree with that," Stephens said. "I've built an entire professional and community life based on that very fact. That's what I've been doing. That's who I am. I'm a DFLer because that's where my values are."

"[Residents] know I will put people first. They know that I will fight for the rights of workers over rights of corporations. They know my values are progressive and that's absolutely who I am."

Karen Zamora • 612-673-4647

Twitter: @KarenAnelZamora