DULUTH – Janet Kennedy, who made history as this city's first Black city councilor in 2019, announced Tuesday that she will run for St. Louis County Board of Commissioners ― citing a lack of "collaborative leadership" in her district.

Kennedy, a past president in her second term as a city councilor serving District 5, will challenge Ashley Grimm in the county's 3rd District. Grimm announced her run for reelection in mid-January.

Kennedy said in a news release that she is proud to serve the people of Duluth in her current role.

"But I am dismayed by the lack of collaborative leadership currently happening with our district's County Commissioner and we need strong leadership to help move our community in a new direction."

Kennedy is a lifelong Duluthian who worked the physical therapy field for 25 years before she retired. She's executive director and founder of the nonprofit Health Equity Northland and is a parish nurse community health coordinator at St. Mark Church.

"Jail funding at the county level is not being supported by our commissioner and it is putting people in danger," Kennedy said in a news release. "It is not Ok to not properly fund our local jail, creating unhealthy and unsafe conditions, not only for those incarcerated, but for the staff as well."

Grimm responded that her record speaks for itself.

"There is almost nothing I'm prouder of than having been the Public Safety Chair and leading on increasing jail healthcare and mental health supports as well as supporting jail and 911 staffing, follow-up services and housing for people getting out of incarceration," she said. "I'm proud to run a positive campaign that's based on results and look forward to healthy debates."

Grimm has worked as children's program manager at the Damiano Center, according to her website. She is currently on the county board's public safety committee and opioid settlement committee. She was selected by the Association of Minnesota Counties to serve on the National Association of Counties' Community and Economic Workforce Development Committee.