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For some months, Minneapolis residents have been fed the notion that the mayor’s race is between two candidates: incumbent Jacob Frey and challenger Omar Fateh. This narrative has been promoted by the media, the city DFL Party, the candidates themselves and two opposing political action committees aligned with those candidates. This false choice dampens interest and participation and fuels a perception that all we can expect for Minneapolis is more polarization, more finger-pointing and more dysfunction in City Hall.
Recently Star Tribune columnist Eric Roper introduced us to Jazz Hampton, one of the two other viable candidates for mayor (“Mayor candidate Hampton wants to be a City Hall bridge builder,” Oct. 4). Because Hampton happens to be my choice, I was delighted to finally see him get the attention he deserves.
I did not know Hampton until I took a phone call from him a month ago. His clarity, compassion, strategic approach to city problems, willingness to work across divides and intelligence impressed me greatly, so much that I agreed to host a meet-and-greet for him. Recently he spoke to 25 of my neighbors, and every one of them came away very interested in his candidacy.
His commitment to Minneapolis Public Schools impressed the young parents among us. It was refreshing to hear from a candidate with three kids in MPS who understands that the fate of our city is linked to the success of our public schools. His grasp of small-business issues resonated with a restaurant owner in attendance. His approach to public safety was filled with common sense, not ideology. He believes we deserve a fully staffed police force, accountability for police behavior, much greater investment in unarmed responses to mental health and homelessness, and neighborhoods that are safe and calm.
I have lived in Minneapolis for 43 years, all those years six blocks from George Floyd Square. In the five years since Floyd’s murder, I have watched the city’s inability to execute on almost anything about the intersection where he was killed with increasing anger, frustration and sadness. The fact that we have a dirty, chaotic and often crime-ridden intersection at 38th and Chicago, rather than a sacred memorial to George Floyd and a transit corridor that works, is a travesty. This is an indictment of city leadership across the board.
I find Hampton a breath of fresh air and a reason for hope. He connects with people, listens intently, is pragmatic and values-driven and rejects the politics of division and anger. He is the only candidate who has met with every City Council member and who has pledged to work across differences to reach our common goals.
