Schiff raising funds for mayoral "exploratory committee"

Council Member Gary Schiff hasn't made a decision yet on whether he'll run for mayor, but he's starting to raise the necessary funds.

The "Gary Schiff for Mayor exploratory committee" is hosting a fundraiser at the not-yet-open Dangerous Man Brewing Co. in Northeast next Thursday. Schiff said recently that he'll decide in January whether he's running.

The committee isn't yet listed on the Hennepin County campaign finance website, but it will need to be registered before the event on December 15. Schiff's colleague, Betsy Hodges, recently formed a fundraising committee because she had begun raising money.

Schiff is hosting the event at Dangerous Man as a nod to his efforts to loosen Minneapolis' liquor laws. Dangerous Man Brewing will be able to open a microbrewery/taproom because of an ordinance that Schiff introduced.

Hodges says she won't run if Rybak seeks a fourth term, but Schiff says he's "deciding whether to run in either scenario."