The Next Set of Local Leaders Are Coming...Who Will They Be?

In the 2023 city hall election cycle, Community Power and partners again created some opportunities to get to know candidates and for those running to represent us to share what perspectives, experience, and insights they bring to local energy issues.

Those who who ran to represent us on the Minneapolis City Council deserve this special recognition for providing their perspectives through both written questionnaires and live Q & A forums. Thank you to all!  

In 2023 Community Power: 

  • Hosted 3 in-person candidate forums in the spring on energy democracy and local climate justice issues for the open city council races in Wards 7 & 12 as well as Ward 6 (to make up for missing it in 2021).
  • Contributed questions to candidate forums organized by the Minneapolis League of Women Voters (from here on abbreviated below as LWV) and being an official cosponsor their forums in Wards 8, 9, 10 & 11.
    • NOTE: For some of the links listed in Wards 5, 6, 8, & 12, which cover the non LWV forums, you will need to scroll to the timestamp listed (@Min:Sec) in the video recording to hear the question + candidate answers because those recordings are on Facebook rather than YouTube. Each timestamp is listed next to each respective topic.   
  • Posted candidates' responses to our updated 2023 Energy Questionnaire (linked below by clicking on candidates' names under the Questionnaire Response headings)
  • Met with the majority of candidates running for city hall (about 2 dozen out) to brief them on the history of local energy decisions over the years.

This page was be updated regularly with newly returned questionnaires, links with more info on upcoming forums, and recordings of livestreams from forums. When the next city council is seated, this page will be archived for reference and the words of whichever candidates are elected will be posting on our "Current City Leaders On Energy" page. 

(for reference) Blank Copy of our 2023 Community Power Energy Questionnaire

(downloadable word version for candidates to fill out here)

Click on Ward Maps below to go to an expandable PDF map. 

 

 

 Ward 1

 

Candidates:

2023 Q & A Forum recording: 

 

Ward 2

Candidate: (uncontested aside from write-ins so the League of Women Voters did not hold a Ward 2 forum):

2023 Community Power Questionnaire Responses:

Ward 3

Candidates:

No Questionnaire Responses from Ward 3 will be posted in order to comply with 501 C-3 Status (see not at the end of the page)

2023 Q & A Forum recordings: 

 

Ward 4

Candidates:

2023 Community Power Questionnaire Responses:

2023 Q & A Forum recording: 

Ward 5

Candidates:

2023 Q & A Forum recordings: 

Watch the Aug 24th Ward 5 League of Women Voters Forum video (Q& A starts at the 8:20 minute mark)

Watch Ward 5 Candidates Respond to Questions on:

Ward 6

Candidates:

2023 Q & A Forum recordings: 

On May 11th, Community Power and partners hosted our own Ward 6 forum. Watch the candidates answer questions on the following topics at these time marks (@ Min:Sec) in the video:

 

Ward 7

Candidates (incumbent not seeking re-election):

2023 Community Power Questionnaire Responses:

2023 Q & A Forum recordings: 

See info from the May 9th Ward 7 Forum hosted by Community Power and Partners

Ward 8

Candidates:

2023 Q & A Forum recordings: 

 

 

 

Ward 9

Candidates:

2023 Q & A Forum recording: 

 

 

 

Ward 10

Candidates:

2023 Q & A Forum recording:   

Ward 11

Candidates:

2023 Community Power Questionnaire Responses:

2023 Q & A Forum recording: 

 

 

 

 

 

Ward 12

Candidates (Incumbent not seeking re-election):

2023 Community Power Questionnaire Responses:

2023 Q & A Forum recordings: 

  • Watch all 3 candidates respond to the Community Power question on Funding Citywide Climate Action at the Sept 13th LWV Ward 12 forum. 
  • See video of April 19th Ward 12 Forum hosted by Community Power and Partners in section below

Ward 13

Candidates:

2023 Q & A Forum recording: 

Ward 12  Forum on Local Energy & Climate 

On April 19th, Community Power and partners hosted our own forum for Ward 12.

Watch the candidates answer questions on the following topics by going to the time mark in the video (@ Hour:Min:Sec):

1)     Renters Rights & Energy(@ 10:25)                                         2)     Nuclear Power & The HERC Incinerator, (@18:00)                    3)     Funding City Climate Action  (@26:55)                      4)     Transitioning off fossil gas for heating (@33:30)              5)     Holding Xcel and CenterPoint Accountable   (@41:20)  6)     Leveraging local power with St. Paul,   (@48:30)                  7)     The Roof Depot Site in East Phillips,   (@55:30)          8)     Campaign Contributions from utilities,   (@1:01:20)     9)     Pollinator Friendly Yards,             (@1:02:00)                             10)   Electric Infrastructure,        (@1:08:40)                                      11)   Inspiration for Running.        (@1:16:00)

 


For a Background on Community Power's Candidate Forums see our City Electeds Page. In addition, You can see an questionnaire archive and video archive from responses and forums from ALL candidates for previous years (not just those who were elected). 

*Note for Ward 3 Candidate Process for 2023: Community Power did not host or co-host a forum or post questionnaires from candidates running for Ward 3. This was to comply with our status as a nonprofit 501c3 and avoid any unfair advantages on access to information. One of our board members, who is a resident of Ward 3, entered to run for that seat, but we are still met with all candidates in Ward 3 to give a primer on these important issues. 

Saint Paul 

Saint Paul Voters can see online candidate forums on similar topics that were hosted by Saint Paul 350, by clicking on the links below. No incumbent is running for reelection in the Wards below.

*** The League of Women Voters has their 2023 St. Paul Election Forum Recordings held in all 7 wards. ***