Marty Carlson is a regular contributor. He lives in Kenwood.
With Election Day fast approaching on Tuesday, Nov. 4, much ink has already been spilled on the mayoral race and the campaigns for City Council, and there’s probably little to add that hasn’t already been said. The candidates have campaigned, the PACs have sent their mailers, the pundits have pundit-ed and most voters have likely made up their minds by now.
The one race that does seem to be causing substantial confusion is the more down-ballot race for the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. Who’s running? How many people do I vote for? What district am I in? What about that DFL endorsement? All good questions — and all questions that seem to be causing reasonable people to gnash their teeth and cry in supplication. This article is an attempt to help answer those questions.
How many positions am I voting for?
The answer is four — one district commissioner and three at-large commissioners. There are nine total commissioners, with six district commissioners each representing one of six geographic districts in the city, and three at-large commissioners representing the city as a whole. So, each voter votes for four candidates in total. Easy, right?
What district am I in?
That depends. Most residents within this paper’s circulation area live in Park Board District 4 and are currently represented by Elizabeth Shaffer, who is leaving her seat to pursue a bid for City Council. But readers in CIDNA and West Bde Maka Ska are in District 6 for this election, which is currently represented by incumbent board president Cathy Abene.
But wait, you say — I live in CIDNA and am currently represented by Elizabeth Shaffer. Aren’t I in District 4?
The answer is yes and no. Yes, you currently live in District 4, but starting with this election, you now live in District 6. Why? Redistricting. After the last census, the six Park Board district boundaries were redrawn, with District 4 now extending across the Mississippi to include a portion of northeast Minneapolis, while giving up CIDNA to District 6 on the southern end. This is the first election to use the new boundary lines. So, good news — you now live in District 6.
Still confused? The best thing to do is check the new maps or go to the Minnesota Secretary of State website and view your sample ballot — that will tell you for sure.
What about those DFL endorsements?
The short answer is the Park Board candidates endorsed by the Minneapolis DFL at its July convention are in fact endorsed by the Minneapolis DFL. But wait — wasn’t Omar Fateh endorsed for mayor at that same convention, and wasn’t his endorsement revoked by the state DFL? Yes, it was, but that doesn’t apply to the Park Board candidates.
Here’s the short version. In the lead-up to the final mayoral endorsement vote, the Jacob Frey camp instructed its delegates to leave the convention, claiming that it was an unfair process. Fateh was endorsed by the remaining delegates, and after that, they proceeded to vote on Park Board endorsements. That means the Park Board endorsements were essentially decided in the convention’s final hour by delegates who preferred a mayor not named Frey.
After much hue and cry and an appellate process, the state DFL rescinded the Fateh endorsement but allowed the Park Board endorsements to stand. So, the Park Board candidates claiming the DFL endorsement actually have it, albeit without the participation of most Frey delegates. Still confused? The good news is that voters get to make their own judgment about what matters to them, and Election Day is rightly referred to as “the only poll that matters.”
So Who Is Running?
Good question — there are a lot of candidates. The summaries below are, by necessity, brief. Some candidates have been profiled at greater length in earlier editions of this paper; others have not. The idea here is to provide a name, brief background, website address and key endorsements. You take it from there.
Park Board At-Large
There are three open seats. There are eight candidates (plus a ninth spot for “write-in”). You get to vote for three. The top three vote-getters citywide will win election. In alphabetical order, the nine candidates are:
Matthew Dowgwillo: Describes himself as “a voice for parents on the Park Board.” Website: matt4mpls.org. Says he’s a lifelong DFLer, works in tech strategy, and is a University of Minnesota alum with degrees in environmental science and economics. Top issues include promoting “clear, goal-centric policies with data-driven results” focused on kids and community, promoting the city’s brand, and streamlining the Park Board website.
Meg Forney: Park Board Commissioner since 2014 and a recent past president who says she is deeply passionate about our parks and their future. Website: megforney.org. Cites park accessibility, improving the environment and diversifying revenue sources to drive down property taxes as key issues. Endorsed by Mayor Jacob Frey, City Council members Linea Palmisano, Michael Rainville and LaTrisha Vetaw, and Rep. Jamie Long, among others.
Amber Frederick: A youth-support specialist with the YMCA and a community volunteer. Cites mentorship, support for labor and community organizing as formative influences; priorities include investment, protecting green spaces and inclusion. Website: amberfrederick.com. Endorsements include the Minneapolis DFL, various labor unions, Hennepin County Commissioner Marion Greene, and Reps. Sydney Jordan and Mohamud Noor, among others.
Mary McKelvey: A public school teacher, coach, mother and longtime advocate for parks who has served on various citizen advisory committees. Says her top issues are kids, nature, racial and social justice, and “amplifying parks with smart partnerships.” Website: maryforparks.org. Endorsed by Women Winning, Park Board Commissioners Cathy Abene and Steffanie Musich, and others.
Tom Olsen: Current commissioner since 2022. Has lived in Minneapolis for 11 years and began on the Community Environmental Advisory Committee before running for office four years ago. Website: olsenforparks.org. Key issues include prioritizing pedestrians on parkways, reimagining parks for a new generation, equity and reforming liquor-use policies to allow open, responsible use in parks. Endorsements include the Minneapolis DFL, various labor unions, Rep. Ilhan Omar, City Council members Katie Cashman and Aurin Chowdhury, a range of state legislators and others.
Adam Schneider: Describes himself as a sustainability advocate, climate champion and community organizer, born and raised in the Twin Cities. Website: adamformplsparks.com. Platform includes climate and environmental justice, supporting workers and local businesses, improving youth services and a focus on neighborhoods. Endorsements include Democratic Socialists of America, the Fifth Congressional District Green Party, Our Revolution Twin Cities, and City Council members Katie Cashman, Aisha Chughtai and Robin Wonsley, among others.
Averi M. Turner: Describes herself as an educator, community leader and advocate for equity. Website: averimturnerformplsparks.org. Priorities include advancing equity and cultural representation in programming, creating career pipelines for youth, partnering with community organizations and ensuring community-led design in habitat restoration. Endorsements include Ward 4 City Council member LaTrisha Vetaw and Park Commissioner Meg Forney.
Michael Wilson: Says he is a “lifelong recreator of public greenspaces,” has overseen the Park Board aquatics program, and has helped organize for environmental justice in East Phillips. Website: michaelforparks.org. Key priorities are youth and working families, safe and accessible transportation, labor and unions, and navigating environmental challenges. Endorsements include the Minneapolis DFL, Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution Twin Cities, various labor unions, Rep. Ilhan Omar, and City Council members Jason Chavez, Aurin Chowdhury, Elliot Payne and Robin Wonsley, among others.
Park Board District 4
This is the seat currently occupied by Elizabeth Shaffer, who is leaving the Park Board to run for the Ward 7 City Council seat. The candidates are:
Jeanette Colby: Says she is running to continue Shaffer’s “legacy of thoughtful stewardship of resources, responsiveness to constituents and collaboration with others.” Website: colbyforparks.org. Says her top priorities are maintenance of existing assets, safety, protecting lakes and waterways, and “realistic and innovative budgeting.” Endorsed by outgoing Commissioner Elizabeth Shaffer, former Ward 7 City Council member Lisa Goodman and former Park Board president Anita Tabb. Also endorsed by Women Winning and council member Michael Rainville.
Jason Garcia: Describes themself as being a longtime resident of Minneapolis and a parent of an MPS graduate, and a firm believer that the parks system plays a vital role in the health and well-being of neighbors across the city. Website: jasongarcia.org. Top priorities include equitable parks that work for everyone, multimodal accessibility to active parks and honoring park workers. Endorsements include the Minneapolis DFL, various labor unions, Rep. Ilhan Omar, City Council members Aisha Chughtai and Elliot Payne, and Wedge LIVE! founder John Edwards, among others.
Andrew Gebo: A Loring Park resident since 2018 with a decade of experience in the finance and technology industries. Believes parks can foster community rather than division in fractured times. Website: gebo4parkboard.com. Top issues include honoring park history, preserving nature, community commitment and maintaining Minneapolis’ status as a premier park city.
Park Board District 6
This is the seat currently occupied by incumbent Park Board president Cathy Abene, and which will include CIDNA in this election and going forward. The candidates are:
Cathy Abene: Incumbent Park Board President and board member since 2022. Lives in Lynnhurst with her wife, where they raised three kids. Works as principal civil engineer at the University of Minnesota managing water resources and previously served on the Board of Estimate and Taxation. Website: cathyabene.com. Top priorities include youth, protection of climate, water and the environment, maintaining existing assets and protecting common spaces. Endorsements include Women Winning, Park Board Commissioners Billy Menz, Steffanie Musich and Elizabeth Shaffer, and City Council Members Linea Palmisano, Michael Rainville and LaTrisha Vetaw, among others.
Ira Jourdain: A former Minneapolis School Board member rooted in the Kingfield neighborhood, a proud tribal citizen of the Red Lake Band of Ojibwe, with a background in human services working with families receiving public assistance. Website: iraforparks.org. Top priorities include recreation and opportunities for youth and seniors, navigating Trumpism, environmental stewardship and tree canopy, and respect for park workers and unions. Endorsements include the Minneapolis DFL, School Board member Kim Ellison and past Park Board president Brad Bourn, among others.
