The 2023 Minneapolis City Council race represents a significant transition for Ward 7, following the announcement that long-serving Council Member Lisa Goodman will not be seeking reelection. Council Member Goodman has been a dedicated representative for Ward 7 since 1998, and her departure marks a new era for the ward.
In this upcoming election, three candidates will be vying for the position: Katie Cashman, Ken Foxworth and Scott Graham. To provide Hill & Lake readers with insightful perspectives on the issues that matter most, we posed a set of questions to all three candidates. Each candidate was given equal word limits and a common deadline to respond.
We reached out to all campaign teams several weeks ago, and we are pleased to share the responses we have received from Katie Cashman and Scott Graham in this month's edition (Ken Foxworth was unable to make the deadline). These responses offer valuable insights into the candidates' positions and priorities.
We believe that informed voters are essential to a thriving democracy. We encourage you to read the candidates' responses, stay engaged with the election process, and most importantly, exercise your right to vote on November 7. Regardless of your choice, your participation is a crucial step in shaping the future of Ward 7. Thank you for being an active and informed member of our community.
How long have you lived in Minneapolis and why do you feel called to serve our community?
Katie Cashman: Minneapolis is my hometown. We need collaborative leaders to meet this moment and rebuild our city with adequate input from all residents. My priorities are strong constituent services, revitalizing Uptown and Downtown, investing in community safety and ensuring Minneapolis is resilient to the climate challenges ahead.
Scott Graham: We’ve called Minneapolis home since 1991 and I am not giving up on our city. I want to put my experience to work harnessing the creativity and determination of Minneapolis so we can become the just, fair and prosperous city many of us envision.
What is your favorite spot in Ward 7?
Scott Graham: Walker Sculpture Garden’s Sky Pesher. It’s hidden in plain sight and makes a great date destination!
Katie Cashman: Lake of the Isles or the Sky Pesher Installation by James Turrell at the Sculpture Garden.
The City Council has been ideologically divided for over a decade. What experience do you have that will help you get things done with such division? How have you successfully brought people together when strong divisions exist?
Katie Cashman: Working at the United Nations in cities with unique cultures, languages and histories taught me the importance of diplomacy. I know how to create and negotiate shared solutions.
Scott Graham: Having spent 25 years in DFL leadership positions, I am fluent in division. By being respectful, listening and ascribing best intentions, I have collaborated with many through opposition.
Minneapolis voters defeated an amendment in 2021 that was popularly characterized as the “defund the police” amendment. The proposal would have amended the city's charter, removing the requirement to maintain a Police Department with a minimum number of officers based on population. Instead, it would have created a Department of Public Safety that takes "a comprehensive public health approach to safety." Details of the new department, including police staffing levels, if any, would have been determined by the mayor and City Council members. Did you, or would you, support this charter amendment, why or why not? And, given the current crime rates in the city what are your thoughts on ways to improve public safety?
Scott Graham: I voted no. Public safety is Minneapolis’ greatest and most pressing challenge. Police are essential. MPD needs council’s support as they transform their culture and work through the consent decree. In addition to transforming police culture, we need to support alternate responses like our Behavioral Crisis Response team and violence de-escalators. The County Attorney needs to be encouraged to pursue prosecutions to reform and punish violent offenders. Getting guns off the street is a top priority.
Katie Cashman: I would not support the charter amendment. Police are a vital tool in our public safety toolbox. We deserve a fast and effective 911 response. We can expand our hiring pathways, invest in crime reduction and complementary responders and fill our vacant commercial spaces to have more eyes on the street.
Do you believe the city should implement stronger restrictions on the public use of cannabis?
Katie Cashman: Yes, smoking in city parks should be off limits and we need to control secondhand smoke. But we cannot allow restrictions to be mechanized to target communities of color.
Scott Graham: I support legalization. Where cannabis is consumed needs regulation, so the aroma isn’t omnipresent. Five pounds of personal possession seems excessive. As with everything, enforcement is as important as regulation.
Do you believe rent control should be used as a tool to address the shortage of affordable housing, or for any reason?
Scott Graham: No. Rent control will greatly limit the production of all housing including affordable housing thereby harming the tenants it seeks to protect while damaging our overall economy.
Katie Cashman: I do not support rent control. I support strong renter protections, direct rental assistance, expanding and maintaining our affordable and deeply affordable housing supply, and preventing predatory price gouging.
If you were handed a pen and asked to design the Hennepin Avenue reconstruction between Franklin and Lagoon, what would you propose (please address each of these modes specifically)?
Bike lane?
Katie Cashman: 10’ for a two way lane. Currently, many don’t feel safe traveling and shopping along Hennepin by bike.
Scott Graham: Eliminate. Nearby bike infrastructure already serves the area. I propose improvements to the Bryant Ave bike infrastructure improving cyclist safety.
Bus lane? BRT?
Scott Graham: I support limited-hour bus lanes. They are flexible and give buses priority during rush, encouraging drivers to try a bus.
Katie Cashman: 22’ for lanes that are bus-priority and can be used by cars in off-peak times. Great cities have great transit.
Street parking?
Katie Cashman: 8’ for a street parking lane. We should also explore shared public district parking, including at the YWCA ramp.
Scott Graham: It is essential and must be retained for businesses to survive. Hard stop.
How many driving lanes?
Scott Graham: I’m fine with one but it will slow traffic. It would be great to find a way to retain two.
Katie Cashman: 20’ for two lanes with dedicated turning lanes. We want people coming to, not through, Uptown.
Is there anything you would add or take away?
Katie Cashman: We need to make greater use of the large private parking lots along Hennepin. They are underutilized and must be shared by businesses for the corridor to thrive.
Scott Graham: I want proof that ridership projections support BRT. I want to re-evaluate BRT stop locations. Limited left turns are smart. Tree canopy is important as is tree watering.
Do you support the Hennepin Avenue reconstruction project, and if not, can anything be done to have the city go back to the drawing board? If the project proceeds, what will you do to make sure the city lives up to commitments it made to the community, including preserving sections of on-street parking on Hennepin Avenue, allowing bus lanes to remain shared (vs. dedicated 24/7) outside of peak travel times, preserving trees and prioritizing green space?
Scott Graham: The plan needs modifications, but it has been approved by council, signed by the mayor and is in the bidding process. I would support a reconsideration of the existing plan to ensure commitments like on-street parking, shared bus lanes and additional green space are adhered to.
Katie Cashman: I will not lie and say that I’ll be able to stop this project. I will fight for modifications to preserve more on-street parking, open up some of the large parking lots on Hennepin Ave, share bus lanes outside of peak times, and prioritize green space and public art.
The city spent $1.24 million planning transit along Hennepin Avenue, and zero dollars supporting businesses along the important commercial corridor that is important to Hill & Lake neighborhoods. Most businesses feel slighted, especially considering that some of them will be assessed fees for infrastructure they feel will adversely impact them. What would you propose to remedy this and what can the city do during the construction phase to support the local businesses?
Katie Cashman: Hennepin Avenue reconstruction will be a tough time for businesses. I will be in constant contact with businesses and residents along the corridor, providing transparent communication. I support free ads on buses for businesses, improving the city’s financial and technical assistance and prioritizing neighborhood character with art installations and greenery.
Scott Graham: The city cannot give support to Hennepin Avenue businesses that it hasn’t given to other businesses in similar positions, but it can listen. Public Works should make every effort to be efficient and accommodate all stakeholders and businesses. We all need to shop and dine to support our neighbors.
Minneapolis continues to struggle with homeless encampments that present a major public health and safety challenge, both for the larger community as well as individuals in the camps. The city is charged with public safety while the county provides most other services. Do you believe encampments should be allowed? If so, what should be done to protect both those in the camps and the community as a whole?
Scott Graham: It is inhumane to allow people to live in encampments often surrounded by drug use and human trafficking. Creating deeply affordable housing through partner organizations including wrap-around support services needs to continue. Every city employee must treat homeless neighbors with dignity and disassembling must require advanced notice with support provided.
Katie Cashman: We cannot allow our city to have encampments. We need to strengthen our partnership with Hennepin County to increase availability of culturally specific, full-spectrum shelters that can accommodate diverse needs. We need a strong housing-first approach to get folks off the street and into a more stable situation.
Many people believe that the SWLRT planning process was deeply flawed, and we are now experiencing the fifth year of invasive noise, damaging vibrations, traffic and diesel fumes as well as the closure of bicycle and pedestrian trails used by thousands. And it’s not over yet. When LRT operations finally commence, how will you work to minimize the impact of expected severe noise pollution on the quiet residential and parkland areas around the 21st Street station?
Katie Cashman: We need an accountable Met Council. SWLRT construction has been an ongoing disruption to residents for years. Safety and noise challenges may emerge at the stops, so we must proactively mitigate crime by hiring transit police and other metro transit personnel to ensure a safe code of conduct.
Scott Graham: SWLRT planning was so deeply flawed in so many ways. These lessons cannot be forgotten. Track and equipment design and maintenance impact noise. Minneapolis needs to pressure the Met Council to do everything possible to mitigate impacts near both lines and stations and I will.
In the last election, voters supported a charter amendment creating more of a “strong mayor” system in Minneapolis. How do you view the current council’s relationship with Mayor Frey, and how would you approach the relationship as a council member?
Scott Graham: I voted yes. I’m from the business world and an executive leader with a legislative board is a natural configuration. On council I’ll strive to elevate conversations and work with the whole council and our mayor to find consensus whenever possible. Leaders at political odds often have shared goals.
Katie Cashman: Our current council member has a close relationship with Mayor Frey. That is very important to me as well. I am committed to an open and transparent relationship with the mayor so that we are able to effectively tackle the many challenges facing Minneapolis.
