On January 9, City Council Member Lisa Goodman announced that she will not be seeking reelection to the Minneapolis City Council, capping a remarkable 25 years of service to the city and to the residents of the Seventh ward. The Seventh ward encompasses much of the west side of downtown and includes the four neighborhoods that make up the Hill & Lake community: Cedar-Isles-Dean, East Isles, Kenwood, and Lowry Hill.
Lisa grew up in Northbrook, Ill and attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison where she earned a degree in labor relations and political science. She moved to Minneapolis in 1989 to be the fundraising director for the late Senator Paul Wellstone, at the time a grassroots candidate for the U.S. Senate. Before running for the City Council she was the executive director of NARAL Prochoice Minnesota. She won her first election in 1998, prevailing over a crowded field of (mostly male!) candidates.
The breadth of her career is matched only by the depth of her commitment. As area resident and civic leader Karin Birkeland noted, "Lisa is passionate, very smart and knows how to get things done. She is also incredibly responsive to her constituents—she always calls you back! She will be sorely missed.”
Area resident Cam Winton remarked, “I love Lisa Goodman. She cuts through the noise to tell you where she stands. She tirelessly goes to bat for her constituents. She endures the slings and arrows of political opponents with good cheer. She rolls up her sleeves and gets into the details of how to make blocks, neighborhoods and the city as a whole all thrive. She's a legend in her own time and we residents will miss her work on our behalf in City Hall!”
Future issues of the Hill & Lake Press will do a deeper dive into Lisa’s many contributions to our city. In February she will be featured in editor Craig Wilson’s Meet Your Neighbor column. Stay tuned!
