Five takeaways from the Minneapolis DFL’s City Council endorsement process

David B. Wheeler ran for Ward 10’s City Council position. I am saddened to see that he did not garner support. He has experience governing in Duluth, Minnesota’s City Council, and is rational and no nonsense. He has been a pastor, and serves on the Minneapolis Board of Estimates and Taxation. As a Democrat, he is also good with making decisions with money; and with his age and temperament, he will make an excellent member of the Minneapolis City Council.

As a gay man who does not wear his sexuality on his sleeve, but speaks of his husband in a noble and admiring manner, he would have brought credibility and maturity to our Council, and serve as a great example for young members of the LGBTQA+ community who focus on their differences from heterosexuals and, often (as are possibly true of my cousins), some members of their families who are not accepting of them as valuable people and who are judgmental toward them and their health.

As a delegate from Ward 6, I was torn between my friend, Abdirizak Bihi, and my Council Member Jamal Osman. Osman has indicated policy approaches with which I agree, and he has written me a couple of letters which indicate his interest in my thoughts, despite his staff not being the best at getting back to me on needs associated with my city-related business involving commerce and licensing. That said, when I have finally spoken to his staff, they were amiable, though not timely. I encourage making more use of college seniors and graduate students as volunteers and interns whose interest in civics and government would possibly excuse the low or no payments for their services. This would do much to speed up service in the City and ward off concerns for the reputation and competence of both Council Members and their staffs. As a lifelong volunteer in non-profits and civic-related activities from an affluent family, though in poverty, I encourage people to volunteer and assist toward development of both a better community and a better commercial society.

Abdirizak Bihi and I have a history, and I appreciate his intelligence, good humor, and long devotion to the Ward 6 community. I have enjoyed many conversations with him, and see his maturity and skills as an executive and radio personality at KFAI Radio’s Somali Talk Radio Program. Minnesota State Representative Mohamud Noor and I appeared together on Somali Talk on May 14, 2018 to discuss mental health and autism, which are two very important issues not only in the Somali community, but more broadly throughout our community and nationwide. the National Institute of Health published a report in 2019 which indicates that 20.6% of Americans experience one or more of the 300 medical conditions in the fields of psychology and psychiatry. I believe the number would be higher were people to be more rational and not stigmatize this area of health. I have been a patient for forty-one years due to depression, anxiety, and PTSD resulting both from natural realities of my biochemistry and also due to severe physical, sexual and other abuse from age 8 and onward. Bihi’s consideration for this topic is important, along with his work in the community, outside of his role as a radio talk show host, to bring in a variety of cultural and vocational programs, instituting them as anchors in our society on behalf of the mostly East African community, but welcoming people from other ethnic and racial cohorts, as well. He is logical, communicates at a very high level, and has worked with people from a very economically diverse community as well as people from the labor, professional, and business communities.

The Mayor’s race was not covered in this article. Possibly, this was due to editorial concerns for focus and space. As a delegate, Jacob Frey, with whom I also have a history and broad awareness, is my first ranked choice to continue on as Mayor. Frey is an attorney and has served as both a member of the old Senate District 59 DFL Executive Committee, and has successfully served as Council Member for Ward 3. He brings with him an understanding of law, business, and social concerns. While many people have castigated him about his response to the May 2020 looting and riots, I see that as a momentary issue involving both the Governor’s responsibility to call on the National Guard. Frey is in favor of controls over bad police officers.

Many members of our community do not understand that neither the Mayor ,nor the Chief of Police, have the ability to control the recklessness of the current Minneapolis Police Officers’ Federation in terms of their willingness to vigorously support officers who bring down the reputation of the entire profession. State laws currently interfere with an executive’s ability to easily and effectively disarm and dispose of officers who are a problem to the community, and to the reputation of great officers and the departments on which they serve. Jacob Frey’s intelligence, stability, authenticity, and vigor are highlights of my reasons for supporting and endorsing him. His work to find an alternative to the base nature of some newer and longer term officers is a sign of good reasoning and thoughtfulness. I say this as the eldest nephew of a retired police officer, and as one who has known of and respected the work of one of my dad’s friend who was a U.S. Marshal at the highest level of service to the U.S. and international communities; and as one with a very warm and respectful regard for a retired FBI Special Agent and former MN BCA Superintendent and Minnesota Commissioner of Public Safety, Paul Tschida, who has long since retired and lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota.