On Tuesday, September 9, candidates for mayor will gather for a forum hosted by the League of Women Voters. With fifteen candidates in the race, the event provides an opportunity to hear from contenders who have so far received little attention. We are especially interested in how the lesser-known candidates describe their priorities for the city and whether they bring solutions to the discussion that the main contenders might incorporate into their platforms.
The forum comes at a time when the council is also wrestling with difficult questions of governance. On Monday, city council members voted 6–4 to authorize a lawsuit against developer Hamoudi Sabri, who has permitted an encampment on the parking lot of one of his properties on East Lake Street. The decision followed a sharp debate over whether the city should intervene. Council members Katie Cashman, Robin Wonsley, and Ward 5’s Jeremiah Ellison were absent from the vote.
Candidate positions on the Sabri case will be worth noting. At issue are not only property rights and homelessness, but also how the city enforces its own rules—and how willing elected officials are to take a public stand.
Vision Statement from Anndrea’s website:
As a City Council Member, my vision is to cultivate a thriving, equitable, and united community where every resident of the 5th Ward feels empowered, valued, and secure.
Through anti-displacement initiatives, I will prioritize community ownership, celebrate art and culture, and ensure housing stability by championing renters’ and small business protections and expanding financial assistance programs. Together, we will build a future where no one is left behind.
Interview Summary
I sat down with Anndrea Young, a lifelong Northsider now running for the open Ward 5 seat. Young grew up in the ward, organized with the Heritage Park Neighborhood Association, and later served as its executive director. After college and a stint in Nashville’s entertainment industry, she returned during COVID and re-immersed in North Minneapolis coalition spaces. Her campaign theme—“Invest in Five”—frames a familiar promise: development without displacement, safer streets, and a City Hall that picks up the phone.
Young describes Ward 5 as overlooked by city institutions yet rich in social fabric—artists, advocates, and neighbors who actually know each other. Housing is her first priority. She backs “deeply affordable” units (30% AMI), shelter options for encampments, and more homeowner education. On rent control, she signals support in principle but leaves room for pragmatism, suggesting the city should keep annual rent hikes low and learn from St. Paul’s experience. She’s critical of weak rental inspections and follow-through—pointing to buildings that deteriorate while residents struggle to navigate escrow and legal remedies.
Transit-led displacement is the second thread. Young has been active around the Blue Line extension and helped advocate for $10 million in anti-displacement funding along the corridor. She supports the train for access and jobs but wants guardrails, so existing residents aren’t priced out when the line arrives. Her approach to the Sabri encampment controversy shows the tension she’s trying to manage: personally open to unconventional solutions, but says she’d vote the way Ward 5 residents want—even if that means backing a city lawsuit. That “listen first” stance also shapes her position on George Floyd Square; she favors a pedestrian space but would defer to affected neighbors.
Public safety is the third leg. Young rejects “over-policing,” favors continued investment in violence interrupters and mental-health responses, and wants MPD to do more relationship-building on foot or bike. She praises community-based programs but says the city must verify that funded groups actually deliver. Economic recovery ties in: she sees opportunity in Upper Harbor Terminal and a broader push to change the narrative about North Minneapolis so restaurants, tourism, and employers follow—while keeping current residents anchored in place.
If Young has an edge in a six-way race, it’s her argument about presence and service. She criticizes the incumbent’s absences and says the most common voter question at the door is simple: “Will you show up?” The test for her platform will be execution—balancing growth with stability, adding safety without defaulting to spectacle, and matching constituent rhetoric with basic, responsive casework. Ward 5 voters will decide whether her “Invest in Five” agenda is the right blend of skepticism and ambition.
