Ward 2 incumbent Cam Gordon secured four more years on the Minneapolis City Council on Tuesday when voters re-elected him for a third term. He has held the position since 2006.
Gordon, a member of the Green Party and a 1977 University of Minnesota alumnus, won the race with about 87 percent of first-choice votes, defeating his only challenger, Diana Newberry, who represents the Socialist Workers Party.
After results were announced Tuesday night, Gordon said he was “grateful and honored.”
“I’m looking forward to some new energy and some change that we’re going to see in City Hall,” he said.
Ward 2 includes parts of the University area and Southeast Como and the Prospect Park and Cedar-Riverside neighborhoods.
Newberry, who ran a quiet campaign during election season, said she was “aiming to build a movement” with her presence in the race.
Gordon is known for his work on environmental issues, including his urban farming program. He said he has new plans to present to the City Council in his third term.
Gordon’s planned initiatives include improving biker safety and accessibility and bringing businesses into the ward — particularly grocery stores — so residents don’t have to travel as much.
He also said he’ll spearhead a program that’s part of the City Council’s 2013 Climate Action Plan to use public transportation to connect residents with local businesses.
Another initiative is working to loosen Minneapolis’ zoning laws, specifically on the number of unrelated adults who can live together in one place — an issue that significantly impacts students.
Political science senior Adam Bolling said he voted for Gordon because he supports the Green Party and because Gordon’s initiatives are what “Southeast Como needs.”
Bolling voted at the Van Cleve Park polling place in Southeast Como. By mid-morning, 101 people had voted at Van Cleve.
Some Ward 2 voters said they didn’t vote for City Council spots because they didn’t know enough about the candidates.
“I was not informed about it,” said Zach Malecha, an Augsburg College youth and family ministry senior.
University economics freshman Ben Lattimore said he voted for Gordon at the Grace University Lutheran Church polling spot, where 68 people had voted by mid-afternoon.
Before sitting on the Minneapolis City Council, Gordon worked as a preschool teacher and was a bassist and composer in two rock bands.
He said he worked with musical groups like The New Psychonauts and The Swinging Tombo and earned himself a spot on the First Avenue stage more than once.
“I sort of went from wannabe rock star to preschool teacher to City Council member,” Gordon said.
