Council Member Emily Koski (Ward 11) joined a crowded mayoral race Wednesday as she announced her campaign to unseat incumbent Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey.
Koski, a two-term council member, said in a press conference that Frey had divided the city and repeatedly failed to work with the Minneapolis City Council.
“Minneapolis is and always has been my home,” Koski said in a press conference. “We’re up against efforts to drive wedges between us and pit us against one another, and we need a strong, unifying leader to move us forward.”
Koski, once seen as one of Frey’s more consistent supporters on the city council, has become more critical of the mayor. She said Frey’s “inability” to work with the Minneapolis City Council, Hennepin County, state and federal government as well as advocacy groups was costing the city.
“His focus on creating conflict, turning every issue, every problem, into us versus them; building division, not solutions; and his failure to lead us through our toughest challenges,” Koski said in the press conference. “We can and we must do better.”
In a statement, Frey’s spokesperson Sam Schulenberg accused Koski of changing her beliefs since she was first elected.
“Over the last two years on the Minneapolis City Council, Emily Koski has changed her position on everything from paying police officers more to regulating Uber and Lyft,” Schulenberg said in the statement. “Minneapolis voters deserve a clear vision and Mayor Frey will continue to outline his. In the meantime, we look forward to seeing what the Council Member stands for in this election cycle.”
Koski is one of four other people who are challenging Frey in the 2025 election — State Sen. Omar Fateh, Rev. DeWayne Davis and former council member race contender Brenda Short (Ward 9) are the others.
While Frey has not officially announced his reelection bid, he said on a radio podcast that he would seek his third term.
Anonymous
Dec 5, 2024 at 3:31 pm
such an opportunist, why she’s abstained from a number of important votes. No spine, just as feckless as Frey. Let’s bring in Omar Fateh!