Phillipe Is Running For Minneapolis City Council

If we are ever going to get that trans congress member or senator, we are going to have to get to the point in which we elect trans people to large city councils on a regular basis.

We do a good job getting people elected to smaller city councils, but congressional candidates are selected by the major parties from people who have won state judgeships, large city council elections, state legislative and state senate races just for starters.

I met Phillipe Cunningham during the recent LGBT Pride Reception, but I'd been keeping an eye on him as a rising star in our ranks for several years prior to our June meeting as an aide to current Minneapolis mayor Betsy Hodges.

Now Phillipe is going to take the political plunge and run for the Minneapolis City Council and I couldn't be happier for him.   If he succeeds in doing so, he would not only become the first out Black transmasculine person elected to any political office in the United States , he would also become the first transperson period in the US elected to a city council in a city with more than 250,000 people. (Minneapolis FYI has 416,000 people and climbing)

Here's his campaign announcement.   If you can contribute something to his campaign, please do so.

Now more than ever we need to be building trans community political power, and the more people we get elected to public office from our community, the better.

***

I'm proud to announce my candidacy for Minneapolis City Council to represent the 4th Ward in North Minneapolis!

North Minneapolis is my home, and I am tired of seeing us excluded and ignored in too many policy discussions at City Hall. We need a voice in these discussions, and I intend to lift everyone up in our community through just and inclusive policy-making.

With the persistent racial disparities we face as a community, we need to completely rethink how City Hall governs and serves diverse communities.

I see the potential for what is possible in my neighborhood given all the strengths our community brings to the table, but we are not given the space, resources, or power to realize our community's true greatness.

Since the Mayor appointed me to work on on education, youth success and civil rights, I have seen the decision-making process in action at City Hall and how often those currently in office block progress for the Northside.

I am running to fight this injustice and improve conditions in my neighborhood. It's time for major change in North Minneapolis, and I bring a fresh perspective and innovation to working through the challenges our community faces.

I want to thank everyone who has supported me in getting ready for this journey. We deserve a strong voice on city council, and we will have it when we show our power as a community this coming year.

Please check out my website and like my Facebook page to start spreading the word:
www.CunninghamMPLS.orgwww.facebook.com/PhillipeCunninghamMPLS

Good luck Phillipe!   Hope I get to witness you making some history next year!