FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 30, 2013
Contact: Greta Bergstrom, 651.336.6722, greta@takeactionminnesota.org
TakeAction Minnesota Endorses Betsy Hodges for Minneapolis Mayor
Hodges led screening field with boldest vision for equity,
deep commitment to putting diverse communities first
Minneapolis, MN – By an overwhelming majority, TakeAction Minnesota voted to endorse Betsy Hodges for Minneapolis Mayor last night. The Board of Directors of the statewide people’s network ratified the leadership assembly vote Tuesday morning.
Dan McGrath, TakeAction Minnesota’s Executive Director said Hodges exemplifies the kind of bold champion that the organization can rally behind. “Betsy Hodges has a strong history of involvement and leadership with our organization. She is someone who not only shares our organizational values of justice and equality, but has been shaped by our values over the past decade and a half. She’s truly committed to closing the racial gaps that are harming our communities – the jobs gap, the wage gap, health inequities and the educational achievement gap – and walks the talk. We look forward to working together in the coming months to ensure Betsy is elected the next Mayor of Minneapolis.”
Hodges has a track record of investing in the public good, and has often been at odds with those who would rather use city tax dollars for big corporate subsidies. As city Budget Chair, she has successfully added funding for domestic violence prevention, to the city’s Civil Rights Department, invested in children’s health care and supported loans to community-based small businesses. Hodges has consistently championed smart investments in the common good and believes transit, housing, education and a thriving small business community can help eliminate racial disparities throughout the
city.
Hodges was the clear favorite in a field of five candidates screened by a diverse array of leaders from across the organization. The field included Mark Andrew, Jackie Cherryhomes, Doug Mann and Don Samuels. Leaders said Hodges’ commitment to putting the racial jobs gap at the center of her
administration, along with her ability to be a champion for a more inclusive and equitable Minneapolis, are what set her apart.
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TakeAction Minnesota is a statewide people’s network of individual and organizational members working collaboratively to raise the voices of Minnesotans in their own communities to advance social, racial and economic justice. The organization has offices in St. Paul, Grand Rapids and Duluth.
