Don Samuels
Don Samuels | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Minneapolis City Council | |
| In office 2003–2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1948 or 1949 (age 74–75)[1] |
| Political party | Democratic |
Don Samuels is a former city council member for Minneapolis and current candidate for the DFL nomination for Minnesota's 5th congressional district.
City council
Samuels was elected to represent Ward 5 on the Minneapolis City Council in a special election in 2003. Samuels defeated the DFL endorsed candidate.[1]
In 2007, Samuels declared, "I've said burn North High School down!", referring to North Community High School. His comments drew criticism from Nick Coleman and others.[2] Samuels argued his comments were trying to raise issues about under-education of black youth by Minneapolis Public Schools.[3]
Samuels briefly campaigned for Hennepin County commissioner in 2012.[4] Samuels supported public financing for the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium.[5]
When Samuels ran for mayor in 2013 as a Democrat he drew donations and support from several Republican politicians despite there still being an endorsed Republican candidate for mayor.[6] Samuels did not run for reelection as city council member so he could run for mayor.[7] In the election Samuels performed strongest in his north Minneapolis Ward 5 where he outpolled all other candidates including eventual winner Betsy Hodges.[8]
Post city council
Samuels was elected to serve Minneapolis Public Schools school board in 2014 as an at-large representative.[9] He served for one term.[10] While he was campaigning for school board, Samuels called the police on a hot dog giveaway led by Neighborhoods Organizing for Change which was conducting a get out the vote event.[11]
Samuels was among several Minneapolis residents who sued the Minneapolis City Council and mayor, Jacob Frey, in 2020, alleging they did not hire enough police officers as required by city charter.[12] In 2021, a public safety charter amendment was presented to Minneapolis voters. Samuels was active in the successful campaign to defeat the amendment.[13]
Samuels launched a DFL primary challenge for Minnesota's 5th congressional district against Ilhan Omar in March 2022. Samuels was endorsed by former Chief of the Minneapolis Police Department, Medaria Arradondo.[13] According to campaign finance records, Samuels outraised Omar in the second quarter of 2022.[14]
Personal life
Samuels moved to the United States at the age of 20 after growing up in Jamaica. Prior to being involved in politics, he worked as a toy designer. In 2005, Samuels commented that his family was descended from house slaves rather than field slaves.[1] Samuels lives in north Minneapolis.[10] Samuels and his wife, Sondra Samuels, took a group of neighbor kids to Boom Island Park in 2020. While at the park the kids waded into the water and one child was swept away and drowned. Sondra Samuels's insurance company paid out a wrongful death settlement of $301,000 as part of the child's death.[15] After being criticized for his role in the child's death, Don Samuels tweeted ""can't swim but can govern.", a tweet he later deleted and apolgized for.[16][17]
References
- ^ a b c Gilbert, Curtis (October 23, 2013). "Minneapolis mayoral candidate bio: Don Samuels". MPR News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ "The media firestorm over Don Samuels' comments". MPR News. February 7, 2007. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Williams, Brandt (April 23, 2007). "A visit to Minneapolis North High School". MPR News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Gilbert, Curtis (December 28, 2012). "Don Samuels mulls mayoral bid". MPR News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Rao, Maya (March 20, 2013). "Minneapolis DFL endorsement could prove pivotal in big election year". Star Tribune. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Gilbert, Curtis (September 10, 2013). "Don Samuels' mayoral campaign attracts Republican money". MPR News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Collins, Jon (November 4, 2013). "In Minneapolis, four candidates seeking to replace councilman Don Samuels". MPR News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Kaul, Greta (3 August 2017). "Where the votes that elect Minneapolis and St. Paul mayors come from". MinnPost. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Hawkins, Beth (5 November 2014). "In the end, frontrunners benefited from record spending in MPS board race". MinnPost. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ a b Hackett, Ashley (11 March 2022). "Why Don Samuels decided to run against Ilhan Omar". MinnPost. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Lahm, Sarah (October 17, 2014). "Don Samuels calls cops over hotdog giveaway". Twin Cities Daily Planet. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Sepic, Matt (March 14, 2022). "Appeals court overturns Minneapolis minimum policing ruling". MPR News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ a b Zdechlik, Mark (March 9, 2022). "Samuels to challenge Omar in DFL primary". MPR News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Radelat, Ana; Kaul, Greta (19 July 2022). "Big money once again pours into House races in Minnesota". MinnPost. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Dernbach, Becky Z. (28 September 2021). "Minneapolis nonprofit leader reaches wrongful death settlement in drowning of 6-year-old boy". Sahan Journal. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ McLaughlin, Shaymus (March 15, 2022). "Don Samuels deletes tweet making light of child's drowning". Bring Me The News. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
- ^ Faircloth, Ryan (August 6, 2022). "Policing, abortion at forefront of primary race between Rep. Ilhan Omar and Don Samuels". Star Tribune. Retrieved 7 August 2022.