Don Samuels


Don Samuels


Don Samuels (born May 13, 1949) is an American politician, activist, and non-profit executive who served as a member of the Minneapolis City Council from 2003 to 2014. A member of the DFL, Samuels represented the 3rd and 5th wards during his three-term tenure. He also served one term as an at-large representative on the Minneapolis Public Schools Board from 2015 to 2019.

Since 2015, Samuels has been the CEO of MicroGrants, a Minnesota non-profit aimed at addressing poverty through microfinance. Samuels came to national attention when he placed an unexpectedly close second to incumbent Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in the 2022 DFL primary for Minnesota's 5th congressional district. In November of 2023, he announced he would again seek the DFL endorsement. Samuels lost the DFL endorsement in May 2024 but plans to continue to compete in the August primary election.

Career

Minneapolis City Council (2003–2014)

Samuels was elected to represent Ward 3 on the Minneapolis City Council in a special election in 2003, completing the final three years of Joe Biernat's term. Samuels defeated the DFL-endorsed candidate and was sworn in on February 14, 2003. A 2005 redistricting led to Samuels' home becoming part of the city's Ward 5.

Samuels made controversial statements in a lengthy interview with Mpls St. Paul Magazine in 2007. "If you’re the sort of white person who wants to help the city’s poorest—and most crime-ridden— region but is afraid of being called a racist, the Jamaican–born minister says that’s OK. He refuses to let white institutions bear all the guilt for the degradation of the North Side, calling out the predatory clergymen, irresponsible parents, and mau-mauing opportunists in the black community. We’re all sinners, says the ordained Baptist minister—but if we openly acknowledge our deficiencies, we can move forward together," the article stated.

The most controversial part of the interview was when Samuels criticized Minneapolis public schools by stating "I've said burn North High School down!" referring to North Community High School. His comments drew criticism from Nick Coleman and others. Samuels argued his comments were trying to raise issues about under-education of black youth by Minneapolis Public Schools. He later apologized saying his statement was "an error [made] out of passion."

Samuels briefly campaigned for Hennepin County commissioner in 2012. Samuels supported public financing for the new Minnesota Vikings stadium, U.S. Bank Stadium.

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. Samuels did not run for reelection as city council member, so he could run for mayor. In the election Samuels performed strongest in his north Minneapolis Ward 5 where he outpolled all other candidates including eventual winner Betsy Hodges. Samuels's term ended January 6, 2014, when his successor Blong Yang was sworn into office.

Post-Council political career

Samuels was elected to serve Minneapolis Public Schools school board in 2014 as an at-large representative. He served for one term, from January 13, 2015, until January 15, 2019. 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.

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. In 2021, a public safety charter amendment was presented to Minneapolis voters. Samuels was active in the successful campaign to defeat the amendment.

2022 congressional campaign

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 and Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey. According to campaign finance records, Samuels outraised Omar in the second quarter of 2022. Samuels' campaign focused on crime and Omar's support for a city of Minneapolis ballot amendment that would create a Department of Public Safety in place of the Minneapolis Police Department.

Samuels was defeated by Omar in the primary on August 9, 2022, though he came in second by 2.1% and less than 2,500 votes. By the end of the campaign Samuels had spent around $1.4 million.

2024 congressional campaign

Samuels announced another primary challenge to Ilhan Omar in November 2023. The campaign's launch in November will lead to a longer campaign period than in 2022 when Samuels launched his challenge in March 2022 for an August 2022 election. His campaign is being managed by Joe Radinovich, who also managed his 2022 campaign. Public safety will be a theme of the campaign as it was in the last campaign. Samuels initially differentiated himself from Omar on the Israel–Hamas war but both candidates agree on the need for a ceasefire.

At the DFL convention for the seat in May 2024, Samuels lost the DFL endorsement to Omar on the first round of voting. He plans to still compete in the August primary election, the winner of which will most likely be elected in November. In the first quarter of 2024 Samuels raised $400,000 while Omar raised $1.7 million.

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/industrial designer for 30 years. In 2005, Samuels commented that his family was descended from house slaves rather than field slaves. Samuels lives in North Minneapolis. He worked as CEO of a non-profit called MicroGrants and as of 2024, serves on their board. The non-profit makes small grants to low-income people.

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. 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 apologized for.

References

External links

  • Official website


Text submitted to CC-BY-SA license. Source: Don Samuels by Wikipedia (Historical)



 




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