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THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
November 17 - 23, 2022
Vol. 89
No. 16
Phone: 612-827-4021
www.spokesman-recorder.com
Voters say NO to fear, YES to democracy Hennepin elects first Black sheriff Moriarty prevails in county attorney race
By Mary Turck Contributing Writer
By Henry Pan Contributing Writer
I
t rained in Hennepin County on Tuesday as people headed to the polls, nervous about how issues such as public safety and abortion rights would be addressed over the next four years. If the results from the polls mean anything, the county’s voters decided that moving forward they favored candidates with a more holistic approach to public safety. One of those candidates, Dawanna Witt, will become Hennepin County’s first Black sheriff, defeating contender Joseph Banks. At her election night party, where roughly 100 people gathered inside a restaurant on St. Anthony Main, Witt appeared overjoyed, holding
Counting the wins and losses of November 8
W
ith a big voter turnout, Minnesota Democrats scored a trifecta on November 8. Democrats kept control of all statewide offices and the Minnesota House of Representatives and won a majority in the state Senate. Black elected officials and candidates won big in Minnesota and across the country.
Dawanna Witt back tears as she thanked her campaign staff, supporters, and family members, while pledging to better engage community members and
improve working conditions for her deputies. “I look forward to being that sheriff that we need and deserve,” said Witt. “Nobody
The “red wave” of Republican victories forecast by pollsters and pundits never materialized. In Minnesota, Erin Maye Quade, Zaynab Mohamed, and Clare Oumou Verbeten will join Senator Bobby Joe Champion in the Minnesota Senate. The three are the first Black women ever elected to the Minnesota Senate. Mary Frances Clardy will join a handful of other Black Representatives in the Minnesota House. In most midterm years, ■ See COUNTING on page 5
Photo by Henry Pan
thrives in communities where they do not feel safe, and I will be the sheriff that Hennepin County needs to get us to a ■ See WITT on page 5
(l-r) Zaynab Mohamed, Erin Maye Quade, and Clare Oumou Verbeten Submitted photos
New MPS observatory lets students reach for the stars By Cole Miska Contributing Writer Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) held a grand opening for a new astronomical observatory at Hall STEM Academy on Nov. 9. The event was attended by NASA Astronaut Raja Chari, Hall Principal Sherrill Lindsey, MPS Superintendent Rochell Cox, members of the school board, politicians and other community members. MPS noted that the observatory is the only one of its kind to be located inside an elementary school. “This observatory is part of what we’ve been envisioning about a physical manifestation of what a STEM education can be in Minneapolis Public Schools,” Lindsey said. “STEM means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and I cannot think of a better way for that to come to fruition—thinking about how we can have a relationship on Earth with outer space and what that can mean for our children. “I’m so proud that Minneapolis public schools has made this wonderful investment in North Minneapolis,” Lindsey added. Cox called the unveiling a “top 10” moment in her time as super-
NASA astronaut Raja Chari with third-grader Ayah Drakeford
staff lounge. Mark Job, the execuintendent. “We know that we have dents,” Cox said. The new observatory is a two- tive board president of the Minthe next astronaut in our midst right now—the sky’s the limit for our stu- story dome built on top of Hall’s old nesota Astronomical Society (MAS),
Hollies Winston makes history in Brooklyn Park By Travis Lee Contributing Writer
in the last mayoral election, Hollies Winston was triumphant this election night, defeating contender WynAfter three unsuccessful attempts, including a pain- fred Russell. Brooklyn Park’s ful loss by only two votes first African American mayor
Hollies Winston with wife Latrice
Photo by Cole Miska
appeared humble and grateful amongst dozens of supporters in the city’s Oro Lounge. Winston credited his win to a diverse cross-section of supporters. “A ton of people contributed to this effort,” Winston told the MSR. “I think it’s a signal that the people want to move in a different direction. Crime is a priority, creating programs for youth, supporting police, and slowing the rise of property taxes by encouraging the development that best suits our community.”
Visit spokesman-recorder.com for an election night interview with Mayor-Elect Hollies Winston. Photo by Travis Lee
said the observatory includes stateof-the-art telescopes that can see deep into space. Job said he saw the Andromeda Galaxy when he tested the facility. “We have plenty of power to be able to see lots of stars, lots of nebulae, lots of galaxies.” The observatory was to be open for use during the grand opening, but the rainy weather prevented the use of the telescope. Job said MSA partnered with MPS to pick out what equipment and telescope would be the best fit for the observatory. A 5” refracting telescope and a 14” reflecting Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope were chosen for the observatory. “I don’t think [MPS is] aware of what they have yet,” Job said regarding the quality of the facility. “Someday we’re going to teach them to use it. It’s going to be a process.” Chari, who is currently training to land on the moon as part of NASA’s upcoming Artemis mission, spoke with and took photos with children who came to the unveiling. “This is the age where that spark happens,” Chari said. “My mom has pictures of me as a five-year-old dressed up as an astronaut.” ■ See STARS on page 5
‘People’s Lawyer’ Keith Ellison narrowly wins second term NEWS ANALYSIS By Mary Turck Contributing Writer [Full disclosure: I am not an impartial reporter on this one, as I supported Ellison during his campaigns for attorney general.] Keith Ellison won a second term as Minnesota Attorney General by about 20,000 votes, promising to continue as “the People’s Lawyer.” His victory was part of a DFL sweep in Minnesota that surprised pundits and pollsters. Ellison was elected attorney general in 2018 following 12 years in Congress, four
Keith Ellison
Courtesy of Twitter/Keith Ellison
years in the Minnesota House law. As attorney general, he of Representatives, and 16 emphasized consumer proyears as an attorney specializ- tection, including legal action ing in civil rights and defense ■ See ELLISON on page 5