On February 13, State Rep. Cy Thao (DFL-65A) of St. Paul announced that he is not seeking reelection. Thao has represented House District 65A since 2002 and his election marked a milestone in the evolution of the political engagement of the Hmong community. District 65A includes the Rondo, Frogtown, East Midway, North End, Capitol Heights, and Mount Airy neighborhoods.Jeremiah Ellis, who was one of four candidates, won the DFL endorsement to run for Thao’s open seat at the Senate District 65 Convention on March 6. "I'm humbled to have the DFL endorsement. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I will continue to reachout and organize across this district, for success in the August 10 primary,” said Ellis.
"Many are excited about my candidacy because of the results demonstrated in my public service career and my deep roots in this district," said Ellis. “The strong showing of elected officials from both Minneapolis and St. Paul reflects the strong belief in my ability represent this district. When it wasn't convenient or easy, I way the only candidate with the courage to organize neighbors to demand a higher level of accountability of elected representation"
Ellis is the great-grandson of a Rondo Avenue business-owner, grandson of ministers, and son of an educator and a union electrician. He attended Johnson Senior High School and St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX. While working for St. Paul Public Schools, Ellis dedicated his career to closing the achievement gap and eliminating education disparities through community partnerships.
Ellis immersed himself in understanding the legislative process and the importance of constituents services while working for US Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-4). “My experiences as a public servant and homeowner have reinforced the values of equity, engagement, collective work, and accountability which are critical to good policy creation,” he said.
Ellis said he hopes to offer strong, courageous representation to lift every voice in District 65A by being available and responsive to community questions and concerns. He wants to engage all stakeholders in conversation about improving neighborhoods and to demand equity in the distribution of resources from the State of Minnesota. “Representation is the ongoing conversation which makes our neighborhoods safer, healthier and better educated…Neighbors must be in the communication loop with their representative…I have every intention to reach out to our community and be inclusive in the lawmaking process through town halls, listening sessions, and community celebrations,” Ellis says.
Ellis is also running to ensure economic viability by creating jobs and funding early childhood education and to break the “cradle-to-prison pipeline” through high-quality education. He hopes to champion academic reforms and mentoring programs in schools to prepare children for future success. Ellis says he will support public safety measures, such as the restoration of Local Government Aid to support police and fire services, and closing the loopholes in gun control legislation that allow guns to easily enter neighborhoods.
Ellis says he plans to work with community partners and local elected officials to prevent displacement of residents and local businesses along University Ave. as the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit is being constructed.
For more information on Ellis’ campaign, visit http://JeremiahEllis.org or call 651-734-8011.
