Brooklyn Park has started accepting applications to fill five upcoming vacancies in the city’s 11-member Charter Commission. Applications will be accepted through April 15.
Hennepin County Chief Judge Kerry W. Meyer will make the appointments as required by Minnesota statutes that govern Home Rule Charter cities such as Brooklyn Park.
The city posted a call inviting interested residents that are eligible voters to apply for the commission on its website and email list on Thursday.
The city’s website shows the terms of commission members Susan Mabera, Scott Simmons, Gregory Szach, David Williams and Dennis Secara as expiring on May 31, 2024.
Members serve a four-year term and there are no term limits. The commission meets ever second Wednesday of the month and the time commitment is three hours per month.
The commission is responsible for making sure the city’s charter (the constitution) is keeping up with the needs of the community and, among other responsibilities, also addresses issues related to mayoral and city council powers. It is the body responsible for reviewing the charter and making recommendations to the city council for any amendments.
People of color are the majority in the city. According to U.S. Census data, people who identify themselves as Black or African American make up 30% of the population, Asians 19%, Hispanics 6%, while the share of the white population stands at 39%.
The city swore-in its first non-Caucasian mayor on January 2023.
For more information on the charter commission’s duties and application form, go to this link. Questions can also be directed to the City Clerk Devin Montero whose contact information is on the same link.
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About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
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