Yusuf Haji, an African immigrant and Twin Cities businessman, is one of four candidates vying to be a county commissioner representing District 5 on the Dakota County Board of Commissioners.
The county is the third largest by population in Minnesota, after Hennepin and Ramsey counties. However, in the seven-county metro area that it is a part of, which includes Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties, it is the largest in terms land size at 562 square miles.
District 5 comprises the entire city of Burnsville which has a population of 64,000. In the August 13 state primary, voters in District 5 will narrow the field of four to two. The two top vote-getters will then advance to the November 5 general election.
According to the county’s Historical Society, the land that is now called Dakota County originally belonged to the Dakota tribe of Native Americans. Historical records go on to say that “In 1689, fur trader Nicholas Perrot proclaimed possession of Dakota, Ojibwe (Chippewa) and other American Indian lands for the nation of France without the consent of the tribes. Lands west of the Mississippi River were annexed from France to the United States in 1805 through the Louisiana Purchase.” Following that purchase the Minnesota Territory legislature created nine original counties, including Dakota in 1849, nine years before Minnesota became a state in 1853. The original county seat was in Kaposia. Hastings has been the county seat since 1857.
The County Board has seven commissioners representing the seven districts, each with a population of between 60,000 and 68,000. As of 2023, the commissioners earned an annual base salary of $88,000. They provide oversight for the county operating budget of $336 million (for 2024) for its almost 440, 000 residents. When you include capital improvements in the budget, total spending that they oversee comes to $514 million in the current budget year.
Commissioner Liz Workman has represented the district at the county board since 2009 and is seeking reelection, but Haji says it is time for a change. He says the area needs a rejuvenated representation that will bring a new approach and perspective to the challenges of the growing and attractive county.
The all-white board has four women and three men. Three commissioners’ terms are expiring this year but two of them have no challengers. It is only Commissioner Workman that has attracted challengers that include Haji.
“I want to represent the voices that are not currently represented on the board of commissioners,” Mr. Haji said in a virtual interview with Mshale recently. “Not in a confrontational way, but more of educating and making sure county residents understand the new diverse community that is now here.”
He sees funding to address ageing infrastructure, public safety and expanded support for small business as some of the top issues that the county board needs to tackle in coming budget years. The county has some of the worst roads in the state which is detrimental to business, Mr. Haji said.
“We have some roads in our county that have never been paved, and some continue to deteriorate, you find cities like Burnsville are doing a fantastic job maintaining the roads they are responsible for, but the county roads leave a lot to be desired,” Mr. Haji said. “You know during the pandemic, our county lost quite a number of small businesses, and as they are trying to recover, we should ensure our infrastructure is not holding them back. And when elected I will make sure those businesses have the support that they need.”
Mr. Haji, 47, came to Minnesota from Kenya in 1999 to attend St. Cloud State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in mass communication. His master’s degree in leadership is from Augsburg University.
After graduating from St. Cloud State, he split his time between Minneapolis and St. Cloud through 2019 before relocating permanently to the Twin Cities. Three of his four children were born in St. Cloud and his motivating factor in leaving St. Cloud was what he called a “climate of hate” that he shared in great detail in this commentary.
“In contrast, since moving to Burnsville, my family has thrived and my wife Hooniysa and children are very happy, and schools are very good and we are close to other family members,” Mr. Haji said. “But my running for office is to make things even better for our county as well as those who are new to this great county like I was when I first came, and that needs fresh perspectives and ideas at the county (board).”
In the years after that first college degree, he has raised a family, done all manner of jobs that many immigrants undertake as they chase the American dream. He has run twice for office before, soon after that permanent move from St. Cloud. When he lived in Minneapolis, he ran briefly for election to the U.S. House to represent Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District but dropped out before his name could appear in the ballot. In 2021, he unsuccessfully ran for a Minneapolis City Council Ward 9 seat.
However, it is his role as a business owner that many in the community know him for. He has operated a media company, engaged in retail and has also run a number of online retail businesses.
He however believes there is more he can do for the place that he now calls home.
“I want to serve the people of this beautiful county to the best of my ability,” Mr. Haji said “I know I can really help our communities and the county thrive, and take it to the next level.”
Early voting is already underway for the August 13 primary. We have an earlier story on how to vote early and getting ready to vote at this 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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