Home News Brooklyn Park City council swears-in its youngest council member

Brooklyn Park City council swears-in its youngest council member

January 8, 2025

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Xiong Oath of Office Jan 6 2025 by Mshale Newspaper — Amanda Cheng Xiong, 22, takes the oath of office on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 to represent the East District on the Brooklyn Park City Council. She is the Councill’s youngest member. Administering the oath is City Clerk Devin Montero. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

Brooklyn Park City Council swore-in its youngest city council member on Monday, January 6.

Amanda Cheng Xiong, 22, was born and raised in the city by her Hmong refugee parents. She beat incumbent Boyd Morson in a landslide in November to represent the East District. Boyd who represented the Central District in the previous council was redistricted to the East.

She is the third Hmong to serve on the council after state Sen. Susan Pha and XP Lee. Xiong is succeeding Lee who represented the East District in the last council but did not seek reelection and decided to endorse Xiong.

Xiong told local CCX Media on Election Night that she intended to use her new platform to also represent the youth and ensure “that their voices are also being heard.”

Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon administers the oath of office to Shelle Page on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 to represent the Central District on the Brooklyn Park City Council. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

Also sworn-in on Monday were Shelle Page (Central District) and Tony McGarvey (West District).

This will be McGarvey’s first full term after first being elected in 2023 to finish the term for the seat that had been occupied by Susan Pha after she was elected to the Minnesota Senate.

When Page contested in November, it was her first foray into elective politics and she won by just over 340 votes. On Monday she had her oath of office administered by Mayor Roslyn Harmon of Golden Valley, that city’s first Black mayor. Like Page, Mayor Harmon is familiar with narrow wins having won her race for Mayor in 2023 by just 26 votes.

Tony McGarvey was reelected to serve his first full term in November 5, 2024. He is seen here on Monday, Jan. 5, 2025 taking the oath of office from the city’s clerk Devin Montero. Mshale Staff Photo by Richard Ooga

The city is divided into three districts each with two council members that serve staggered terms. The three that were sworn-in on Monday will serve through 2028 while the other three council members from each district will be up for election on November 2026. The city’s mayor is elected at-large and current Mayor Hollies Winston is up for election in November 2026.

City Council meets every first, second and fourth Mondays of the month at 6pm and meetings are open to the public, or you can watch the livestream on the city’s website.

Tom Gitaa contributed to this story.