The County Attorney role doesn’t get as many headlines as other statewide, or even local offices, but it can have a profound impact on our systems of justice — and on the people who engage with them. Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous, and this year, an unusually packed field of candidates is vying for the County Attorney’s office. The August 9 primary will determine which two candidates advance to the general election in November.

 

This voter guide can help you make an informed vote in the primary, the general election, or both.

Q&A ORGANIZED BY QUESTION:
This voter guide can help you identify candidates’ different views on the issues that matter most to you.

What should people know about the Hennepin County attorney and how the role impacts them? QUESTION ONE How do you plan to address racial equity issues in prosecution? QUESTION TWO With Roe v. Wade overturned, do you plan to prosecute abortion cases in Hennepin County? QUESTION THREE How do you plan to address rising violent crime while also implementing criminal justice reform measures? QUESTION FOUR What roles should the office play in reviewing and prosecuting officer-involved killings? QUESTION FIVE How will you vet police testimony and evidence in light of the Jaleel Stallings case? QUESTION SIX Election Overview A Short Guide to the candidates running for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office How To Vote FAQ 2022 Here’s what you need to know before heading to the polls.

Q&A ORGANIZED BY CANDIDATE:
This voter guide can help you identify candidates whose visions for justice match your own.

Jarvis Jones Jarvis Jones childhood in inner city Chicago will guide his leadership as county attorney. Saraswati Singh Prosecutor Saraswati Singh vows to hold police accountable if elected as county attorney. Mary Moriarty Lifelong public defender Mary Moriarty wants to reform the county attorney’s office by analyzing data. Tad Jude Former judge and state lawmaker Tad Jude wants a safer county. Martha Holton Dimick Martha Holton Dimick believes the community, prosecutors, and police can work together to combat violent crime. Paul Ostrow Former Minneapolis City Council president Paul Ostrow wants to bring transparency and accountability to the county attorney’s office. Ryan Winkler Minnesota legislator Ryan Winkler says he’ll build coalitions to combat crime and reform the criminal justice system. Election Overview A Short Guide to the candidates running for the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office

HOW TO VOTE FAQS 2022

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Benjamin Currie
Benjamin is an illustrator, designer and art director based in Brooklyn, NY. His illustration work has appeared on the pages of TIME Magazine, The New York Times, Scientific American, VOX and many others. When he's not hard at work behind a Cintiq, you can usually find him out in the wild perusing your nearest raw denim shop.
Jaida Grey Eagle
Jaida Grey Eagle is an Oglala Lakota photographer, currently located in St. Paul, MN. Jaida is a photojournalist, producer, beadwork artist, and writer. She is a member of the Women’s Photograph, Indigenous Photograph, and 400 Years Project. She is a Report for America Fellow with the Sahan Journal covering communities of color in the Twin Cities. She is also researching Indigenous photography at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts as an ongoing former Curatorial Fellow for an upcoming exhibition on Indigenous photography in 2023.
Hibah Ansari
Hibah Ansari is a reporter at Sahan Journal covering local elections, politics, and immigration policy. She is also a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.
Chao Xiong
Chao Xiong is managing editor of Sahan Journal. He joined Sahan in early 2022 after spending 18 years covering local news in the Twin Cities, including police and the courts.
Jerome Rankine
As Editorial Director, Jerome is the keeper of Pollen’s editorial voice and vision. He works with Pollen’s talented stable of writers to produce stories that entertain, enlighten, and invite readers to take action. Jerome spends a lot of time hunched over keyboards--either editing the latest Pollen feature, or composing music in his home studio. He’s active in local politics, less active on social media, and more active in his kitchen.
Meg Lionel Murphy
Meg Lionel Murphy is the director of Art + Story at Pollen. She is also a painter. Her most recent solo shows include “Traumatica Dramatica” at The Untitled Space Gallery (New York), “Interior Violence” at CoExhibitions Gallery (Minneapolis), SPRING/BREAK Art Show (New York and Los Angeles) and a featured booth at the Other Art Fair (Los Angeles). Murphy’s artwork has been covered in a variety of publications including Hyperallergic, Artnet News, Bitch Magazine, and Forbes.