Brooklyn Center Elects Mike Elliott for Mayor
In Brooklyn Center, voters elected a new mayor. Meanwhile, two city council seats were retained by incumbents Dan Ryan and April Graves.
Incumbent Mayor Tim Willson, who had served as Mayor since 2006, was unseated by contender Mike Elliott. Elliott, an immigrant from Liberia, ran for the position in 2014 and lost by just 145 votes. The margin of victory Tuesday was nearly 1,000 votes. Elliott will become the first Liberian to serve as mayor of Brooklyn Center after an election day full of victories for a number of diverse candidates.
Willson had prioritized redevelopment while serving as mayor. Elliott’s campaign was based around a platform of change, citing a need for a mayor to connect with an increasingly diverse city.
Returning council members Dan Ryan and April Graves defeated challengers Don Bumgarner and Alois Bilek. Graves established the Saturday PopUp Market in Brooklyn Center, and Ryan has focused on redevelopment projects.
