Brooklyn Center Mayor at Final Meeting: ‘Let’s Celebrate Our Differences’
Outgoing Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott says “he’s grateful” for his time spent serving on the council, in remarks he gave during his final meeting Monday night. From a pandemic, to socioeconomic challenges, to the fatal officer shooting of Daunte Wright, Elliott reflected Monday night on the issues his city has faced over his four-year term.
“So many of these issues grip all of us in different ways. And I know that I came in as mayor not knowing a whole lot. But I learned a lot. And I grew from it. And I think we all have learned a lot,” said Elliott.
Elliott made history becoming the city’s first Black and Liberian-American mayor. Last month, Elliott lost re-election to April Graves, a current city council member.
Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott spoke during a September 2021 community town hall on police reform.
In his parting remarks, Elliott recalled a speech that Nelson Mandela gave.
“He called on us to end hunger, to end poverty and make poverty history,” Elliott recited. “He called poverty unnatural and manmade and that it can be eradicated.”
Elliott expressed confidence in the future city council. In addition to Graves, Teneshia Kragness and Dan Jerzak will fill new roles on the council. Dan Ryan, who served 16 years on the council, chose not to run for re-election.
“I look forward to the work that you’re going to do,” said Elliott speaking to Graves.
Brooklyn Center City Manager Reggie Edwards said Elliott fundamentally shifted the city in two ways. Edwards referenced the Daunte Wright and Kobe Dimock-Heisler Community Safety and Violence Prevention Act the mayor helped usher in. The city manager also commended Elliott for bringing “a new level of engagement.”
Katie Wright, Daunte Wright’s mother, also spoke before the council Monday night saying how grateful she was for Elliott’s leadership following the loss of her son.
“Brooklyn Center couldn’t have asked for a better mayor for the past four years. My family couldn’t have asked for a better mayor on April 11, 2021,” said Wright.
Elliott thanked everybody who spoke, then left with a parting message to a city that has become Minnesota’s most diverse.
“Let’s celebrate our differences, and let’s also celebrate what we have in common.”
