Rep. Cedrick Frazier Announces Bid for Hennepin County Attorney
A local lawmaker has tossed his hat in the ring to be the next leader of the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Rep. Cedrick Frazier (DFL-New Hope) has announced his bid to succeed current Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, who’s not running for a second term.
“When I look at our legal system right now, it’s clear that it continues to uphold failed policies that perpetuate cycles of violence rather than promoting true healing for victims and meaningful accountability for perpetrators,” he said in a YouTube video announcing his candidacy. “From the capitol to the courtrooms, we need leadership with proximity to the issues impacting our communities. In this moment, we need a leader that understands that public safety starts with public trust.”
Frazier was the first African American elected to serve on the New Hope City Council and is a former public defender. He’s also served as legal counsel for Minneapolis Public Schools and as a labor attorney representing educators.
He’s the first candidate to officially enter the race, and he has been endorsed by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
Earlier in August, Moriarty told the public she’s not interested in running for re-election.
In a statement, she said she wants to focus her time “running the office, rather than running for office.”
“We’ve become accustomed to elected officials who don’t deliver results and end up more invested in clinging to power than doing the work of the people,” said Moriarty in a press statement. “That is not me.”
