Minneapolis City Council Member Ward 3 Choose 3
As local legislators who sometimes have executive power, council members can propose ordinances, set administrative policy, and authorize the budget proposed by the mayor. They oversee all city activities, including city services, programs, licensing, and public safety. Mayoral appointments to city government typically require council approval. Learn more here: https://www.lwv.org/blog/voting-local-matters-why-vote-city-councilSee a complete list of Minneapolis City Council candidate forums at https://lwvmpls.org/2025-candidate-forumsIf your candidate didn’t fill in the guide below, visit the Secretary of State’s Candidate Filing site to find contact info. If you reach out, ask candidates to complete their Vote411 Voters Guide from the LWVMN!
Biographical Information
Why are you seeking a City Council seat and what are your qualifications?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If you are elected, what will be your top two priorities as a City Council member?
Candidate has not yet responded.
How do you propose to increase the availability of and access to affordable housing for both renters and people seeking to buy their first home?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What steps would you take to improve climate resilience in your Ward, particularly in areas prone to flooding, heat islands or lacking green space?
Candidate has not yet responded.
What role, if any, does the City Council have in supporting and monitoring the effectiveness of community groups who are working to improve public safety, prevent disturbances and the need for emergency services? Please explain.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Biographical Information
telephone
(612) 516-9705
Contact Phone
(612) 516-9705
Facebook (Full URL)
http://www.facebook.com/rainvilleward3
Campaign Twitter Handle
@@RainvilleWard3
Campaign Email
info@rainvilleward3.org
Why are you seeking a City Council seat and what are your qualifications?
Minneapolis is my home. I was born and raised in Ward 3 where I married my wife and where we raised our son. We’ve been here our entire lives and don’t plan on leaving. I care deeply about the future of our city and its people. What happens in Ward 3 is vital not only to the overall interests of Minneapolis but to the state. At Meet Minneapolis, I was part of the team that successfully built the Minneapolis hospitality industry into a 36,000 job economic engine. It’s been my honor for the past four years to represent Ward 3 and bring common-sense solutions to our challenges. I want everyone in Minneapolis to feel safe walking our streets. I want to expand our supply of affordable housing. I want to lead the effort to revitalize downtown.
If you are elected, what will be your top two priorities as a City Council member?
If re-elected, my top two priorities are the revitalization of downtown and the minimization of homeowner property tax increases. We cannot sugar coat the fact that the loss of revenue from empty downtown buildings will impact every renter and homeowner in Minneapolis. With the lack of growth in new construction and the continued drop in value of downtown buildings, every renter and homeowner is facing increases in property tax for years to come. Until we fill up the empty office buildings and build new housing to increase the tax base and property tax revenue, we must scrutinize every department budget. As a City, we have to tighten our belt, just as residents have had to do. The City Council must be very wise about new spending.
How do you propose to increase the availability of and access to affordable housing for both renters and people seeking to buy their first home?
I believe that the building of affordable and market rate housing will decrease rent prices through increasing supply. As Council Member for Ward 3, I consistently vote to support the Affordable Housing Trust Fund (AHTF). This year, the AHTF will invest $17 million into 10 housing projects which will add 803 affordable units in Minneapolis. I also support affordable housing through the authorization of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. Additionally, each budget cycle I support the funding of Stable Homes Stable Schools. I am proud as Council Member for Ward 3 to support the Minneapolis Homes Perpetually Affordable Housing Program which is designed to eliminate racial disparities in homeownership.
What steps would you take to improve climate resilience in your Ward, particularly in areas prone to flooding, heat islands or lacking green space?
I support the Minneapolis Climate Legacy Initiative to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. I voted to add over $500,000 over two years for the Green Cost Share program to help reduce environmental pollution through solar energy and weatherization projects for low-income rental units, primarily focused in our Green Zones and cultural corridors. I voted to expand electrical vehicle stations. I voted to shut down the HERC. Progress on combatting the climate crisis will mean reduction of packaging, improvements to packaging materials used when they are necessary, more efforts on the part of consumers to recycle and compost, and a greater focus on keeping recyclable or reusable materials out of landfills.
What role, if any, does the City Council have in supporting and monitoring the effectiveness of community groups who are working to improve public safety, prevent disturbances and the need for emergency services? Please explain.
In our City government structure, the Mayor’s Office directs public safety functions and oversees daily functions. The City Council has a role in evaluating the performance of public safety and all City services and programs. The City Council has a responsibility to ensure that the public safety programs through which the community groups operate have adequate controls and measurements in place to monitor their effectiveness. Some successful, well-monitored programs are: the patrol of Stone Arch by Somali Mothers leading to zero 911 calls on nights they work; the diversion of 11% of 911 calls to BCR with a future goal of 20% (fastest adoption in the US); and the embedding of social workers in MPD Precincts reducing repeat offenses.