The Duluth Central Labor Body held a marathon screening session before its June meeting to hear from mayoral and city council candidates.
After much discussion, the body voted to endorse Arik Forsman and Lynne Nephews in the at-large city council race and Janet Kennedy in the District 5. It took no action in the mayoral race. It voted no endorsement in District 1, District 3, District 4.

MAYOR
Emily Larson (i) and Roger Reinert
In the mayoral race, current Mayor Emily Larson highlighted her achievements and contrasted Reinert’s positions and record with hers.
“Your values and the values of the Central Labor Body are my values,” she said, adding that the  Project Labor Agreements the city has been a part of are one of the things she’s most proud of during her tenure. “I’m incredibly proud of PLAs and the fact that we’re radically changing the polices and projects that we do to support working families.”
Larson acknowledged tensions with Firefighters 101 and AFSCME in her remarks. City contracts and health care have been an ongoing issue with the administration.
She said her priorities for a potential second term would be streets, job creation and construction of affordable housing. “Budgeting is never easy, we always need more

resources, and we’re proud that with the DFL trifecta, we have money coming in for LGA and parks.”
In her closing statement, Larson reminded the delegates of a long shared history. “Thank you pushing me and challenging me, for pointing out where you need me to go and need me to be. Running and building a city is messy, but I am here for the mess.”
Roger Reinert arrived late as Larson finished her remarks. “We’re really focusing on two big things: core city services like streets, community centers, housing, the things only city government does,” Reinert said. “The other is being a better partner to residents, businesses, events our own employees and our bargaining units.”
After much discussion, the body took no action.

DISTRICT 1
Wendy Durrwacher and Tim Meyer
Meyer, an architect, highlighted the issue of wage fraud and human trafficking when it comes to workers, saying that his experience makes him aware of the issue. Serving on an HRA commission, Meyer said housing it the most serious concern in Duluth and that the shortage of workforce housing is a threat to employers.
Regarding safety downtown, Meyer said it’s less a housing issue and more an issue with people struggling with mental health and addiction problems, and said housing with supports and services could make more a difference.
Durrwacher agreed that housing is an issue and said increasing housing blocks downtown could help make downtown safer. “I feel very strongly that the stronger our city center is, the stronger the whole community is. The blight is an embarrassment, but it affects the people living there.”
“I have been proud to doorknock across the city and am proud to live in a city with strong unions.”
The body voted to make no endorsement in this race.

DISTRICT 3
Roz Randorf (i)
CLB President Beth McCusky read a letter from Randorf, who had a committee meeting. The body voted to make no endorsement in this race.

DISTRICT 4
Tara Swenson and Salaam Witherspoon
Swenson moved here about a dozen years ago and described herself as pro-businesses. She said her priority was public safety and making sure police and firefighters have the resources they need to improve city.
She said working with citizens and low-income people to help transition people into housing. “If we can get someone out of low-income into affordable housing, that opens it up.” She also said selling and flipping abandoned houses could be helpful.
Witherspoon was born raised in Duluth, the youngest of 11 children. She said her priorities were mental health and housing. “I’m really passionate about the good outcome for all people, to make sure people are heard and validate concerns,” she said.
Witherspoon said it would be important to talk with both unhoused people and public safety to find solutions. “I would do my best to bridge the community,” she said. “I am an outreach worker, and I believe in having conversations with people and getting buy in from people.”
The body voted to make no endorsement in this race.

DISTRICT 5
Janet Kennedy (i) and Ginka Tarnowski
Janet Kennedy said she was proud to be president of the city council. “I’m not done — I’m going to continue this work, this is not the time for me to leave.” She described solidarity as work that is done together, across differences in backgrounds and experiences.
Kennedy said she was proud of the work that was done on the city budget. “I really dug into it last season and am looking forward to digging into it again this season. It’s how we take care of our workers and our citizens.”
Tarnowski submitted answers to the screening questionnaire but no statement, nor did she show up.

did she show up. The body voted to endorse Kennedy.

AT-LARGE CITY COUNCIL
Arik Forsman (i), Miranda Pacheco, Lynne Nephews, Ashlie Castaldo, Jenna Yeakle
Pacheco moved to Duluth eight years ago and talked about how she had been homeless, was in active addiction. After turning her life around, she said she’s ready to do more. Housing is a priority for Pacheco. “I want to advocate for subsidized housing, sober living with case management — I know there’s a bigger picture, but that’s what I’m passionate about.”
Forsman had not planned on running again but changed his mind. “You know my values and where I stand. When Labor’s got an issue, I make the phone call. They know they have a friend with me.”
“We have an incredible demand to be in this community, and haven’t kept up with supply.” He also said that as the city grows, services must scale as well. “There’s no city service that isn’t important to people, but we have to grow the pie. We have some real challenges.”
Nephews is a real estate agent and said public safety was an important issue for her. She compared the city budget to a family budget, but said business development without housing development would be a mistake. She also said she wouldn’t necessarily be against a higher tax levy but stressed looking at the bigger picture.
“When we focus on one issue, we miss the big picture,” Castaldo said. She acknowledged that housing is an issue, but she questioned why wages in Duluth are so much lower than elsewhere in the state.
Castaldo said tax revenues from cannabis legalization could be plowed back into economic development. She also stressed going over the city budget and prioritizing items differently, while keeping in mind that many people simply aren’t able to absorb higher taxes.
Jenna Yeakle was not able to attend but McCuskey read a statement she had submitted. The body voted to endorsed Forsman and Nephews. The Duluth city primary is August 8; early absentee and early in-person voting begins June 23