By Cederick Frazier
Late last week, I was forwarded a post authored by Mike Erlandson. While I have never met Mr. Erlandson, he mentions me by name several times, so I want to take a moment to respond.
My service in elected office began on the New Hope City Council—a nonpartisan, part-time role with a modest salary of $10,395 per year. I had no office at City Hall. I met with my constituents at coffee shops, libraries, and on walks around the neighborhood. That is how local government operates across every city in Hennepin County outside of Minneapolis.
During my time on the New Hope City Council, I saw firsthand that it’s possible to disagree without being disagreeable. At the end of the day, your colleagues are also your neighbors. In New Hope, there are no dark-money corporate PACs and no ideological tribalism like “corporate shill vs. DSA.” Campaigns in New Hope are simple—often costing just a few hundred dollars. Success at the polls comes from knocking on doors, listening, and showing up. People run not for notoriety or money, but because they care about their community.
That same spirit guides my campaign for County Attorney. My commitment to this work is deeply personal. I grew up in a low-income neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago, a place very different from the New Hope community where my wife and I are now raising our daughters. The neighborhood I grew up in faced gang violence, drug trafficking, and a justice system that too often failed the people it was meant to serve. I lost loved ones to gun violence and watched neighbors become trapped in cycles of incarceration.
My mother taught me that education was the pathway to a better life. Because she believed in me, I came to Minnesota nearly 30 years ago to attend college and play football. After earning my master’s degree and graduating from law school, I served as a public defender in Hennepin County, fighting to ensure that people without means still had access to their constitutional rights. I later worked as legal counsel for Minneapolis Public Schools and now serve as an attorney for Education Minnesota, representing more than 84,000 educators across our state.
In 2018, I became the first African American to serve on the New Hope City Council, where I worked to build trust between our police department and the community. In 2020, my neighbors elected me to the State Legislature, where I was appointed by the late Speaker Melissa Hortman to serve as vice chair of the Public Safety and Judiciary Committees. Today, I serve as the DFL Chair of the House Ways & Means Committee, helping oversee our state’s $66.8 billion budget.
It is important to understand that the elected Hennepin County Attorney does not try cases in court. That critical work is carried out by hundreds of career Assistant County Attorneys. The role of the elected County Attorney is to lead the office—managing its budget and guiding its relationships with the public, the media, and other branches of government. With that understanding, I will make it a priority to keep politics away from line attorneys and support staff so they can take pride in doing critical work in the courtroom every day.
My career has prepared me for exactly these responsibilities. I have led within large, complex government organizations, managed high-stakes legal and policy issues, and built relationships across communities and institutions. For these reasons, I believe I am uniquely equipped to lead an office of this size and importance effectively.
I refuse to be drawn into the kind of obsessive, negative politicking that too often dominates the conversation in Minneapolis. I’m focused on earning the trust of voters across Minneapolis and the suburbs with a positive message about my qualifications and my clear vision. And if given the opportunity to serve as County Attorney, I will listen to the concerns of everyone—including those who may not currently support my campaign—yes, including Mr. Erlandson. That’s what true public service requires.
So let’s approach this local election the way most of our communities in Hennepin County already do: with respect, honesty, and a willingness to listen. That’s how good local government—and stronger, safer communities—are built.
Cedrick Frazier is a candidate for Hennepin County Attorney
Related: What a Racket: A Response to “Don’t Fall for the Folk-Tales”
Public defender… teacher union legal counsel…. Never done a prosecution in his life…. Next….
I’m told by people I trust that Frazier is a good guy, and would likely do a good job. But, seriously, this is a guy who could not agree more thoroughly with everything that Mary Moriarty was doing – right up until she decided not to run, and it became a job he could get… if only he could convince enough of us who were/are fed up with her that he really didn’t mean all that stuff he said in support of her stances in the LAST two years. Unless one wants to risk ending up with “Moriarty Lite”, we have SEVERAL options less dubious than Frazier. I haven’t even decided for myself which one of them I prefer… but it won’t be this weasel.
Nothing changes The fact that this and several other candidates have zero prosecutorial experience. Next.
I find this to be a pretty disingenous response. Mike was pointing out that Rep. Fraizer was sharing the piece? Is that not accurate?
If the RacketMN piece is indeed like Mike says, then by sharing it, Rep. Fraizer and his campaign is engaging in the exact same behavior that he is claiming Mike is engaging in.
“I refuse to be drawn into the kind of obsessive, negative politicking that too often dominates the conversation in Minneapolis.”
I mean, you shared the article? It was written by one of your supporters. Do you think your supporter shouldn’t have written the article and your campaign shouldn’t have shared it? Mike was responding to an action by your campaign. That point isnt event addressed and its the main issue here.
Pretty concerning that this article is framed as a response. It didn’t really respond to anything and im questioning if Rep. Fraizer even read it at all. Titeling it “Don’t be like Mike” is just bizarre. Very disingenous.
Frazier shared the attack of Folk in a campaign email, suggesting Folk (falsely) did not want to prosecute ICE agents. It was a low blow, and Frazier’s holier-than-thou attitude here rings hollow when you know the facts.
Good rebuttal, but THIS….if wanting to stay above the fray, why then circulate that piece from Racket..why go there?
We ALL know how Racket falls, when they decide to weigh in on something political. They are just one click down from Wedge Live, in terms of advancing DSA aligned candidates, as they aggressively attack ANY “moderate” candidate, wasting no time before their go to.. labeling ANYONE that does not agree with them, and their quite specific anti police positions, a Republican, and a MAGA one at that.
We have seen this over and over in Mpls, particularly beginning in 2021. It is pretty disgusting and straight up shameful. So, you may have brought this onto yourself. But, you are there now.