Hi! I’m Paula Chesley

I’m running for Minneapolis city council in Ward 7. I believe actions speak louder than words, and that’s what I’m prepared to deliver for our city.

WHY I’M RUNNING

My name is Paula Chesley, and I'm running for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 7 to bring a renewed focus on safety, economic vitality, and responsive government to our community. Minneapolis faces significant challenges that demand immediate and decisive action. We need to address public safety concerns head-on, revitalize our commercial corridors, particularly in Uptown and Downtown, create more affordable housing, and ensure our city government is truly accountable to its residents.

Ward 7 deserves a City Council Member who is prepared to make the tough decisions necessary to improve public safety. I will make it a top priority to ensure our Minneapolis Police Department is fully supported through effective recruitment efforts and fair compensation, while also insisting on accountability measures that rebuild trust with the community. My approach includes sponsoring precinct-specific police engagement sessions to foster direct and productive communication between residents and law enforcement. We need to move beyond rhetoric and focus on tangible actions that make our neighborhoods safer.

In addition to public safety, I will work to revitalize Uptown and Downtown by actively attracting businesses that residents want, supporting entrepreneurs, establishing a Business Improvement District in Uptown, and addressing the issue of long-vacant buildings that contribute to blight.

Accountability and responsiveness are cornerstones of my commitment to you. I will ensure city government is held accountable through performance audits, working to streamline city services, and guaranteeing responsiveness to constituent concerns. Furthermore, I will pursue innovative approaches to increase affordable housing options. This includes exploring tax incentives for converting existing single-family homes into duplexes and triplexes as well as adding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). We must also work to simplify zoning and building codes that can unnecessarily drive up costs.

I'm committed to listening to your concerns, translating them into action, and working collaboratively to achieve results for Ward 7 and Minneapolis. I'm ready to bring a sense of urgency and a focus on pragmatic, results-oriented solutions to City Hall. I look forward to earning your support!

GET TO KNOW PAULA

I was raised by a single mother who taught me about the importance of community. Even if we didn’t have much, we would offer whatever we had to those less fortunate.

I have a PhD in linguistics and a minor in statistics and have worked as a professor and researcher in academia. My research focused on the interface of language and technology. Data and facts always matter to me — not just when they agree with my ideological position. My research and teaching have been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Fulbright Foundation, the Department of Education, and the Fyssen Foundation in France. I have lived in France, Germany, and Canada for work. I speak French fluently and Spanish conversationally. Let’s just say my German is improving!

At some point in those roles, I began to feel that the basic research I was doing was too abstract for me. I wanted to be making an immediate impact — I wanted to help improve people’s lives and bring them joy. So I pivoted — I now teach yoga and meditation (and sometimes gardening) in a mental health clinic. It is this same spirit of service and community that I wish to bring to the office of Ward 7.

I bought my first home in East Isles, next to Hennepin Avenue, in 2020. I love Minneapolis’s walkability, parks, and lakes. During the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, I helped the neighborhood board up windows and protect local businesses. I became a Block Captain, organizing National Night Out. I formed the East Isles Safety Walking Club, a community-based program partnering with police to promote safety and pick up litter. I have also been on the East Isles Neighborhood Association board.

I can get stuff done! I was instrumental in changing the discriminatory Minneapolis Parks ordinance around toplessness in 2020. This came about through my own interaction with law enforcement around the issue of female toplessness.

I am a proud Childless Cat Lady. My two rescue cats are Elvis (9 ½) and Norma Jeane (6 months). In my free time, I love to garden, bike around town, do yoga, go dancing, and hang out with friends and family.