Bob Carney Jr.

Bob Carney Jr. was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Carney earned a bachelor's degree from Macalester College in 1984. His career experience includes working as a consultant.[2]

Bob Carney Jr. did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Bob Carney Jr. did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2025 Candidate Connection survey.

Bob Carney Jr. did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Bob Carney Jr. did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2023 Candidate Connection survey.

Minnesota Governor

Bob Carney Jr. did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

U.S. House

Bob Carney Jr. did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I'm a writer and inventor, trying to help the Republican party move beyond Trump -- and to become a respected and competitive organization in Minneapolis and other big-city political communities. I believe America's big cities need annual elections to break up a kind of monopoly of Democratic machines, activists, and special interests. When there is only one election every four years -- 100% of all eligible voters are suppressed the other three years. With annual elections, during Presidential years, and State-election mid-term elections, local and municipal issues can be made a legitimate part of the campaign. As a semi-retired person, I've also been driving a school bus part-time -- I have some innovative ideas about how to solve the school bus driver crisis -- a nationwide problem.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We need to have annual elections.We need public safetyWe need to solve the school bus crisisCommunity Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

Unfortunately with COVID still on-going, and the downtown workforce only a small fraction of what it was, we simply must concentrate first on restoring economic vitality to downtown -- I simply can't say anything or make any promises until we know more about our budget situation, and how downtown is rebounding. We need new housing development. I consider gentrification to be an issue when planning for neighborhood development -- we must give consideration to the character of neighborhoods.

Community Question Featured local question

Please list the criteria you would use to evaluate which projects are worth maintaining or starting in Minneapolis when it comes to public infrastructure.

Will it last? Is the cost reasonable? Will it not obstruct traffic?

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

In general I think it's good -- our outstanding park system is a big plus here. As noted, I'm favoring a plan to move to a carbon-neutral transportation system by 2030 -- that's my main priority in this category.

Community Question Featured local question

What role do you feel police should play in Minneapolis? What are your thoughts on the city council’s proposed changes to the Minneapolis Police Department?

I'm opposed to Charter Amendment 2. We need a fully staffed police department. Police departments are law enforcement agencies -- law enforcement includes public safety, but also goes beyond public safety, to such things as securing property rights. If charter amendment 2 is adopted, it is not all clear how law enforcement will be provided for in Minneapolis, or even if it will be provided for.

Community Question Featured local question

What would you like Minneapolis' public safety system to look like by the end of your term? What would you do to accomplish your vision of public safety?

We need to establish 311 as the first choice for all non-emergency calls. When there is a mental health issue, the first responders should be ambulance crews and fire department units -- with police performing their traditional role of providing safety for these responders. We need a top-to-bottom review of arrest procedures -- to ensure than no unnecessary force is used.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Public safety is a crucial issue in Minneapolis today -- our police force is demoralized and down about 300 officers on a de facto basis. We need to restore it. Transportation and transit are also big issues -- I've been working on these for years, and have a book-length plan available on my website as a free download. Studying our misunderstood impeachment process is another important issue to me -- I've also written a book on that. Impeachments can be prospective -- it's better to impeach and disqualify a dangerous person BEFORE they become President. I also have a book-length plan for getting Minneapolis to a carbon-neutral transportation system by the year 2030.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I'm a Christian.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Character -- open mindedness.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Out of time here.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Public safety is #1.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Not sure.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Managing a Republican Congressional campaign at age 18 -- $200 a month for the last two months.

A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?

There's a debate about "strong mayor/weak mayor" associated with a Charter Amendment. Hubert Humphrey was one of the best mayors we ever had -- and he worked under the "weak mayor" model. If you know how to lead, and how to work with people -- it starts with listening -- that's the key to success -- not formal legal structures.

Mayors have many responsibilities, which vary from city to city. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your city?

Right now public safety is our first priority -- we must both restore it, and also reform the police department.

If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?

N/A

If the mayor in your city is not a member of the city council and oversees the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor and city council?

It should be collaborative -- unfortunately it's broken down badly recently. Frankly, a lot of members of the current City Council need to be voted out.

What do you love most about your city?

The parks system.

What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Recovering from COVID.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?

Unfortunately, if Minneapolis moves further to the left, we need to consider action at the State level that can be taken to both safeguard the rule of law, and property rights. I'm worried about the current direction. City governments are given freedoms based on the ideas that they can and will be responsible -- if this isn't met, then a variety of city issues must move to the state level by default.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?

I see the relationship with the federal government as being one where various programs are made available to cities, and the cities can choose to participate in them. Minneapolis has historically been good at participating in worthwhile federal programs -- I want that to continue.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the mayor's office and law enforcement?

I favor the current City Charter structure.

Bob Carney Jr. did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.