Mickey Moore

Mickey Moore was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended the University of Minnesota. Moore's career experience includes working as a business owner.[2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

My name is Mickey Moore. I was born and raised in South Minneapolis. I've lived here all my life and as the son of a single mom, I benefitted from the many programs and resources that this city provided for our youth at that time. As a state high school champion athlete, I was fortunate to receive a full scholarship to the University of Minnesota. I opened my most popular business, The Braid Factory, in 1996 and began our state's professional, natural hair care industry. Now, that industry gainfully employs hundreds of people, including dozens of business owners from our African immigrant community. I've been working to create successful business opportunities for people for over 25 years. People know who I am and I have been incredibly well supported by this community. I am a husband, a father, and a homeowner. As a bi-racial man, married to an Asian immigrant woman, I care about all people and passing along the same opportunities that I've been so lucky to enjoy. I am running to represent the 9th Ward because I believe that now, more than ever, our city needs an attentive, experienced, and professional leader who has a long and proven track record of success in turning significant obstacles into real successes. I know this community and I will work hard for this community, including donating a significant portion of the excessive city council salary to charities, nonprofits, and organizations on the ground doing the work we need to transform people's lives.

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?

Crime is at a crisis level in Minneapolis. Gun violence and other serious crime is gripping our community. We need to do everything in our power to increase our overall Public Safety. This means increasing police resources while simultaneously increasing police accountability and transparency. We need more police and more police resources. But we also need a focus on community policing and hiring people who represent and reflect our communities. People who speak our languages and have our local best interests in mind when they consider how they protect and serve us.Due to the COVID-19 shutdowns and limitations, and also the civil unrest that began last Summer and in many ways has continued, our business districts and commercial corridors have been devastated. We have a one-time opportunity to utilize federal stimulus and disaster relief funds to help restore and rebuild our businesses, but we must have the right person in place to articulately advocate for what our Ward needs and deserves. My 30 years of successful small business experience will put our Ward's economic development centerstage in our city's short-term plans and priorities.The disconnect between residents and elected officials has become a chronic and dangerous problem. I will revolutionize the collaborative partnership between my office and the people we serve by opening a local ward office. Fully-staffed and open everyday, this office will have community members who look like us and speak all of our languages who can assist residents and business owners in accessing city, county, state and federal programs, resources and services. We will employ several strategic tactics which will help us to maintain a new and innovative, wide-open line of communication between the people and city hall.Community 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?

Because of my 30 years of business experience, 1 of the 3 committee areas upon which I plan to focus is Economic Development. I believe that for decades this city has incentivized high-dollar development to the detriment of small and local businesses and housing communities. Indeed, over the past 10 years, over 95% of all new housing development has been rental development. This is just 1 reason why Minneapolis ranks at the bottom of the entire country when it comes to racial homeownership disparities, What we need to do is shift our priorities 180 degrees and start focusing on transitioning renters into homeownership. This is how we solve our affordable housing crisis, while creating generational wealth at the same time.

As someone who has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars renting and leasing space for my businesses, I know that we need a city that partners with business owners to help them acquire and maintain property ownership. This turns simpy owning a successful business into having transformative wealth. We need to do this with a focus on minority communities and minority business ownership, because those are the demographic groups who have been chronically underserved, relocated and have typically suffer disproportionately from the adverse affects of gentrification.

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.

I would look at all policies with a series of expert questions, diagnoses, and analyses. Do we have ALL of the most advanced and updated information and analysis? Is the information independent and unbiased? Who does this project serve? What is the return on investment as it relates to the entire population? By starting this project, are we limiting our ability to invest in or develop alternative options? Is this a project on which we might be able to create multi-level jurisdictional or even private partnerships? Does this project meet our standards for social and environmental justice? Does this project meet our standards of diversity, equity, and inclusion? Have we heard all the feedback and input from a truly informed community? The answers to questions like this are not complicated nor should finding answers be excessively time-consuming. Only when the answers to all of these (and more) questions are received and positive, can we proceed.

Community Question Featured local question

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

This city has a long history of environmentally unjust policies and as a representative of the most polluted area of the city, I would make a lot of changes. Ward 9 residents suffer from the largest rate of asthma and lead poisoning in our state. This isn't an accident. This is the result of decades of purposeful policy that has resulted in our area being declared a green zone. Yet, despite that declaration, our city. Still, to this day, our city govt. insists on developing, proposing and implementing environmentally unsound and unfriendly policies that disproportionately affect Ward 9 residents. The failure of our city govt. to enthusiastically support the East Phillips Urban Farm Initiative is just 1 example. I would immediately advocate for our new city council to move forward with this project with the full support of the city.

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?

Minneapolis has always needed and will continue to need an effective police department. What we need is more police accountability and a city govt. that supports empowering our police dept. with the authority to discipline and terminate officers for cause. Our current city council and their dangerous messaging of "abolish", "dismantle" and "defund"-ing the police are precisely what caused hundreds of police officers to leave the force. We don't need any undisciplined and irresponsible political grandstanders that prefer to advocate an extremist agenda, even if it means endangering our residents and communities. Especially those communities who are most chronically adversely affected by high crime and violence.

I believe that a responsible and professional city council might be able to craft meaningful and significant reforms that allow our police department to enter a new era of cooperative collaboration with a city and community that needs and respects each other.

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?

Please bear in mind that this particular city council term is only 2 years long, instead of the typical 4 years. Nevertheless, we are missing almost 300 police officers from our previous levels, and more than 500 from levels that independent committee estimates claim are needed for our city. While we can focus on targeting and hiring a more diverse group of potential police officers who are from our community, look like our community and speak the languages of our community, this deficit isn't something we can magically overcome. It will take years to properly reinforce our department, so we have to take other steps in the short-term, that have an effect on our public safety right now.

We need a platform of strategic reforms that will bring our department into line with our new vision of effective actions, and also, community understanding. We need a police department that rebuilds a cooperative partnership with the community they serve, including hiring local community members who reflect our communities and speak our languages, including more minority, female, and immigrant officers. We need a community policing effort that puts police into neighborhoods at the ground level so that people can get to know and understand each other more intimately.

Additionally, we can incorporate private security firms that focus on particular and specific areas of high concern. This has already proven effective in several "hotspots". We need policies that work to help create a better department, not reinforce bad characteristics. So our chief needs the authority to terminate and discipline problem officers. We need a body camera policy, that includes oversight and follow-up, that is both effective and also unbreakable. We need policies that help control the physical interactions the police have with people so that we have less opportunity for problems, both perceived and real. Better policies will automatically limit and eliminate the potential for problematic interactions. Just as ending the practice of traffic stops can reduce or eliminate racial profiling and dangerous police chases that are the direct reaction of fleeing the police.

There are a number of simple, intelligent, and strategic reforms and restructures that we can introduce right away that will go a long way towards helping our community regain trust and appreciation for the work that police officers do. 1.) Re-open old cases of police use of excessive force. 2.) engage our youth in employment opportunities related to cleaning up the city, both repainting property that has been targeted by graffiti, as well as the broken glass/dirty needle problem that plagues many neighborhood streets and alleyways. 3.) Redeploy the foot patrol units that had p[previously seen real success in creating an interactive environment with the public.

I believe that in less than 2 years we can 1.) hire a minimum of an additional 100 officers, with a strong focus on women, minorities, and multiple language speakers. 2.) re-open several police substations. 3.) employ many more portable police cameras as well as fixed CCTV units with increased monitoring. 4) coordinate better and more comprehensive responses and a more appropriate delegation of resources by working collectively with Hennepin County and their mental health units. 5.) Pass a comprehensive reform package that includes but is not limited to the expansion of community oversight and also the elimination of problematic procedures that lead to excessive force interactions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Many city council members try to sit on every committee possible. I have a different approach. Based on a fair analysis of my personal experience and passions, I will sit on just 3 types of committees. There are multiple committees in these areas, but they can be broken down into just 3 general areas. 1.) Economic Development and Planning. 2.) Civil Rights, Justice and Equity. 3.) Environment, Climate and Green Energy. It is within these 3 areas that I plan to focus my attention and effort for the 9th Ward. Naturally, there are many areas of public policy that are critically important to both myself and the residents of the 9th Ward, but I'm not afraid to admit that I am not a homelessness or a housing expert. As much as I recognize the desperate need for more police and a focus on public safety, and that opinion is shared by the vast majority of the residents of Ward 9, I myself am not a policing expert. I think it's important to point out that although I can effectively advocate for the needs of our ward, but involving myself at the policy level is not the most effective use of my time or energy. It is my true hope and belief that our city is best served by allowing experts to do the expert work that we need to craft and implement the best policies that our city needs to move us forward. I will work and focus on building the relationship and partnership between city hall and the Ward so that everyone feels heard and believes they have a seat at the table.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

In Minneapolis, we do not use the boundaries of "Wards" for anything. They do not determine how we spend money, where our kids g to school, what businesses we access, where we shop, who we connect with or how our transit is system is designed. We don't ask each other, "what Ward do you live in?", in fact, the majority of us do not know what Ward WE live in, or at least, what our own Ward boundaries even are. Wards are, in plain fact, the most useless and meaningless physical designation our municipality utilizes. The plain and factual truth is that the only time we hear or use the term "Ward" is when we have a municipal election and we have to figure out what council member we have, and who we want to vote for.

To me, this is what makes our city council system a unique opportunity to create something much more meaningful than what we have done in the past. It is a chance to forge out a special space of importance and significance for our city. A unique set of neighborhoods where 1 person can decide how they want to organize and administer their office. There really aren't many rules or regulations about Wards because, as we said, they aren't used for anything outside of determining city council seats and memberships. So, that means, it's essentially virgin territory, where a person can create their own structure of impact and influence.

This is partly why I plan to do something that no one has done. Open a functional local Ward office where residents can come to access city, county, state or federal resources, right here, in our own community, with no appointment necessary. A fully-staffed location, open every day, where community members who look like us, and speak our languages can assist residents and business owners gather information, or fill out forms to access the programs and services they need to improve their lives, start a business, obtain healthcare, find rental housing, learn about opportunities and connect with local organizations.

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

I have always described myself as a lifelong pragmatic, progressive Democrat. However, I also consider myself to be nonpartisan, unbiased and extremely practical. I think these are the most important qualities I possess that will aid me in the position I seek. As a city council member, you must not only work with 12 other council members, and a mayor, you must also represent an entire Ward of unique residents, business owners and other interested and associated parties. Ward 9 has large business entities like Target, Cub Foods, Children's and Abbott hospitals, the Global Market building. We also have a plethora of nonprofits and organizations working within our Ward to service their own missions and goals. It will take balance and perspective to approach all the critical issues we face here with a uniformed mentality. As a professional business leader for 3 decades, I have the rel world experience to handle all issues and circumstances with a steady and calm demeanor. I understand ethical practicality and the common sense judgment of a disciplined executive. The same skills that allowed me to navigate a successful business through multiple generations of clientele, locations, and technologies, will serve me well as a city council member dealing with peers, staff and govt. leadership.

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

As a Ward representative, I believe that each city council member is tasked with 4 basic ideals. 1.) Being an accessible, accountable and transparent conduit between city govt. and the residents and business owners they serve. Making sure that everyone, voter, and on-voter alike, is given all the necessary information in a fair and deliberate manner so that people can have the highest level of understanding about every issue. 2.) Working with people to comprehend the issues that we face. We cannot just post information. We must also fairly and articulately interpret that information. Much of what city govt. crafts is complex and purposefully convoluted. So we must also serve as translators, in both a real and figurative sense. Making crystal clear what our various policies and procedures really say and do. 3.) We must always do that due diligence to determine how people feel about issues and policies, taking the necessary time to listen, survey, and poll people about what they want, whether or not they agree, what they're hoping to accomplish, and how accurately you, as the city council member, are truly understanding their issues and concerns. 4.) Appropriately and responsibly representing the attitudes and feelings of your Ward (again, not just the people who vote, or the people who vote for you, but rather, your entire population) to the city govt. and council.

I firmly and steadfastly believe that City Council members do not and should not represent themselves, or the ideas that in which they believe, but rather, the they should solely represent the interests of the people they serve. This means, from time to time, they may be forced to vote for, or advocate for a position with which they do not agree. I believe that this core principle is both at the heart of the responsibility of a city council member, and also why our city residents and voters are so discouraged by the performance of our city govt.

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

As the son of a single mom, non-school days were always a complication. This also meant I would go to a string of different Summer camps from soon after the school year ended, to right before it started again. Boys Club, Big Brothers, Boy Scouts, YMCA, Pillsbury House, and others, all had Summer camp sessions typically lasting between 10-14 days each. All Summer long I would go to one after another, so that my mother would be free to work and attend school. All of these camps ended at age 13, which meant that when I turned 14, I would be eligible to actually work at a camp. Which I did. At age 14, I became a Counselor-in-Training at the Boy's Club Camp in Mound Minnesota. I received $300 for each 10-day session (there were 5 throughout the Summer) but more importantly, it provided housing and food for the duration of the Summer. As one of the most experienced staff members, (having attended that particular camp for each of the previous 7 years) I was a valuable and competent assistant. Many of the counselors had never been there before, didn't know all the practices, traditions, and protocols, or didn't possess the requisite skills required to teach or train the campers. (horse riding, archery, canoeing, fishing, swimming, and many others...) Although the experience was, by its nature, short-lived, it was an extremely rewarding opportunity and set a stage for me to develop a work ethic that would stay with me. Working with others, training and teaching young people, taking orders as a low-level employee and operating outside of my own home for an extended period of time are all useful skills that, at age 14, served me well as I worked to secure more and better employment opportunities throughout my youth. It also instilled in me a closer understanding and value of our inner-city programs and services that provide our most at-risk youth a meaningful and uplifting alternative to the normal and complicated difficulties they face.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite book is probably still The Souls Of Black Folks. It's been my favorite for almost 35 years. As some people know, it was the tragic and horrific murder of George Floyd that compelled me to enter politics last Summer. On the day it happened, there was a quote by W.E.B. DuBois that immediately rang through my head on that day...

"Daily the Negro is coming more and more to look upon law and justice, not as protecting safeguards, but as sources of humiliation and oppression. The laws are made by men who have little interest in him; they are executed by men who have absolutely no motive for treating the black people with courtesy or consideration; and, finally, the accused law-breaker is tried, not by his peers, but too often by men who would rather punish ten innocent Negroes than let one guilty one escape.”

The morning after George Floyd was killed, I was in the Secretary of State's office registering as a candidate for U.S. Congress.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I believe that previous experience of any type can be both beneficial or detrimental. What matters most is the character of the person and the motivation behind why they are seeking public office. there are positive and righteous motivations, like doing good and wanting to help people. If a person has previous experience that has led them to feel compelled to be guided by these positive motives, then those experiences will undoubtedly be useful in assisting them achieve their goals.

However, if a person is motivated by other reasons, greed, power, the fulfillment of their own personal political ambitions. Then their own personal experiences, be they in govt. politics, or any other field, will certainly be employed in a cause for concern and negative outcomes. we see examples of both all the time.

The bottom line is, whatever a person's background, be it in business, politics, or philanthropy, what will determine their effectiveness will be their own personal character and the motivations behind why they are seeking to become a public servant. For myself, I can state without any equivocation that I am motivated solely by my love for this city, this community and my desire to see people receive the same opportunities to fulfill their highest possible potential in life. We cannot control outside forces or circumstances beyond our control. But, as leaders, we have an obligation to manage the circumstances that are within our control to the best of our ability in a fair, transparent and accountable manner. That's what I seek to accomplish as the next city council member in the 9th Ward of Minneapolis.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

I want to start out by explaining that I have been a business owner for over 30 years. This means I understand how to take an idea and turn it into a functional and successful reality. This involves not just understanding how every component must work together, but also, having the comprehensive ability and coordination to amass experts and delegate authority to people to accomplish shared goals. A business owner must take the personal responsibility of investing in the idea of something, and then making it work, not just for themself, but for the people who rely on those products or services, as well as the individual employees and staff members who are relying upon the overall success of the operation to provide them with gainful employment. It comes with a lot of responsibility, stress, and risk. Most businesses fail. It takes a lot of combinations of factors to make businesses succeed, and possessing the strength of will to not only have a successful business but to remain successful over the course of several decades, while also battling against the State agencies and departments that are trying to prevent your success, is a truly remarkable accomplishment.

Now, being a successful city council member takes having a lot of real-world experience, like traveling around the world, living in a foreign country, having a family, and owning a home. It's useful to already have a lot of experience being in charge of other people and working with large groups of staff. Working well with peers and others especially people with whom you do not always agree. You need to be book smart and able to think on your feet. You need to be extremely articulate in advocating not only for those issues you care about but also those issues about which you are fighting on someone else's behalf. Most of all you have to be prepared to accept that you are representing the needs and desires of others, not yourself, and your personal feelings may not always be a priority.

Campaign website

Click here to view an archived version of Moore's campaign website.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

200 words is simply not enough space to aptly explain who I am. I would invite everyone to check out our website for more complete details. (www.usrepmoore.com) The most important thing to remember is that I am NOT a Republican or a Democrat. I am real person, not a politician, born and raised in the 5th district and intend to provide accurate, honorable and professional representation. I accept NO money. I am not obligated to ANY party. I have NO personal political ambitions or plans for the future. I intend to be the voice for EVERY man, woman and child in my district. NOT just the people who vote for me. NOT just the people who claim to be in my party. NOT just the voters who share my beliefs. EVERYONE.

The time has come when we must END this bad idea of electing partisan, hack politicians and start electing our own people. People who cannot be corrupted into continuing the gridlock of partisan extremism. People who work for actual change and real reform, even when that includes compromise or sacrifice. We cannot continue to do the same thing, year after year, election after election, and then magically expect different results. We have to start doing something different, and that starts now...in the 5th district, with my election to congress.

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?

I am Not a partisan politician. I represent the people. Not myself. Not my party. Not my financial contributor and big money donors. You, the people.I plan on using my position as a community leader, to actually lead within my community. Rather than sit in Washington D.C. accomplishing nothing, I will work daily to influence and directly impact the 5th district of Minnesota.I have NO political future. My election is merely a temporary fix to an existing problem of bad and corrupt representation. We will immediately work together to find a long-term, appropriate and truly transformative candidate.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

While I care deeply about critical issues of our time; Police and Social Justice Reform, Healthcare, Immigration, Economic Advancement for the Underserved Populations, Affordable Housing and Homelessness, etc. Our true enemy is the continuing ineffective nature of partisan politics. Without changing the system itself, we'll never be able to effectively approach and address our most important national problems. By elec