Tom Hoch joins the field challenging incumbent Betsy Hodges
Minneapolis, MN – Tom Hoch, former head of the Hennepin Theatre Trust, announced his campaign for Minneapolis Mayor Tuesday afternoon.
Standing in the foyer of the State Theatre, Hoch announced his candidacy, saying it is time for a change. He claims the current city leadership allowed Minneapolis to become stagnant, not attracting businesses or raising the national profile of the city.
“We’ve had big ideas before,” Hoch said. “But where is the ambition of the leaders of our city today? The reality is that cities either move forward or backward. Today, other cities are moving faster, smarter and with greater ambition. Minneapolis has to get back to moving forward.”
Hoch stepped down from president and CEO of Hennepin Theatre Trust in late 2016. The nonprofit under Hoch’s leadership saved three historic Minneapolis theatres. Hoch was also the chairman of the Minneapolis Downtown Council before stepping down from his position earlier this year.
Hoch said he doesn’t see the job of Mayor as a stepping stone. He just wants to be an “engaged mayor, leading from the front.”
“We need all of our citizens moving toward prosperity, not just some,” Hoch said. “I want to put the progress back in progressive and that’s why I want to be your mayor.”
Hoch joins a group of five left-leaning candidates including Rep. Raymond Dehn (D – Minneapolis), City Councilman Jacob Frey, Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges, activist Nekima Levy-Pounds, and Aswar Rahman. Abdimalik Askar is the only conservative candidate in the race. Askar was the Republican-endorsed candidate in HD 60B who suddenly suspended his race for the Minnesota State House in 2016 running against now Rep. Ilhan Omar. While the Office of the Mayor is legally nonpartisan, candidates often seek partisan support and events.
