Minneapolis City Council candidate to resign from Park Board amid residency questions

Becka Thompson plans to resign from her Park Board seat to run for the City Council in Minneapolis' Ward 12. To comply with the Minnesota Constitution's residency requirement, she must move to the ward at least 30 days before the general election. Currently, she splits her time between homes in north Minneapolis and the Cooper neighborhood in the south. Questions about her residency have emerged, prompting her opponent, Aurin Chowdhury, to consider a legal challenge. Chowdhury argues that Thompson's situation misrepresents her commitment to the ward, stating that residents deserve clarity on who represents them.

If Thompson resigns, the remaining Park Board members will likely appoint a replacement, as has been done in previous mid-term vacancies. This situation poses challenges for Thompson as she navigates her campaign and the potential legal hurdles. The outcome may hinge on how the law interprets her residency status and timing.