Jonathan Palmer last month wrapped up his assignment at Minneapolis Empowerment Zone, using up accrued vacation to ramp up his campaign for the DFL endorsement for House seat 58A. Palmer will challenge incumbent Joe Mullery, and school board member, Peggy Flanagan at the DFL precinct caucuses February 5th.
“My last day as Empowerment Zone Administrator will be Friday, December 21, 2007,” Palmer said in a note to friends and co-workers in mid-December. “I regret leaving the company of the fine people with whom I have worked for the past three years but look forward to focusing my efforts on my campaign. I have enjoyed working with each of you and serving the community in this capacity, and hope to soon be doing so as an elected official.”
Palmer said the Minneapolis has enfolded the remains of the empowerment program into the planning and economic development department. That process will be complete by June, but his role, as project director, would have wound down as early as March, he said.
Leaving the position early allowed him more time to focus on the election, he said. “It’s most important to get new voters out to the precinct caucuses on February 5th. A lot has changes in the past 7-8 years in the District. Now is an excellent opportunity for the district and for communities of color to have their voices heard and their issues addressed.” Palmer said.
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