Adding up the Independent Votes
If you’re looking for a shift in the direction of the City Council, electing Dan Orban in Ward 9 might be part of the equation. Unlike most other candidates for City Council, Dan is running as an Independent and will not be seeking the DFL endorsement.
According to the city’s website, “Ward 9 is one of the most densely populated wards as well as one of the most diverse. It includes the largest urban American Indian population, the largest Latino population, a strong East African community, and a progressive LGBTQ community.”
The incumbent, Jason Chavez, has been a strong advocate for further study of George Floyd Square, including the possibility of converting it into a pedestrian mall. For Orban to overcome Chavez’s incumbent advantage, he will need to build strong connections within this diverse community while addressing a range of complex and often controversial issues.
There are currently an estimated seven encampments in Ward 9—the highest number in the city. The ward frequently makes headlines due to violence, including the September 2024 shootings near encampments that left two people dead.
Ward 9 is also the proposed site of the East Phillips Urban Farm, a project that has faced repeated delays as the East Phillips Neighborhood Institute (EPNI) struggles to secure funding. Incumbent council member Jason Chavez has played a key role in keeping the project alive, granting multiple extensions to allow additional fundraising. In the meantime, the vacant property costs taxpayers $100,000 per month to maintain.
Dan emphasizes several times in the interview that he holds no personal animosity toward Chavez. His approach is one we’d like to see more often—where candidates can disagree without viewing each other as enemies. Progress doesn’t have to come at the expense of destroying one’s opponent. While it’s not always easy, it is possible to disagree while remaining respectful. Being heard often starts with listening.
Interview Summary
Dan is a lecturer in computer science at the University of Minnesota. In the interview, he shares that his candidacy stems from firsthand frustrations with public safety, including crime near his home that affected his family's quality of life. Orban previously ran in 2023, inspired by the lack of response from city officials to pressing neighborhood concerns.
Public safety is his top priority, citing ongoing crime, drug-related issues, and the presence of encampments. While he supports compassionate approaches, he is skeptical about the effectiveness of sanctioned outdoor spaces for encampments, arguing for more structured housing and treatment solutions. He also emphasizes the need for economic revitalization, stating that local businesses feel unsupported and that crime discourages investment.
Dan advocates for maintaining core city services, such as police funding, road maintenance, and emergency services. He supports hiring more police while also expanding behavioral crisis response teams. Running as an independent, he believes in bridging political divides and focusing on practical solutions rather than ideological battles. His campaign message centers on collaboration, common-sense governance, and restoring trust between the city and its residents.
You can learn more about Dan Orban at his website https://danorban.github.io/
Community Note
To hear about progress toward comprehensive safety in the Uptown neighborhood please attend “Uptown Safety Ambassadors. What is happening and when?” at the Uptown Theater on March 24th.
Candidate Orban's to priorities: 1) public safety, 2) economic development/ supporting business 3) making the council boring again by focusing on basic needs / city infrastructure. Man, if lived in Ward 9, I would vote for Dan. Great interview.
I'm glad he is running as an independent and not in the DFL club. After Biden's failed term, with the Dems lying about his decline, funding two horrific wars, and handing Trump to us on a silver platter...I will never vote for another Democrat as long as I live. I will vote Green, Socialist (not DSA but actual socialists) Independent, or write in my own name. Mr. Orban's decision to avoid the limits of the deeply flawed two party system (although Mpls. is a one-party city) is refreshing and commendable. Thank you!
Ditto Paul!
Thank you Terry for the shout out on the Uptown Safety Ambassador meeting happening Monday, March 24th at the Uptown Theater, 2900 Hennepin Avenue.
Hosted by the Uptown Theater and Uptown Business Association. Doors open at 6 PM meeting to start 6:30 PM
All community stakeholders are welcome to attend.
I am guessing there will be time allotted for Q and A. Do readers have recommended questions?
We will have a sign in sheet at the meeting for attendees to write down comments and questions. Our plan is to take as many as we can cover in 20 minutes and then any remaining questions and comments will be submitted to the city representatives.
This meeting is the beginning of the dialogue to secure the safety ambassador program in Uptown, which has been a budget approved item for a long period of time. This is our effort to get in front of the decision makers and have this program become a priority for our city.
Marques Jones, a Minneapolis firefighter and South Minneapolis native, just announced he is running for Ward 9 -- it would be great to hear you do an interview with him as well.
I will reach out to him.
I appreciate these interviews. I have a question. Why does the proposed site for the urban garden cost taxpayers $100,000/month to maintain?
Hi Janet, I'm not sure of the exact items contained in that cost. The figure was pulled from a StarTribune commentary:
This delay is not free. So far, the city has spent more than $18.7 million on this project (see tinyurl.com/rd-fiscal). It currently costs the city $100,000 a month to carry the property (according to an email from Barbara O’Brien from the city of Minneapolis to Council Member Linea Palmisano). A one-year delay means the city will spend another $1.2 million on this project minimum. Funds are coming from the Water Fund.
I would prefer a little more business sector experience in a candidate but someone willing to compromise and settle for running the city is a good start. Not being associated with a political party might actually be a good partial campaign platform. I do think that compromise will unfortunately be a tough sell no matter how important it is to the community.