New information about Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and his decision to veto a vote taken last week by the City Council, rejecting his choice for Public Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette.
The City attorney is still reviewing the request, and there was some question about the legality of the move to veto a rejection of the confirmation.
Council member Michael Rainville told WCCO's Chad Hartman that he just spoke to the Mayor about it Monday.
"There's always legal opinions coming back-and-forth, but right now it looks like a 99% sure, having the ability that under the new mayor structure, strong mayor system, that the residents voted in the '21 election," Rainville explained. "He's able to do that."
A spokesperson for the Mayor said a veto on the vote could come as soon as Wednesday.
Last week, the Minneapolis City Council voted against re-nominating Barnette. The vote to reappoint Barnette failed 7-6.
"I will be voting against this appointment both because I believe Commissioner Barnette has not fulfilled the responsibilities of this position," Council Member Robin Wonsley said during the hearing on Thursday. "In fact, a huge part of my time on council has been trying to prevent the Office of Community Safety from neglecting or sabotaging key pieces of the comprehensive public safety system that both this body or some of members of this body, and the public, has been spending years to advance."
Mayor Jacob Frey, who spoke to the media later Thursday, said he plans to veto the council's vote as soon as he can.
Also last week, Rainville told WCCO's Susie Jones that he is well aware he's on the moderate side of the council, with more control in the Democratic Socialist camp.
Rainville said Tuesday that he believes some council members are avoiding reconfirming Barnette as a rejection of Mayor Frey's policies, calling the move "childish."
"To me, denying the election results is that Mayor Frey is the leader of our city, and people don't want to admit that they're looking for ways to get even with Mayor Frey. It's that childish," Rainville adds.
Frey has been complimentary of Barnette's work with the city, trying to make the case for his extension in the role, which is tasked with overseeing the police and fire departments, 911, emergency management and neighborhood safety. Barnette has been in the role, which is relatively new, since 2023 and is the highest paid position in Minneapolis.
"Commissioner Todd Barnette has served the city of Minneapolis as commissioner with great integrity for the last three years," said Mayor Frey. "He is a person of great ability, of tremendous integrity, of amazing skill and calm under pressure. He has navigated through some of the most difficult crises that our city has ever seen. He's brought a sense of calm and steadiness to an office that was being brought up from the ground and didn't even previously exist."
One council member says under the city's "strong mayor system" they're 99% sure he can legally veto the vote
One council member says under the city's "strong mayor system" they're 99% sure he can legally veto the vote
