The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday rejected the reappointment of Toddrick Barnette as the city's Commissioner of Community Safety.
Minneapolis City Council Members Payne, Wonsley, Osman, Stevenson, Chavez, Chowdhury and Chughtai 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. "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.
"Because of the incredible progress that Todd has brought to the city, I will be vetoing the council action," Frey explained. "My hope is to see the best in people, including council members. My hope is that they will treat safety in this city more important than political games and horse trading."
Frey also went on to compliment Barnette's work with the city.
"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."
The office is relatively new in the city, and Wonsley called it a failure in her no vote. "his office was supposed to be a trial that's part of the government structure ordinance, and I feel very confident that the outcomes of that trial has failed," Wonsley said. "And it has not been a worthwhile investment that has improved the life and safety conditions for residents in an actual meaningful way."
Barnette was appointed to the role in 2023. The role is tasked with overseeing the police and fire departments, 911, emergency management and neighborhood safety.
Of the seven who voted against Barnette, four of them - Wonsley, Stevenson, Chavez and Chugtai - comprise the Democratic Socialist wing of the Council.
The position was originally held by Cedric Alexander, who retired after just a year that wasn't without some controversies.
Also up for a council vote is Frey's pick for city attorney and operations manager. Absent is Police Chief Brian O'Hara, who Frey has until August to re-nominate to his position. There are reports the council wouldn't have the votes for another term for O'Hara who has had some disagreements with council members since being appointed. The rejection of Barnette on Thursday seems to show O'Hara would likely fall short of the votes needed to stay Chief as well.
