The top job for prosecuting crime in Hennepin County — including everything that happens here in Bloomington — is on the ballot Aug. 11, and five candidates are vying for it. Only the top two finishers move on to the general election, per the Sun Current.
Anders Folk is a Hopkins native and Marine veteran who served as acting U.S. Attorney and worked in the Biden administration's Department of Justice, plus a stint under Amy Klobuchar at the County Attorney's Office. He's pitching data-driven strategies aimed at repeat and violent offenders, a Federal Prosecution Task Force tied to Operation Metro Surge cases, and a Crime Victims' Bill of Rights. "We will be fair in addressing juvenile justice and crime victims, and collaborative in engaging public safety stakeholders," he told the Sun Current.
Cedrick Frazier is the only candidate with both DFL and Labor endorsements. He's worked as a public defender, legal counsel for Minneapolis Public Schools, a labor attorney for Education Minnesota, a suburban city council member and a DFL state legislator. He wants to prosecute ICE agents who violate Minnesota law, back workers' rights and abortion access, and support immigrant communities and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. "I did not first learn about victims of crime from news stories, an academic textbook, or a case file on my desk," he said.
Diane Krenz has spent 40 years inside the Hennepin County Attorney's Office, starting as a law clerk while at Hamline University Law School and finishing her tenure supervising the fraud team. She wants the office to refocus on core public safety work, rebuild ties with law enforcement, reinstate charges tied to police traffic stops, and rework juvenile diversion policy. "I worked there for 40 years and believe the office has taken a turn that decreases public safety," she said.
Hao Nguyen has 15 years as an assistant county attorney and currently directs the criminal trials division in Ramsey County, with a background in law enforcement, corrections and refugee and immigrant advocacy. She wants to import Ramsey County's trauma-informed victim services and diversion practices and says she'd investigate federal agents alongside local law enforcement. "I can provide the experienced, collaborative, innovative, transparent leadership we need," she said.
The fifth candidate, Matt Pelikan, did not respond to the Sun Current's questionnaire, so his platform wasn't included in the guide. Voters will narrow the field to two on Aug. 11 before the general election decides who leads the office.