Minneapolis Councilman Jeremiah Ellison Faces Backlash for Plan to Retain Salary During Harvard Fellowship

Minneapolis, MN — September 5, 2025 — Minneapolis City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison, son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, is under fire for his decision to maintain his $110,000 annual salary while pursuing a full-time, paid fellowship at Harvard University, over 1,000 miles away in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The controversial arrangement has sparked criticism from fellow council members and raised questions about representation and accountability in the city’s government.

Ellison, who has served on the Minneapolis City Council since 2017 representing the city’s North Side, announced on Wednesday that he intends to continue his council duties virtually while participating in Harvard’s prestigious Loeb Fellowship. The fellowship, administered by Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, provides a $57,500 stipend but requires fellows to step away from significant professional responsibilities during the program. Despite this, Ellison insists he can fulfill his council obligations remotely, attending full council meetings in person twice a month and participating in committee meetings via virtual platforms.

However, Minneapolis City Council rules mandate that members must be physically present to attend meetings and vote, casting doubt on the feasibility of Ellison’s plan. Critics argue that his absence from key committees, including the Business, Housing, and Zoning Committee and the Public Health and Safety Committee, will leave North Minneapolis without adequate representation during critical discussions, such as the city’s year-end budget process.

“I am extremely disappointed in this, and I hope that my colleagues don’t allow this to happen — something to happen to North Minneapolis that is not good for them just once again,” said Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw during a press conference last month. “Without Council Member Ellison sitting on those committees, we have zero North Minneapolis representation on those committees. That’s not acceptable,” she added.

Council Member Linea Palmisano also questioned the fairness of the arrangement, asking, “I would like to know if there are other employees who are given that privilege,” in an interview with KSTP-TV. “Maybe, I don’t think they would ever be allowed that kind of a paid leave of absence.”

Some council members, including Jamal Osman, have called for Ellison’s seat to be filled early to ensure North Minneapolis, one of the city’s most vulnerable districts, retains active representation. Council President Elliott Payne acknowledged the controversy, noting that the arrangement was made on the advice of the city clerk, but the full council plans to revisit the issue in the coming weeks.

Ellison, whose term ends in January 2026 and who has announced he will not seek re-election in November, has downplayed the concerns. In a statement to KSTP-TV, he claimed he “will be present for most full city council meetings” and dismissed the controversy as unremarkable. He also rebuffed a request for comment from The Minnesota Star Tribune, stating he had “humored it too much already.”

The situation has drawn comparisons to past controversies involving Ellison’s father, Keith Ellison, Minnesota’s Attorney General and a prominent figure in the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL). Keith Ellison, who served as a U.S. Representative from 2007 to 2019 before becoming Attorney General, has faced his own share of public scrutiny, though the current debate centers solely on his son’s actions.

As the Minneapolis City Council grapples with this issue, residents and council members alike are left questioning whether Ellison’s plan serves the best interests of North Minneapolis. With the fellowship underway and Ellison’s term nearing its end, the debate over his dual roles continues to highlight tensions over accountability and representation in local government.

17GEN4.com

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