Cedrick Frazier
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 43A district
Assumed office
January 5, 2021
Preceded byLyndon Carlson
Member of the New Hope City Council
In office
September 10, 2018 – December 31, 2020
Preceded byErik Lammle
Succeeded byMichael Isenberg
Personal details
Born (1979-04-28) April 28, 1979
Political partyDemocratic (DFL)
SpouseStella
Children3
ResidenceNew Hope, Minnesota
EducationUniversity of Minnesota-Morris (B.A.)
Minnesota State University, Mankato (M.A.)
William Mitchell College of Law (J.D.)
Occupation
Signature
WebsiteGovernment website Campaign website

Cedrick Rommel Frazier (born April 28, 1979) is an American attorney and politician serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), he represents District 43A, which includes the cities of New Hope and Crystal in Hennepin County.[1]

Early life, education, and career

After graduating from high school in Chicago, Illinois, Frazier moved to Minnesota to play NCAA football and run track at the University of Minnesota-Morris, graduating with a B.A. in psychology.[2] Frazier went on to attend Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he served as a fellow with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, graduating with a M.A. in urban studies with an emphasis in local government management. After earning his M.A., Frazier enrolled at William Mitchell College of Law.[3] In law school, Frazier joined Phi Beta Sigma and clerked for the Hennepin County Public Defender's Office in Minneapolis as well as the League of Minnesota Cities in its Municipal Law Litigation Department.[4] After graduating with a J.D and passing the bar exam, he began his legal career as a public defender in Hennepin County. In 2008, Frazier accepted the position of Director of Equity and Diversity for the Minneapolis Public School District and was later promoted to legal counsel for the district. After spending eight years in public education, Frazier joined the legal team at Education Minnesota, the state's largest labor union.[5]

New Hope City Council

In August 2018, Frazier was appointed to the New Hope City Council, replacing Erik Lammle, who moved out of New Hope. Before his appointment, Frazier served on the city's Planning Commission.[6] Frazier was sworn in on September 10, 2018, and became the first African American to serve on the New Hope City Council.[7]

While a member of the council, Frazier encouraged engagement and dialogue between the City's Human Rights Commission and police department on policing practices. He also proposed ordinances related to protecting tenants of affordable housing units.[8]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Frazier was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2020, succeeding longtime Minnesota State Representative Lyndon Carlson.[9][5]

Tenure

On January 1, 2021, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman appointed Frazier vice chair of the House Public Safety Committee.[10]

Frazier advocated for reform in Minnesota's public safety and criminal justice system.[11] Minnesota had recently seen notable cases where Black men, including George Floyd and Daunte Wright, were killed during encounters with law enforcement. Frazier was described as a key budget negotiator in the politically divided legislature as it passed a $52 billion state budget, averting a potential state government shutdown.[12] Minnesota Governor Tim Walz credited him with helping keep police reform front and center during the legislative session.[13]

On July 13, 2021, Hortman appointed Frazier to serve on a select panel to determine the distribution of $250 million included in the Minnesota state budget dedicated to frontline workers. The funding was made possible by one-time federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[14] Frazier was Chief Author of the Essential Workers Emergency Leave Act, the original legislation that aimed to provide emergency paid sick leave to employees excluded from federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act.[15][16]

On September 1, 2021, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman announced that he would retire at the end of his term after 24 years in the role.[17] Frazier became widely seen as a potential candidate for the position.[18] But after expressing interest in it, Frazier announced that he had concluded that 2022 was not the right time for him to run for Hennepin County Attorney.[19][20] On December 6, 2021, Frazier endorsed former Hennepin County chief public defender Mary Moriarty for Hennepin County Attorney.[21]

On December 13, 2022, Frazier was elected co-chair of the Minnesota House People of Color and Indigenous (POCI) Caucus along with Representative Esther Agbaje.[22]

Committee assignments

2023-2025 [23]

  • Judiciary Finance & Civil Law (vice chair)
  • Education Policy
  • Public Safety Finance & Policy
  • Workforce Development Finance & Policy

2021-2023 [10]

  • Public Safety Finance & Policy (vice chair)
  • Judiciary Finance & Policy
  • Education Policy
  • Economic Development Finance & Policy

Elections

2022 Minnesota House General Election District 43A[24]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Cedrick Frazier 12,266 96.64%
Write-In 427 3.36%
2020 Minnesota House General Election District 45A[25]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Cedrick Frazier 13,870 63.08%
Republican Jesse Pfliger 8,086 36.77%
Write-in 32 0.15%
2020 Minnesota House Primary Election District 45A[26]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic (DFL) Cedrick Frazier 3,697 68.77%
Democratic (DFL) Daonna Depoister 1,679 31.23%

Personal life

Frazier and his wife, Stella, have three daughters. Their family resides in New Hope, Minnesota.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Cedrick Frazier Elected to Represent House Dist. 45A". CCX Media. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  2. ↑ Profile: the sweet taste of success continues Fall 2001
  3. 1 2 "2020 ELECTION DIRECTORY for the 2021–2022 MINNESOTA LEGISLATURE" (PDF). Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Phi Beta Sigma's Cedrick Frazier Wins Seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives". 23 November 2020.
  5. 1 2 "Q&A with Rep. Cedrick Frazier, labor lawyer who replaced longest serving legislator in state history". 17 March 2021.
  6. ↑ New Hope
  7. ↑ "Cedrick Frazier Appointed to New Hope City Council". CCX Media. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  8. ↑ New Hope
  9. ↑ "Cedrick Frazier Elected to Represent House Dist. 45A". CCX Media. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 "2021-2022 Committee Roster" (PDF). house.mn.gov. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "DFL lawmaker in police reform talks still optimistic on chances this year". Star Tribune.
  12. ↑ "Lawmakers give final approval to $52 billion budget, averting state government shutdown". July 2021.
  13. ↑ "Freshman lawmaker draws on personal experience as key police reform negotiator". Star Tribune.
  14. ↑ "Minnesota lawmakers approved cash bonuses for essential workers. Now they just need to figure out who's going to get the money". 13 July 2021.
  15. ↑ @CaroRCummings (13 July 2021). "House Speaker Melissa Hortman chooses Majority Leader @_RyanWinkler and Rep. @CedrickFrazier (lead on the original…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. ↑ "HF 41 Status in the House for the 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022)".
  17. ↑ "Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman won't seek re-election". Star Tribune.
  18. ↑ "Minnesota House Majority Leader Rep. Winkler explores run for Hennepin County attorney". Star Tribune.
  19. ↑ "State Rep. Cedrick Frazier won't run for Hennepin county attorney". Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "Minnesota state Rep. Cedrick Frazier won't run for Hennepin County attorney". Star Tribune.
  21. ↑ "morning take 12.7.21 - A Pile of Cash Expected in Forecast". us1.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "Rep. Cedrick Frazier - MN House POCI Caucus announces new leadership".
  23. ↑ Minnesota House Committee Rosters for 2023-24 Legislative Session house.leg.state.mn.us
  24. ↑ "Index - Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  25. ↑ "Index - Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  26. ↑ "Index - Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
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