Union Member Tony McGarvey Is Running for Brooklyn Park City Council, Endorsed by MRLF

SPECIAL ELECTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2023

BROOKLYN PARK — In a special election coming Tuesday, August 8, union member Tony McGarvey is running for one of the two seats for the Brooklyn Park City Council’s West District.

McGarvey is running with the endorsement of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO. He also has been endorsed by Operating Engineers Local 49, Painters District Council 82, Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 and the DFL Party.

McGarvey came in first in the May 9 primary election, winning nearly 70 percent of the vote with two other candidates on the ballot. He faces one opponent for the August 8 election.

McGarvey is a 17-year resident of Brooklyn Park and lives in the Lakeland Park neighborhood. “We live in the house my wife [Sue Ann Detterman] grew up in,” he notes.

A 21-year member of Minneapolis Painters and Tapers Local 386, McGarvey worked 13 years in the field before becoming a union organizer.

Since 2017, McGarvey has worked as director of government affairs for International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 82.

McGarvey, 55, was born in Monticello and graduated from Osseo Senior High. The son of a pastor, “we lived all over the country,” he says, but “Minnesota was always home.”

After high school, McGarvey was working in a “survivor” job when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in the middle of the Gulf war. He served three years stationed in Germany.

In running for City Council, McGarvey says, “I see the opportunity to make a stand for working people.” He wants to see Brooklyn Park “use tools available to municipal leaders to implement worker protections.”

Early voting for the special election runs July 21 through August 7. In-person early voting will take place Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Brooklyn Park City Hall, 5200 85th Ave. N. Early voting also will be available Saturday, August 5 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Voters may request a mail-in ballot. Tuesday, August 8 election day voting will be at regular West District polling places.

Contact: mcgarveyforbp.org

For voting information: brooklynpark.org/elections