Abdihakim Ibrahim for Hennepin County Commissioner District 3
Sean: We’ve been interviewing as many candidates for Hennepin County commissioner as possible to spotlight this impactful but often under-discussed election. Today we’re talking to Abdihakim Ibrahim, who is running for Hennepin County commissioner in District 3 and is challenging incumbent Marion Greene. Ibrahim formerly served on the St. Louis Park School Board. Helping me interview Abdihakim is Clint Combs, a reporter and City Cast contributor. Abdihakim, thank you so much for taking some time out of your busy schedule to chat with City Cast Twin Cities.
Abdihakim: Thank you, City Cast, for having me here today.
Sean: Abdihakim, you’ve done a number of things in the community in St. Louis Park and in other parts of the Twin Cities. I’m curious what made you want to seek election to this office for Hennepin County commissioner.
Abdihakim: Let me give you a background on who Abdihakim is. My name is Abdihakim Ibrahim. I was born and raised in Mogadishu, Somalia, during wartime. When I graduated high school, I got a chance to go to Pakistan, to a city called Lahore, where I did my bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. My major was electronics and telecommunications. Then I worked for many different multinational companies, including in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.
In 2014, I immigrated to America for the American Dream. I have a family here, too. I remember it was very cold. As an immigrant coming here, even speaking six languages, it was very challenging for me. I remember a friend took me to find driving lessons for my driver’s test.
Since then, I’ve been involved in the community. I live in St. Louis Park, and as you mentioned, I’ve volunteered and held different positions. I was on the 2020 census committee and a St. Louis Park police committee, and I worked on a couple of school referendums in St. Louis Park. In 2021, I was elected as the first Somali immigrant on the St. Louis Park school board, and I served until 2025. I did one term.
During my time on the school board, I found out how the county commission affects our day-to-day lives. As a former St. Louis Park school board member, I’ve seen firsthand how the county and its decisions affect affordable housing, public safety, mental health, all these things. After more than a decade under the same leadership, many families are still struggling, and we see the problems at HCMC. That’s why I decided to run for Hennepin County commissioner.
Clint: Counties can often be a misunderstood level of government. A lot of people don’t realize how much of an impact county governments have on their communities. What positive impacts do you believe county leaders are best positioned to deliver?
Abdihakim: I will make a tangible impact by delivering results on issues the current commissioner has failed to address. First, I will protect HCMC, not bankrupt it like the current commissioner. HCMC is the number one trauma center in Minnesota, and it needs long-term cost-sharing solutions beyond the current state bailout. At the same time, we cannot continue asking our district to foot the bills and putting financial burdens on District 3, when it’s already unaffordable for so many families, including mine.
Number two is delivering results. That means giving the sheriff’s department the tools they need to do their job and respecting them, while also making sure we protect our immigrant community from harm and that the sheriff stays on budget.
And finally, major projects like the Southwest light rail, the Green Line extension, need to be completed on time and on budget. It was supposed to open in 2018. It’s been nearly a decade now, and the project costs more than $1 billion. The current commissioner, Marion Greene, rubber-stamped overruns for many years. That’s why I’m demanding county-level investigations into the construction delays.
Sean: I want to focus on something we haven’t covered yet, but that City Cast Twin Cities has covered a lot, which is the future of the HERC incinerator. It seems largely agreed that closing the HERC is a priority for everybody, but there are more questions about the timetable. Since that’s a big topic for Hennepin County, where do you land on the timetable for closing the HERC?
Abdihakim: In my first 100 days in office, if I get elected, I will work on closing the HERC before 2040. I want to have a timeline. Transparency is very important, so people get to know the plan. Everyone agrees we need to close the HERC, and everybody acknowledges all these things, but we need to be transparent. We need a timeline so people know what we’re planning. So that’s my stance, and that’s what I’d do in my first 100 days in office if I get elected.
Sean: I want to bore down a little bit on HCMC, because you’ve already mentioned it, and I want to underline how important it is for all of Minnesota. You could get a terrible burn in Duluth, or right next to the Mayo Clinic, and you still might end up at HCMC in Minneapolis. When you say you want to protect HCMC, what does that look like fiscally?
Abdihakim: As I said, it means fighting for cost sharing, so District 3 residents aren’t forced to pay higher taxes to support the hospital and its buildings. It means passing a responsible county budget every year. As you mentioned, if you live in Dakota County or Ramsey County or other counties, it’s the number one trauma center, and everybody comes there. So one of the things I’m going to advocate for at the state level is long-term cost-sharing solutions for HCMC. Because when the current funding runs out, what happens next? Hennepin County residents have to pay for that, and that’s unacceptable.
Clint: Abdihakim, I’m looking at your endorsements here. Tell me about your relationship with state Sen. Ron Latz. I see you secured his endorsement. How did that happen, and when did you first meet him?
Abdihakim: To be honest with you, as an immigrant, when I first came to this country, I didn’t even know my city council. That’s where I started my advocacy. I was a guy who worked nine to five, but I saw a lot of people struggling with housing and property management. I connected with HomeLine and learned about tenants’ rights. Even speaking up was difficult, because people were so scared of retaliation.
I have a very good relationship with everyone in St. Louis Park: elected officials, community leaders. I’m involved in the community at all levels. I don’t remember the specific time I met him, but I will tell you this: I have relationships with everybody who is running, who is elected or who was formerly elected in St. Louis Park, regardless of whether they’re in a position or not.
Sean: We’re going to wrap up relatively soon, but it’s always good to get to know a little about how people who want to represent their communities at the county level live their lives. Imagine you have a day off in Hennepin County. Where can we find Abdihakim? What are you up to?
Abdihakim: I think Minneapolis people are going to get mad. But you’ll be able to find me with my wife and kids at the rec center in St. Louis Park, at the water park, or at a park around St. Louis Park. You’ll also be able to find me at one of my favorite restaurants, an Afghan restaurant called Ariana. It’s in St. Louis Park. Please check it out; they have wonderful Afghan food.
That doesn’t mean I don’t like Minneapolis! Sometimes I show up in Minneapolis at Karmel Mall and other places, and right now my campaign office is located in Lyndale. I like to spend time with my kids. I have three kids: a high schooler, a middle schooler and an elementary schooler. My hands are full, and I’m running a campaign, too.
Sean: That is a lot to handle, even setting aside the campaign. We’ve covered a lot of ground. Abdihakim Ibrahim, you’re running for Hennepin County commissioner for District 3. Thank you for the generosity of your time, and thank you for covering the issues you plan to address if you’re elected. Have a great rest of your day, and thanks for visiting with us here at City Cast.
Abdihakim: Thank you. I really appreciate it.
