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The Independence Party, the smallest of Minnesota's three major parties, has endorsed Stephanie Woodruff for Minneapolis mayor.

Woodruff, an executive at a St. Louis Park recruiting firm, serves on the Minneapolis Audit Committee, an appointed, volunteer position. She's never run for office before.

Woodruff says she's a DFLer at heart, but shares the IP's passion for fiscal responsibility. She also announced today that former City Council Member Paul Ostrow has agreed to chair her campaign, which currently has no paid staff.

The IP endorsement elevates Woodruff's profile and increases her chances of being invited to debates in the crowded mayor's race. But it doesn't carry with it a huge number of voters.

In 2010, Independence Party gubernatorial candidate Tom Horner won just 10 percent of the vote in Minneapolis -- even less than Republican Tom Emmer, who eked out 16 percent in the DFL stronghold.

The DFL Party failed to endorse a candidate at its convention in June. The Republican Party has "recommended" Minneapolitans support Cam Winton, even though Winton didn't seek its endorsement.

The Green Party, which unlike the IP or the GOP actually has current elected officeholders in Minneapolis, has yet to make an endorsement.

Politics and Government News

Minnesota News

The Cities Blog

Curtis Gilbert

Author

The Independence Party, the smallest of Minnesota’s three major parties, has endorsed Stephanie Woodruff for Minneapolis mayor. Woodruff, an executive at a St. Louis Park recruiting firm, serves on the Minneapolis Audit Committee, an appointed, volunteer position. She’s never run for office before. Woodruff says she’s a DFLer at heart, but shares the IP’s passion…

Independence Party endorses Stephanie Woodruff for Minneapolis mayor

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