October 5th’s First Sunday meeting will feature two Duluth City Council Candidates

Diane Desotelle: Duluth City Council Candidate for District 2, https://www.dianeforduluth.com/
Diane Desotelle and her husband raised two children in Duluth who are proud graduates of Duluth Public Schools. One way they live their values is owning one car and biking or walking to work/play as often as possible. Diane volunteers for climate action, environmental, local food and housing groups. For fun and recreation, she enjoys hiking or skiing, playing guitar, gardening, and writing stories. By trade, Diane is a civil engineer and land use planner who knows what it takes to build and maintain clean water, sewer, and road systems. She’s owned a small business and taught math to middle and high schoolers, water resources and environmental education at the college level, in our federal prison and to decision makers. She has worked to preserve and restore public green spaces and volunteered as an advocate for shelters to save lives and housing to end homelessness. Diane knows what it takes to fund and support the work needed for projects that serve us all. In her years of work with the city and the state, she has built the understanding and knowledge needed to work with a diversity of partners to not only help the environment but sustain our economy and social fabric. Diane is focused on encouraging local investment and attracting new markets for a more sustainable local economy, stewardship of our parks, trails and natural systems, tackling Duluth’s housing and homelessness issues, unleashing the power of volunteers in our community, and educating our citizens about planning for climate change.

Jordon Johnson: Duluth City Council Candidate At Large, http://www.jordonforduluth.com/
Jordon Johnson, PhD, was born and raised in Duluth where he graduated from Marshall School in 1990. After completing his doctorate at the University of New Mexico, he returned back to Minnesota to be close to his mom and extended family. Jordon is an only child and raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs throughout his childhood. His dad, who passed away in 2022, grew up in Duluth and graduated from Central High School. Upon moving back home, Jordon has brought a wealth of knowledge, initiatives, and effective actions to lift up individuals and families in the area especially our young people.

Jordon has spent 20 plus years working alongside community members as an educator, in executive leadership, and an engaged volunteer in different capacities. He believes in the power of the people to create positive and sustainable change that benefits us all. He has taught in higher education, worked in nonprofit organizations, and is a public health champion. He is also on the Board of Directors for the Center of Alcohol and Drug Treatment.

Jordon brings a wealth of lived experience and knowledge related to advocating to lift up community health and wellbeing. He is a first-generation college student, living a recovery path, and embracing who he is as a transman. He enjoys running, training and spending time in the outdoors with his dog all year around. He has run Grandma’s marathon multiple times, did a New York Half Ironman last year, and training for his first full Ironman in Wisconsin this September.