Jamal Osman (politician)

Jamal Osman is a Somali-American politician in Minnesota's Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party. In August 2020, he was elected to the Minneapolis City Council to represent the city's 6th Ward.

Jamal Osman
Member of the Minneapolis City Council from the 6th Ward
Assumed office
August 28, 2020
Preceded byAbdi Warsame
Personal details
Born1983/1984 (age 38–39)
Somalia
Political partyDemocratic
Children5
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life

Osman was born in Somalia and was a refugee in Kenya before coming to the United States when he was 14.[1] After arriving in Minnesota, he lived in public housing.[2]

Career

Osman is a social services worker[3] and has worked as a resident advocate for the non-profit CommonBond Communities.[4] He has also served on the board of the Phillips Community Clinic.[2]

Minneapolis City Council

A special municipal election was held on August 11, 2020, for Ward 6's vacant seat. The previous councilmember, Abdi Warsame, resigned from the seat in March 2020 to head the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. The special election occurred after the George Floyd protests and during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Osman said he would address the opioid crisis and advocated for access to affordable housing.[2] Osman defeated 10 other candidates in the race and was sworn into office on August 28, 2020.[3]

Personal life

Osman is married to Ilo Amba, the founder of the non-profit organization Urban Advantage Services.[5] The couple has five children.[6] According to Osman, the family has resided in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood, but questions arose about Osman having had a Maplewood, Minnesota, residential address during his 2020 city council campaign.[7]

Homophobic and antisemitic Facebook posts

In 2022, Osman apologized for homophobic and anti-Semitic Facebook posts he made between 2011 and 2013 after screenshots were unearthed of him allegedly commenting "Where's Hitler when you need him," in response to foreign policy discussion regarding Israel. [8]

Electoral history
Minneapolis City Council Ward 6 special election, 2020
Political party/principle Candidate  % 1st Choice Round 1
DFL Jamal Osman 27.51 2,131
DFL AJ Awed 22.23 1,722
DFL AK Hassan 13.76 1,066
DFL Abdirizak Bihi 12.94 1,002
DFL Michael P. Dougherty 5.05 391
DFL Alex Palacios 4.96 384
DFL Saciido Shaie 4.30 333

References
  1. Ibrahim, Mohamed (May 3, 2020). "Candidates declare bids for Minneapolis City Council special election". The Minnesota Daily.
  2. Ansari, Hibah (August 14, 2020). "Jamal Osman wins Minneapolis Ward 6 City Council election". Sahan Journal.
  3. Navratil, Liz (August 14, 2020). "Jamal Osman poised to join Minneapolis City Council". Star Tribune.
  4. Gustavo, Solomon (July 31, 2020). "Future of police, housing issues dominate crowded race for Minneapolis' Ward 6 council seat". MinnPost.
  5. Smith, Kelly (October 11, 2022). "Wife of Minneapolis Council Member Jamal Osman leads nonprofit with ties to fraud investigation". Star Tribune. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  6. "About". Jamal Osman for Ward 6. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  7. Lyden, Tom (July 26, 2020). "Residency questions raised for Ward 6 candidates in Minneapolis City Council race". FOX 9.
  8. Winter (December 20, 2022). "Minneapolis Councilman Jamal Osman apologizes for anti-gay, antisemitic posts". Minnesota Reformer. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
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