History of Jacob Frey in Timeline
Jacob Frey is an American politician and attorney who has served as the mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota since 2018. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party and previously served on the Minneapolis City Council from 2014 to 2018.
1973: Al Hofstede's Election as Mayor
Al Hofstede was elected as the mayor of Minneapolis in 1973 at the age of 34.
July 23, 1981: Birth of Jacob Frey
Jacob Lawrence Frey was born on July 23, 1981.
2002: College Athletic Achievements
In 2002, Jacob Frey participated in the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships and won the CAA 5,000-meter title in track.
2004: Graduation from William & Mary
Jacob Frey graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in government from the College of William & Mary in 2004.
2007: Pan American Games Participation
Jacob Frey represented Team USA in the marathon at the 2007 Pan American Games.
2009: Move to Minneapolis and Legal Career
After graduating from law school in 2009, Jacob Frey moved to Minneapolis and began working on employment discrimination and civil rights law.
2009: Law School Graduation and Professional Running
In 2009, Jacob Frey finished law school at Villanova University, graduating cum laude and giving the student address at commencement. He also ran professionally after graduation.
2009: First Marriage
Jacob Frey married Michelle Lilienthal in 2009.
2011: Community Service and State Senate Run
Following a tornado in North Minneapolis in 2011, Jacob Frey provided legal help to displaced residents. Later that year, he participated in a special election for an open state senate seat but did not succeed.
2012: Founding of the Big Gay Race
In 2012, Jacob Frey established the Big Gay Race, a 5K charity run to support Minnesotans United for All Families.
2013: Election to Minneapolis City Council
Jacob Frey was elected to the Minneapolis City Council in 2013, representing Ward 3.
2013: Successful City Council Election Campaign
Jacob Frey ran a successful campaign for the Minneapolis City Council in 2013, securing endorsements from various officials and organizations. His platform focused on improving constituent services, promoting residential development, supporting small businesses, and addressing affordable housing and climate change.
January 2, 2014: Start of City Council Term
Jacob Frey assumed office on the Minneapolis City Council on January 2, 2014.
2014: Divorce from First Wife
Jacob Frey and Michelle Lilienthal divorced in early 2014.
2014: Beginning of Minneapolis City Council Tenure
Jacob Frey served on the Minneapolis City Council starting in 2014.
2015: Affordable Housing Advocacy
In 2015, Jacob Frey proposed an amendment to increase funding for the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
July 2016: Marriage to Sarah Clarke
Jacob Frey and Sarah Clarke were married in July of 2016.
2016: Efforts to Improve Voting Access
As chair of the council's Elections Committee in 2016, Jacob Frey spearheaded initiatives to require landlords to provide voter registration information to tenants and expand early voting access in Minneapolis.
2016: Environmental Policy Initiative
Jacob Frey authored an ordinance in 2016 that implemented pollution fees to fund environmentally friendly business improvements.
2016: Advocacy for Paid Sick Leave
Jacob Frey was part of drafting the council's paid sick leave ordinance in 2016.
January 3, 2017: Announcement of Mayoral Candidacy
Jacob Frey announced his candidacy for mayor of Minneapolis on January 3, 2017.
2017: First Mayoral Election Victory
Jacob Frey ran for mayor of Minneapolis in 2017 and won against the incumbent Betsy Hodges.
2017: Support for Minimum Wage Ordinance
Jacob Frey was an early supporter of the minimum wage ordinance in 2017 and played a role in providing small businesses a longer implementation timeframe.
January 2, 2018: Swearing-In as Mayor
Jacob Frey was sworn in as the mayor of Minneapolis on January 2, 2018.
April 2018: Implementation of Body Camera Policy Reforms
In April 2018, Jacob Frey introduced reforms to the Minneapolis Police Department's body camera policy, strengthening disciplinary measures for non-compliance.
2018: Recognition for Environmental Policy Success
Jacob Frey and the City of Minneapolis received recognition at the 2018 U.S. Conference of Mayors for the success of the pollution fee program.
2018: Elected as Mayor of Minneapolis
Jacob Frey became the mayor of Minneapolis in 2018.
2018: Adoption of Minneapolis 2040 Plan
The Minneapolis City Council, during Jacob Frey's tenure, approved the Minneapolis 2040 plan, a comprehensive rezoning reform initiative, in 2018.
2019: Ban on "Warrior" Police Training
During his State of the City address in 2019, Jacob Frey announced a ban on "warrior" training for police officers.
March 2020: Announcement of Impending Parenthood
In March 2020, Jacob Frey and his wife, Sarah, publicly announced they were expecting their first child in September.
March 16, 2020: Declaration of Local Emergency due to COVID-19
On March 16, 2020, Mayor Jacob Frey declared a local emergency in response to the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic. This decision led to the cancellation of public events, including the upcoming St. Patrick's Day parade.
May 21, 2020: Mask Mandate Implemented
On May 21, 2020, as part of the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mayor Frey signed an order mandating the use of masks for individuals over the age of two in indoor public spaces.
May 27, 2020: Response to the Murder of George Floyd
Following the outbreak of protests ignited by the murder of George Floyd, Mayor Frey voiced his support on May 27, 2020, for the dismissal of the four police officers implicated in the incident. He condemned the act, stating that being Black in America should not be a death sentence and called for justice for George Floyd.
June 5, 2020: Implementation of Police Reforms
On June 5, 2020, in the wake of George Floyd's murder, Mayor Frey approved a temporary restraining order and enacted immediate changes to the Minneapolis Police Department. These reforms, endorsed by the City Council, included prohibiting chokeholds and neck restraints, mandating officer intervention and reporting of excessive force, and requiring authorization for crowd-control weaponry.
June 6, 2020: Stance on Defunding the Police
During a protest on June 6, 2020, demanding the abolishment of the Minneapolis Police Department, Mayor Frey, while wearing a mask with the words "I can't breathe," was confronted by calls to defund the police. He responded by stating his disagreement with the complete abolition of the police force, leading to backlash from some attendees.
September 16, 2020: Birth of Daughter, Frida Jade Frey
On September 16, 2020, shortly before Rosh Hashanah, Sarah Clarke gave birth to their daughter, Frida Jade Frey, weighing 7 pounds and 10 ounces.
April 20, 2021: Statement on Derek Chauvin's Verdict
Following Derek Chauvin's conviction for George Floyd's murder, Mayor Frey faced criticism on April 20, 2021, for a statement on Twitter. His words, implying that Floyd's death served as a catalyst for positive change in Minneapolis, were met with disapproval from many, including calls for staff changes in his communications team.
2021: Second Mayoral Re-election
In 2021, Jacob Frey secured a second term as mayor of Minneapolis after winning the election with 56.2% of the vote through ranked-choice voting.
2021: Re-election as Mayor of Minneapolis
Jacob Frey was re-elected for a second term as the mayor of Minneapolis in 2021.
2040: Target Year for Minneapolis 2040 Plan
The Minneapolis 2040 plan, which includes zoning changes and development goals, aims to be fully realized by the year 2040.