Edward Bear Stops
From Ballotpedia
Edward Bear Stops (Community Over Politics) is running for election to the Minneapolis City Council to represent Ward 12 in Minnesota. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Bear Stops completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections in Minneapolis are officially nonpartisan, but the Minneapolis City Charter allows mayoral and city council candidates to choose a party label to appear below their name on the official ballot. Ballotpedia includes candidates' party or principle to best reflect what voters will see on their ballot.[1]
Biography
Edward Bear Stops was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He earned a high school diploma from South High School. His career experience includes working as a nonprofit founder, in food service, and in management.[2]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2025)
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
General election for Minneapolis City Council Ward 12
Incumbent Aurin Chowdhury, Becka Thompson, and Edward Bear Stops are running in the general election for Minneapolis City Council Ward 12 on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Aurin Chowdhury (D) | |
| Becka Thompson (D) | ||
 | Edward Bear Stops (Community Over Politics)  | |
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| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Edward Bear Stops completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bear Stops' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Edward Bear Stops, and I am running for Minneapolis City Council in Ward 12. I am a community servant, nonprofit founder, and lifelong neighbor who has walked through the same struggles many in our city face. My mission is to unite people across every background and give them a voice in shaping our future. I believe leadership isn’t about politics or waiting for change to trickle down, it’s about standing up, taking action, and working side by side with the community to make it happen.
- Ward 12 deserves leadership that puts people first. My campaign is rooted in community over politics, listening to neighbors, addressing real needs, and ensuring no one is left behind, regardless of income, background, or identity.
- Minneapolis cannot afford leaders who wait for policies to catch up while our neighborhoods fall further behind. We need leadership willing to spearhead the change our city deserves, not recycle the same approaches while expecting different results. I am committed to bringing fresh ideas, challenging the status quo, and doing what it takes to move our city forward.
- City government should work for all residents, not just a select few. My priority is to strengthen services, support local businesses, and create opportunities for families across every neighborhood. Together, we can build a Minneapolis that is safe, strong, and inclusive for everyone, no matter their walk of life.
I am passionate about building a city that serves every resident — regardless of financial standing, ethnicity, or background. No one in Minneapolis should be left behind, whether that means families facing housing insecurity, seniors needing better services, or small businesses trying to survive. I care deeply about addressing homelessness with dignity and opportunity, while also improving public safety, strengthening community programs, and supporting local businesses. My vision is for Ward 12, and Minneapolis as a whole, is to become a beacon of hope for all of humanity, showing what is possible when a city leads with compassion and action.
City council is the most direct connection between residents and government. Unlike higher levels of government, it deals with the daily realities people face, safety, housing, transportation, local services. Because of this, it carries a unique responsibility: to turn community concerns into tangible action. Ward by ward, council decisions shape the quality of life in the city, making it a vital link in creating trust, progress, and equity in Minneapolis.
I look up to people who stay true no matter how hard life hits, the ones who don’t quit, who stand on faith and keep pushing forward. I don’t chase titles or status; I look up to everyday fighters who carry strength and heart through real struggles. That’s the kind of example I try to follow.
Integrity, accountability, and compassion are the foundation of public service. An elected official must be willing to listen before speaking, act with honesty, and put people above politics. True leadership means standing firm in values while also being open to collaboration and new ideas. Most importantly, it requires the courage to make decisions not for personal gain, but for the good of all residents, regardless of their background or circumstance.
A city council member’s core responsibility is to represent the people of their ward by amplifying their voices, addressing their needs, and ensuring city policies reflect fairness and opportunity for all. This includes improving public safety, supporting local businesses, investing in housing and community programs, and holding city government accountable. Above all, the role requires building trust and making sure every resident feels seen, heard, and valued.
I want to leave a legacy of bringing people together and proving that one person’s faith and persistence can spark change. When I’m gone, I want folks to say: he gave his all to serve, he never backed down, and he helped this city believe in itself again.
The first big event I remember is Barack Obama being elected president in 2008. I was 8 years old, and even at that age I could feel the weight of it, the energy, the hope, the sense that something new was possible. Seeing the first melanin president showed me that barriers can be broken, and it planted a seed in me that leadership should be about opening doors for others, not closing them.
My first job was at Wendy’s when I was 16. I worked there about a year. It wasn’t pretty work, but it taught me how to grind, show up on time, and respect people who do the jobs most overlook.
My favorite books are the Bible and the Quran. Both speak about life in every form, struggle, discipline, sacrifice, hope, and redemption. They remind me that true leadership is about service, humility, and standing firm in values that lift others up.
I’d be someone like Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings, a leader who didn’t chase a crown but carried the weight of responsibility when his people needed him. A character who leads with courage, humility, and a willingness to fight for something bigger than himself.
One of my biggest struggles has been stability. I’ve faced homelessness, setbacks, and moments where it felt like the world was against me. But those struggles built me. They gave me perspective, grit, and a heart for people who feel overlooked or forgotten, because I know what that feels like firsthand.
Many don’t realize that city council members have a direct influence on how resources are distributed in our neighborhoods. Beyond passing ordinances, council members decide budgets, oversee city departments, and set priorities that impact housing, safety, small businesses, and local services. Another overlooked role is their ability to bring neighbors together, amplify community voices, and push city government to act faster. This office is not just about voting on policy, it’s about being the bridge between people and city hall, making sure every concern is heard and addressed.
Experience can help, but it should not be the deciding factor. What truly matters is character, vision, and commitment to the people. Some of the most effective leaders come not from politics but from lived experience, people who know what it means to struggle, to work hard, and to listen. Government doesn’t need more career politicians; it needs real representatives who carry the voices of their community with honesty and courage. Fresh perspectives can break cycles of repeating the same solutions while expecting different results.
The most valuable skills are not technical, they are human. Listening with empathy, communicating clearly, and leading with courage are essential. A council member must be able to unite people across differences, solve problems creatively, and balance both immediate needs and long-term goals. Practical experience in organizing, budgeting, and working with diverse groups is also key. But above all, the skill that matters most is the ability to put community first and act with integrity, even when the path is difficult.
The city council is unique because it has the power to shape the direction of Minneapolis at the ground level. Decisions made here directly impact how safe our streets feel, how affordable our housing is, and how vibrant our local businesses can be. Unlike distant levels of government, this office works block by block, neighborhood by neighborhood, to decide what resources get prioritized and what voices are amplified.
What makes it so important is that it holds both legislative and budget authority while remaining close enough to the people to feel their struggles firsthand. It carries the responsibility of not only writing policy but ensuring those policies truly reflect the needs of residents. At its best, this office can set the tone for what a just, thriving, and forward, looking city can become.
What makes it so important is that it holds both legislative and budget authority while remaining close enough to the people to feel their struggles firsthand. It carries the responsibility of not only writing policy but ensuring those policies truly reflect the needs of residents. At its best, this office can set the tone for what a just, thriving, and forward, looking city can become.
At this stage, my campaign is fueled by the support of neighbors, families, and community members across Ward 12 who believe it’s time for change. While I don’t yet have formal organizational endorsements, I am proud to have the backing of everyday people who see the work I’ve been doing in the community and want to stand with me.
I met a guy who told me he was hungry and hadn’t eaten in two days. When I handed him food, he looked me in the eye and said, “You don’t know how much this means. Most people don’t even look at me.” That moment hit me deep. It showed me how many people in our city feel unseen, and it reminded me why I fight, because no one should feel invisible in their own community.
Starting my nonprofit “ SoulFull” is one of my proudest accomplishments. It began with me making and handing out simple meals, but it’s grown into something that feeds and uplifts people across neighborhoods. It showed me that you don’t need a big budget or fancy titles to serve, you just need the heart to start. That step taught me what it really means to lead by action.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ City of Minneapolis, "Common questions about filing for office," accessed September 10, 2025
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 9, 2025
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