Teqen Zéa-Aida

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Teqen Zéa-Aida

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 2, 2021

Personal

Profession

Legal industry

Contact

Campaign website

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Teqen Zéa-Aida (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Minneapolis City Council to represent Ward 7 in Minnesota. He lost in the general election on November 2, 2021.

Zéa-Aida completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. Click here to read the survey answers.

Zéa-Aida was a 2017 candidate for Ward 7 representative on the Minneapolis City Council in Minnesota. He was defeated in the general election on November 7, 2017.

Biography

Teqen Zéa-Aida was born in Bogotá, Colombia. He has experience in the legal profession.

Elections

2021

See also: City elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2021)

General election

General election for Minneapolis City Council Ward 7

The ranked-choice voting election was won by Lisa Goodman in round 1 .

		Candidate	%	Total Votes	Transfer	Round eliminated
		Lisa Goodman	61.9	7,206	0	Won (1)
		Nick Kor	26.3	3,066	0	1
		Teqen Zéa-Aida	7.2	833	0	1
	Submit photo	Joanna Diaz	4.1	477	0	1
		Undeclared Write-insUndeclared write-in candidates may advance past the first round in some ranked-choice elections. If the official source reports write-in votes by candidate name, Ballotpedia displays them alongside the ballot-qualified candidates. However, if write-in votes are reported without a name, they will instead be included in the total write-in votes figure in Round 1. Please consult the official elections source for more details about unnamed write-in candidate vote totals past Round 1.	0.5	57	0

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,639
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.

2017

See also: Municipal elections in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2017) and Mayoral election in Minneapolis, Minnesota (2017)

Minneapolis, Minnesota, held a general election for mayor, all 13 seats on the city council, both elected members of the board of estimate and taxation, and all nine members of the park and recreation board on November 7, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was August 15, 2017.

Incumbents ran for re-election to all but two of the city council seats. Ward 3 Councilman Jacob Frey filed to run for mayor instead, and Ward 8 Councilwoman Elizabeth Glidden opted not to run for re-election. Incumbent Lisa Goodman defeated Janne Flisrand, Teqen Zea-Aida, and Joe Kovacs in the general election for the Ward 7 seat on the Minneapolis City Council.

Minneapolis City Council, Ward 7 General Election, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Lisa Goodman Incumbent	52.26%	4,742
Janne Flisrand	31.21%	2,832
Teqen Zea-Aida	9.79%	888
Joe Kovacs	6.60%	599
Write-in votes	0.14%	13
Total Votes		9,074
Source: Minneapolis Elections & Voter Services, "2017 Minneapolis Election Results," accessed November 22, 2017

Campaign themes

2021

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Teqen Zéa-Aida completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2021. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Zéa-Aida's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Teqen Sjoberg Zéa-Aida is an independent minded Democrat. He is a well known Minneapolis Business Leader and Creative Entrepreneur. Teqen is a 2019-2020 Humphrey Public Policy and Leadership Fellow, an Arts Advocate, Philanthropist, Culture Creator and Community Connector. He has lived in Minneapolis since 1994. His internationally recognized company was founded in 1996 and lasted 22 years.

Teqen is the Candidate of Change ready to represent all Ward 7 Neighbors on the City Council. There is no other candidate who knows Minneapolis or her people better. His fresh ideas, skill-set, and professional background are exactly what the Council needs to transform aspirations into action for the post George Floyd era.

Teqen has been a tireless advocate for racial and economic justice, affordable housing, public schools, and local small business creation. He believes in a Minneapolis that welcomes everyone. As someone who has an extensive background in creating economic opportunities, Teqen is working towards a city that offers the chance to thrive to all.

In this '21 cycle, Teqen is running on a progressive platform offering creative solutions for public safety, investment in our inner-city children, and creative ways to incubate innovative small business. Teqen is a bridge candidate. He is someone who can cross socio-economic and cultural differences in order to bring community together in the interests of creating solutions based in our most common values.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• It is time to transforming tragedy onto a vision of safety built on our shared values.

• Let's work together to reimage our world class city and accelerating the economic engine of Minnesota.

• We are absolutely capable of innovation and excellence for our traditional public school kids.

Community Question Featured local question

How would you balance the needs and desires of existing business and housing communities with new development? Would you take gentrification and displacement into consideration when planning neighborhood development?

Teqen is a staunch anti-gentrification activist. Working against the displacement (especially of Seniors and African American, and Indigenous is a top priority.

Community Question Featured local question

Please list the criteria you would use to evaluate which projects are worth maintaining or starting in Minneapolis when it comes to public infrastructure.

Does it fit within our improved metrics for racial and economic equity and inclusion.

Community Question Featured local question

What do you think about the city's environmental health? Would you make any changes to current policy?

Minneapolis has very poor environmental health statistics for its BIPOC Community. Teqen will work to reverse these statistics by listening to those most impacted and developing strategies and polices that actually reverse the harm.

Community Question Featured local question

What role do you feel police should play in Minneapolis? What are your thoughts on the city council’s proposed changes to the Minneapolis Police Department?

Teqen wants a public safety organization that reflects the common values of the People of Minneapolis. This organization should be dedicated to protecting and serving the people. Peace Officers have an important role to play in the life of the Community. We want to make sure that our Peace Officers are trained to exemplify our values and commitment to comfort and safety for all Minneapolitans.

Community Question Featured local question

What would you like Minneapolis' public safety system to look like by the end of your term? What would you do to accomplish your vision of public safety?

https://teqenwardseven.com/comfort-and-safety

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Teqen is passionate about small business creation, opportunities for our inner-city children, and pushing back against gentrification. However, he recognizes that none of this, nor his other ideas for Minneapolis are possible unless we stabilize the City and bring an end to the violence and division of the last few years. Teqen is ready to work with Community to find pragmatic solutions to our challenges. He realizes that the Next Minneapolis Miracle must include everyone at the drawing board.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The 7th Ward seat represents an incredibly diverse and powerful cross section of Minneapolis constituents. The Ward is home to leaders of the business, social and academic institutions, arts organizations and faith communities among other important contributors to the Minneapolis Community.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Teqen's looks up to many, but holds his Afro Colombian Ancestors in highest regard.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

There are too many to list.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The single most important responsibility of the holder of this office is the stewardship of Minneapolis' natural and cultural legacy and to look after those less fortunate throughout the City.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Teqen would like to leave a legacy of positive change. He would like to have carved out a place in an ever-changing Minneapolis for the next generation of Agents of Change.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Teqen's first historical memory was the Camp David Accord. He was very young--no more than 3 or 4. He had never seen a Black Leader, and was mystified by President Anwar Sadat.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Teqen's first job was at Perkins as a bus boy. However, after graduating from High School in 1994, he went on to found Vision Models (Vision Management Group, Inc.) in 1996. Vision lasted until 2018.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Autobiography of Malcolm X.

It changed his life.

Another is, The Devil and Commodity Fetishism in South America.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Alone by Heart.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

There are many, and it is time to connect the people to those powers, and the initiatives that the 7 Ward has the power to help realize.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

No. However, Teqen believes his background in business and community building will be an important addition to the work of City Governement.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Excellent Communication, a d business background, deep connection to existing Community, and an individual identity that reflects the identities of those most impacted will be extremely helpful to the holder of this important office.

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.

Note: Community Questions were submitted by the public and chosen for inclusion by a volunteer advisory board. The chosen questions were modified by staff to adhere to Ballotpedia’s neutrality standards. To learn more about Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection Expansion Project, click here.

Campaign website

• Click here to view an archived version of Zéa-Aida's campaign website.

2017

Zéa-Aida's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

“	Incentivising an Equitable, Inclusive, Thriving Business Environment Jobs, Equity, Workplace Diversity and an Investment in Employees and Downtown Advocating for the encouragement of and investment in Indigenous, POC, Immigrant and Women owned Business Actively engaging the business community, social advocacy groups and the community at large in order to find the middle path towards establishing an actual living wage (including dialogue around tip designations) scaled to and for various local industries and business models Exploring secured scheduling Advocating the development of mechanisms that incentivize a true commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace Advocating zoning & licensing relief for local businesses paying special attention to POC, Immigrant and Women owned businesses and those that employ with a commitment to equity and inclusion Actively attracting, encouraging and promoting both local and national business entities inside the downtown district, throughout 7 and the city Create and incentivize a safer, more beautiful and exciting downtown business environment that stimulates growth, attracts positive attention and offers results Community Safety and Police Accountability *Safety Beyond Policing* Exploring new and effective officer training with emphasis on de-escalation, and use-of-force regulations Mandatory body cams Instating new and effective diversity and cultural awareness programs Exploring effective ways to back up our police with help from mental-health professionals Enhancing community / City / Police & Union transparency & engagement with regards to contract negotiations, initiatives, crisis management and oversight Renew the commitment to safety and protection for the Indigenous, POC, LGBTQ people, Immigrants, disabled people and the elderly Funding the non-militarized greater visibility of engaged, friendly 'beat cops' throughout the community Advocating for officers to reflect and be connected to the communities they serve Enacting a No Tolerance Policy for racism and abuse of authority, and holding those 100% accountable when a policy violation occurs Advocating Professional Liability Insurance for all active officers Exploring decriminalization policies Addressing safety, bar-close policies and police engagement inside the Downtown Entertainment District (day and night) Establishing a city where all feel safe Giving Children a Great Public School Education Support for the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers 10 Point Plan Beyond academics: educating the whole child Smaller class size Learning beyond test scores Restorative practices where possible Clean, healthy and energy efficient buildings Full service community schools Quality education for all- equity and inclusion A commitment to fully funded schools A living wage for all MPS employees No less than a 30 minute recess Housing and Equitable Development/Land Use Tackling Gentrification and Establishing Considerate and Conscious City Wide Equitable Development and Land Use Policy Establishing a development (non-gentrifying) policy that is considerate and conscious of the actual and existing community Immediately working to increase the development of various levels of true affordable housing by advocating for the inclusive allocation of development project dollars and strengthening the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Prioritizing mixed use development Establish better zoning methods that encourage the development of the various levels of affordable housing that the market is demanding Protecting 'traditional' affordable housing structures Creating a Better Ratio of low-income / (various) affordable / market-rate housing development in 7 and throughout the city Exploring better management of, or a complete moratorium on new development (with emphasis on luxury and market value properties) in order to help stabilize property taxes and rental fees until better policy presents itself Negotiating an assurance of a return on investment (value) for the community regarding new developments in the city—this means requiring more from our developer partners such as higher quality construction materials, mandatory renewable and other green technology, micro community developments and more Initializing a firm dedication towards protecting the homeless, the disabled, POC, Native, Immigrant, Elderly and Other At-Risk Communities with regards to housing development Developing strategies such as Individual Development Accounts, home ownership/educational counseling, and community land trusts as a means to bring more people into home ownership and with a focus on women and minorities Section 8 home ownership programs New Policy For Renters and Landlords Renters Equity and Reform Advocating for rent control, rent stabilization and renters rights Working with policy groups advocating city wide landlord/management company conduct and code enforcement Explore where possible various landowner relief and reinvestment incentives that encourage equity and value for residents Subsidized housing preservation Advocating a renters first-right-of-refusal to purchase buildings/rental units should property owners want to sell as well as rent-to-own and cooperative opportunities Explore managed rent/value ratios (rent increases / amenity upgrades) Initializing a dedication to housing protections for Native, POC, Immigrant, Elderly, disabled people and other at-risk groups Committed Environmental Advocacy Energy and Environmental Stewardship Shift the weight of responsibility for green, renewable and affordable environmental and energy innovation/ implementation and our energy goals from small business and residents towards our corporate partners, developers and the city Work to ensure via policy that energy savings are received at every level Expand awareness and education for the public regarding community energy opportunities and incentivize conversion Protect our prized natural resources—green space, parkland and waterways Ensure that community organizations and the city have greater imput regarding the SWLRT line Work with various groups to rethink and or soften the impact the SWLRT line Advocating the immediate cessation of pesticides and the increased use of eco-friendly controls Instituting a Healthy Hive Policy throughout the city including rooftop and green space beehives and a city wide pollinator initiative with special consideration for 'problem areas,' open green spaces and vacant lots Expanding access to composting and recycling throughout the city Advocating for more 'Wild and Native' green space Expanding bicycle culture, awareness and a balanced shared streets policy Transit Advocacy and Biking Initiatives Balance On Our Roads and a Committed Partnership with the Metropolitan Council Advocating expanded Metro Transit services and affordable fares Championing bike culture, safety & city wide shared streets policy while enacting a review of existing and proposed bicycle infrastructure Endorsing and decriminalizing Critical Mass Advocating expanded Free-Ride bus zones, and more funding for low income transit riders Advocating upgraded and climate-considerate transit facilities. Developing much needed affordable housing along transit corridors Working to expand summer ride programs for teens. Exploring greater use of Ride-Share programs and expanding awareness and accessibility Exploring smart Light Rail expansion opportunities Instituting traffic calming measures and advocating pedestrian safety through approval of more crosswalks and pedestrian 'traffic' signage Our Urban Lifestyle and Inner City Culture A City That Truly Is Special Taking our city back and stimulating Minneapolis pride by developing a city wide marketing campaign in which we present and promote the city to the city by celebrating the rich diversity, culture, natural beauty that Minneapolis has to offer as well as education around rights, safety, decency and services Bringing more value/ amenities to 7, especially to Elliott and Loring by adjusting zoning where needed to encourage more business, grocery, affordable restaurants and small neighborhood destinations Tackling homelessness and advocating for the organizations that serve them Advocating a pedestrian/green Nicollet Mall Extending food truck zones/ food carts — relaxing the regulations and opening access Advocating a citywide Urban Agriculture initiative/community garden program and encouraging full community engagement including the homeless and students Expanding Community Based Farmer’s Markets Advocating more 'open streets' events, weekend bazaars and scheduled weekend waking/biking hours Greater intersectional engagement by opening access to empty spaces Bolstering our urban infrastructure Enacting policy regarding the personal disposal of mattresses and other possibly contaminated house items Advocate downtown and neighborhood music, culture and art festivals Encouraging greater awareness of narcotic rehab programs Sober housing reform Elevating civic literacy Partnering with our excellent community colleges, trade schools and universities in order to expose more youth and educate more adults in current in-demand trades and jobs of the future Restoring the name of Hubert H. Humphrey to the US Bank Stadium as a symbol of our cherished municipal heritage Honestly and wholeheartedly working to ease-if not reverse the over century and a half of racially motivated destructive policies aimed at limiting, belittling and disenfranchising communities of color, the indigenous and immigrants in Minneapolis	”
—Teqen Zéa-Aida's campaign website, (2017)

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