Duluth Mayor Gives Final State of the City Address

Ness Looks Back on Past 7 Years, Next 10 Months

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A comedic and relaxed Mayor Don Ness took the stage Monday night to talk about plans for the remainder of his time as Duluth’s top leader.

No fancy videos or slide shows made an appearance at Duluth’s 2015 State of the City address.

“Unplugged” is how Mayor Ness described his final address because that’s how he says it was when his journey started.

“I will not be crying at this speech because I still have another 10 months left in office,” Ness laughed on stage.

State lawmakers have tagged Duluth as a city small enough to get things done, but big enough to matter — and it’s a title Mayor Ness is pretty proud of.

“It was a little over seven years ago that I was standing at this same podium just having been sworn in as mayor,” Ness reminisced during his 2015 speech.

Seven years doesn’t seem like that long ago, but when you see Mayor Ness back then, it’s easy to see how far Duluth has come.

“There is no question that the challenges we face will be difficult but together we can solve any challenge in our way,” Ness said during his Inaugural speech in 2008.

“We knew that the bones of our community were strong and in putting in the effort it would be worthwhile and it has been,” said Ness at his 2015 speech.

Ness says his 2007 campaign slogan, ‘Believe in Duluth,’ changed the cynical view many people had on the city.

Now, ‘Own it, Solve it, Take Pride,’ are the words he and city workers pride themselves on every day.

“All we had to do is believe enough to take on the biggest challenges,” he said.

Ness says his first few years in office were full of unpopular and difficult decisions calling the work ugly and back breaking.

He says those choices set Duluth on the path to success that he believes will continue until his time is up.

“We’re no longer competing against Fargo, and Rochester but that we are Duluth and we are doing that extraordinarily well,” Ness smiled.

Before his time is done, Ness hopes to find common ground with the Fond du Lac Band, and develop a range of affordable housing.

More importantly, he hopes to watch the community he knows and loves grow to its full potential.

“I believe in Duluth,” said Ness. “I believe Duluth’s best days are yet to come, and I’m excited to see what comes next, and I hope you all are as well.”

Mayor Ness will pass the torch at the start of 2016, and so far only one candidate has thrown their hat into the ring for the spot.

In December, current City Council President Emily Larson announced her candidacy.

Larson says she likes the direction Duluth is moving and feels she can continue the momentum.

“Certainly whoever comes next inherits a portfolio of things that are happening but gets to implement those in their own style and their own fashion with their own vision,” Larson said following Ness’ final address.

City Councilor Howie Hanson was running for mayor, but pulled out of the race last week.

Former Lt. Gov. Yvonne Prettner-Solon has expressed interest, but has not officially announced a run for mayor.