The Cities Blog

Johnson re-elected as Mpls. City Council president

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Minneapolis City Council Member Elizabeth Glidden, left, and Council President Barbara Johnson. Curtis Gilbert / MPR News

The Minneapolis City Council on Monday re-elected Barbara Johnson as its president.

Johnson, who has led the council for the last eight years, beat back a challenge from Council Member Elizabeth Glidden, who had the support of several newly-elected council members.

Glidden, an attorney, was elected the council's vice president. Johnson said there are no hard feelings over the leadership battle.

"I don't see conflict going forward at all," Johnson said. "In fact, I really look forward to working with Council Member Glidden. I think she's been a really outstanding leader. She has multiple areas of interest and expertise, and her legal training is really something that I admire. So, I think it will work just fine. We'll work great together."

Johnson also pledged to work on helping the city's disadvantaged minority populations -- something Glidden's backers said was their top priority.