This election is an important opportunity to make your voice heard about the future of our union. Together we can elect a progressive majority on the MPEA Board. We’ll begin to build a union by the members and for the members; for a better workplace and for a better contract.
Rebecca Gaida for President
My name is Rebecca Gaida and I’m running to be your next MPEA President. Many of you know me as the current Secretary of MPEA, where I’ve worked to increase transparency, improve communication, and strengthen our union. I’ve distributed regular monthly newsletters and minutes to keep members informed. I’ve worked to improve our financial position with accountability and transparency. I’ve voted to open board meetings, more member meetings, and provide education for members. With three years of experience at the City of Minneapolis in Finance and a Master’s of Public Administration, I bring both professional expertise and hands-on union leadership. I believe an informed and engaged membership is key to winning the 2025 contract negotiations.
As your next union president, I’m ready to:
- Organize and engage with members before and during contract negotiations
- Collaborate with other unions to address City-wide issues and build solidarity
- Enforce our contract and labor law by holding management accountable
- Fight for better pay, better protections, better quality of life for all members
- Reinstate the Engagement Committee and establish new committees to reach more members and involve them in the union
- Create a sound financial plan with a budget, 5 year plan, finance committee and investment policy
It’s time for a stronger, more united MPEA. We need leadership that prioritizes members over management, transparency over secrecy, and solidarity over infighting. Together, we can secure a stronger contract with better protections. Create a supportive, engaged membership. Build a union that fights for everyone and works with transparency and purpose. It’s time to elect new leadership and a renewed commitment to the rank and file of this union.
In the current political climate, solidarity is more important than ever. We hold the power to encourage one another, to lift each other up, stand up for what’s right, and shape the City of Minneapolis into a better workplace today and everyday.
I know the struggles our members have faced. I’ve seen talented coworkers leave due to bad management and HR investigations. I’ve fought for our members by organizing, attending fact-findings and investigations, and filing multiple Unfair Labor Practices against the City. I’ll continue to do this work – stronger and more united as your next MPEA President.
Courtney Overby for Treasurer
I am Courtney Overby and I’m running for Treasurer of the MPEA Union. I have worked for the City of Minneapolis as a Development Finance Analyst since November 2023. My role requires a high level of attention to detail, in addition to knowledge of public financial administration, strategic thinking and strong communications. I hold two degrees from the University of Minnesota and have 10 years of experience serving on professional boards in several positions. Both past experience and my current role make me the best candidate to take on the responsibilities of MPEA Treasurer.
I believe that greater financial responsibility stems from a strong knowledge of the processes and clear expectations among members. This has not been the case during my time as a union member. Together we can more effectively accomplish our shared union goals through MPEA member participation. I have heard at meetings the desire among members to develop more clear procedures outlining spending, accounting and financial audit standards. Investments and financial health of the union will be of utmost priority and will be more diligently managed under my leadership. Finally, members can feel confident that I will be available to answer questions and engage openly during the entire term, if I am elected. I am eager to learn more about the members and support you in your career and union goals.
As Treasurer I will:
- Present members with consistent and easily understood financial reports and projections including a 5-year spending plan
- Encourage forward-thinking financial management of the union
- Foster transparent dialogues with members about their values and goals and how these elements are reflected in the financial management and health of the union
Sebastiana Cervantes for Member At-Large
Hello! I am Sebastiana Cervantes, and I am excited to run for an At-Large position on the MPEA Union Board. I have worked for the City of Minneapolis for over nine years and currently serve as a Senior Public Health Specialist in the Health Department. I am a dedicated advocate for my coworkers, helping them understand their rights, and ensuring they know how to access support when needed. I am passionate about fostering connectedness in the workplace, using available resources to drive positive change, and stress the importance of hearing from all stakeholders when creating a shared vision. It’s important to me that every individual feels seen, heard, and valued.
As one of the founding members of SOMOS (the Latinx ERG), I have been actively involved in initiatives that prioritize community-building and support. Additionally, I created the Volunteers in Bolstering Engagement (V.I.B.E) committee in our department to cultivate an inclusive environment where staff can connect, share ideas, and uplift one another. I believe we are stronger together. My leadership style is rooted in the values of trauma-informed care, anti-racism, transparency, honesty, respect, and collaboration. I believe these principles are essential in creating a supportive, effective, and equitable workplace for all of us.
If elected, I will diligently work to implement the following:
- Education: training opportunities focused on contract negotiation, solidarity and equity/representation and making sure all information disseminated is easily understandable to our union members
- Engagement: collecting demographics quarterly to understand our union’s members and how to better tailor our engagement efforts to make sure activities are reflective of their needs and implement union stewards to increase our union’s reach in the city
- Contract Negotiation: Negotiate better language pay for employees who speak more than one language, and be an advocate for better pay and protections for our City Employees
- Finance: Advocating for a detailed quarterly budget that lists all expenditures accompanied by the reasoning of why that money was spent, all gains, and future plans on how funds will be invested
Max Gonzalez for Member At-Large
Hello, my name is Max Gonzalez, and I am running for an at-large board member position with MPEA. I am running because I want to add to the voices on the board that have been fighting for transparency, engagement, and responsiveness to make the union stronger for all of our members.
I have worked at the city for the past two and half years in Public Works as an Operations Analyst. I hold a Master’s of Public Administration with an emphasis on local government management. I am a current co-chair for a statewide shared mobility collaborative, which brings together voices and experiences from all over the state to help increase accessibility to alternative transportation options. I am very passionate about inclusion, transparency, and I believe in the importance of meeting people where they are, to ensure that everyone has a voice at the table.
My priorities as an at-large board member will be to help create a clear financial plan to ensure good stewardship of our funds and build member power as we enter contract negotiations. I want to make sure that our union is intentional and passionate in fighting for all of our members.
As an At-Large MPEA representative, I will push for:
- New Contract Language
- This is a fundamental role where the union should be using every tool at its disposal to protect and solidify the rights of members. I will advocate for strengthened member protection and increasing compensation as the highest priorities for contract negotiations.
- Member Engagement
- Having a clear pathway for members to engage openly and frequently with the board strengthens the union, and I will advocate for the creation of a member engagement committee.
- Financial goals
- I believe that a strong union depends on robust and transparent financial management. I will push for clear and attainable financial goals and priorities to ensure the sustainability of MPEA.
I look forward to using my experience to bring a strong and consistent voice to the table and represent our membership. Strong member engagement is what will continue to keep the union healthy, and I will be a vigorous advocate for all members and further the goals of MPEA. I appreciate your consideration and encourage you to take the time to make your voice heard!
Ibtisam Brown for Member At-Large
Hello, my name is Ibtisam (pronounced “ib-tea-sam”) Brown and I am running for a member-at-large position with MPEA. I am running because I believe MPEA deserves an entire board that is dedicated to members’ interests.
I believe that unions are critical for a healthy and equitable workplace. When I joined the City of Minneapolis in November 2022, I became a dues-paying member of MPEA right away. Since then, I have been an active member, attending nearly every meeting and joining the MPEA Engagement Committee, a group intended to engage members and utilize their strengths.
Unfortunately, the Engagement Committee, as well as other critical efforts championed by last year’s elected YourMPEA leaders, have been stalled and blocked by other board members. As your next MPEA Member-At-Large, I will collaborate with board members to ensure there will be multiple avenues for you to know what the board is doing, get involved, and be represented at the table.
As a Compliance Analyst in the Residential Finance division of CPED, you can count on me to be accurate and thorough in my role on the MPEA board. As Co-Chair of the CPED RIDE (Racial equity, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity) Committee and Events Co-Chair of the the WOMEN Employee Resource Group, you can trust me to demonstrate approachable, member-focused leadership.
As your At-Large MPEA Board Member, I will:
- Strengthen MPEA’s negotiating power by recruiting and retaining more dues-paying members;
- Fight for a transparent and comprehensive financial plan that safeguards and honors members’ hard-earned contributions;
- Foster inclusive community among members by creating culturally-competent events and other opportunities for members to connect;
- Reinstate the Engagement Committee and establish other committees so members may participate and so the board may better respond to grievances;
- Provide consistent office hours to facilitate open conversations and ensure all voices are heard;
- Serve as a resource for questions on union-related topics, such as contract negotiations and the Job Analysis Questionnaire (JAQ) process