1 week Ago By Peter Passi
DULUTH — City Council President Terese Tomanek announced Wednesday her plans to seek another term. She was first appointed by the council to fill in for the late Barb Russ, an at large councilor who was forced to step down mid-term in 2020 due to a cancer diagnosis. ADVERTISEMENT In November 2021, Tomanek was elected to continue in that role.
Early this year, her colleagues elected her to lead the body as council president, and Tomanek continues to serve in that capacity. Tomanek referred to her past five years on the council as "an honor." “I have learned so much about the concerns and priorities of my constituents by attending business group and community club meetings," she said, "serving on many, many boards and commissions and answering calls and emails.
“As council president, I have led dialogues that are crucial to our city’s well-being and growth — economic development, public safety, housing and how we conduct city business,” Tomanek said. “There is a renewed sense of cooperation and commitment by our council and administration, a palpable excitement, as people feel confident that our city is poised for responsible growth.” Tomanek's seat is one of two at large council posts that will be up for election in November.
Azrin Awal, the other at large councilor whose term is set to expire, has not yet announced her intentions. Jordon Johnson is the only other candidate to have entered the at large race so far. In her early work on the council, Tomanek helped navigate the city through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The St. Louis County Board of Commissioners recognized her leadership by presenting her with their Public Health Achievement Award. ADVERTISEMENT Tomanek co-sponsored legislation to help those struggling to be housed by allocating millions of American Rescue Plan dollars for affordable housing and $1 million from the city and Duluth Economic Development Authority to remodel the Damiano Center while the Chum facility expands.
Tomanek also cosponsored a resolution with fellow councilors to provide funding for the Community Crisis Response Program. As a member of the Public Utilities Commission, Tomanek helped secure funding for lead line replacement in Duluth’s older homes, schools and childcare centers, as well. Tomanek has served on the previous mayor’s child care task force and met regularly with child care providers to help ease the child care crisis facing local workers.
“There is much more to be done and I have the experience, compassion, commitment and relationships needed to continue this important work," she said. "I am excited to seek reelection to do this while bringing mutual respect and cooperation to all of Duluth.” Tomanek has served on the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Duluth Library Board, the Parking Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, the Intergovernmental Committee, the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission and the Metropolitan Interstate Council.
She also has served as the city's liaison to the Duluth Sister Cities program, the Glensheen Mansion and the Great Lakes Aquarium. She served on the Lake Superior College Foundation Board for 12 years as well. Tomanek is a retired chiropractor and business owner.
She is an ordained Protestant minister and served as a chaplain at Essentia-St. Mary’s Medical Center, Woodland Hills and as a campus minister at the University of Minnesota Duluth. She is married to her husband of 44 years, Steve Davis, and has two grown children.
The Duluth City Council’s regular meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 6 p.m., with agenda meetings at 5:15 p.
m. each Thursday preceding a regular meeting, unless otherwise scheduled, at City Hall, Room 330. Meetings are also livestreamed and recorded for later viewing at duluthmn.
gov/city-council/city-council-meetings-events/council-meeting-media. District 1: Wendy Durrwachter Represents: Duluth city precincts 1-7 Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028 Contact: 218-730-5700, Ext.
3, [email protected] District 2: Mike Mayou Represents: Duluth city precincts 8-13 Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026 Contact: 218-428-9195/218-730-5355, mmayou@duluthmn.
gov District 3: Roz Randorf Represents: Duluth city precincts 14-19 Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028 Contact: 218-443-8364/218-730-5353, [email protected] District 4: Tara Swenson Represents: Duluth city precincts 21-27 Term expires: Jan.
5, 2026 Contact: 218-730-5356, [email protected] District 5: Janet Kennedy Represents: Duluth city precincts 28-35 Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028 Contact: 218-341-6113/218-730-5357, jkennedy@duluthmn.
gov At large: Azrin Awal Represents: All Duluth city precincts Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026 Contact: 218-730-5359, [email protected] At large: Arik Forsman Represents: All Duluth city precincts Term expires: Jan.
3, 2028 Contact: 218-730-5352, [email protected] At large: Lynn Marie Nephew, vice president Represents: All Duluth city precincts Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028 Contact: 218-730-5354, lnephew@duluthmn.
gov At large: Terese Tomanek, president Represents: All Duluth city precincts Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026 Contact: 218-216-9126, [email protected].
