| Don Ness | |
|---|---|
| 38th Mayor of Duluth | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2008 - |
|
| Preceded by | Herb Bergson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1974 Duluth, Minnesota |
| Political party | Democratic-Farmer-Labor |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Ness |
Don Ness (born January 9, 1974) is an American politician from Duluth, Minnesota, and the current mayor of that city. He is a member of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
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Ness was born in Duluth to Don and Mary Ness. His father was the pastor of a small, non-denominational Christian church, who also was Chaplin Northwoods Children's Services. He was educated in Duluth's public school system, attending Central High School, then went on to the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD), where he served as Student Body President in 1995-96, and as chair of the University-wide Student Senate in 1996-97. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and was given the Sieur du Lhut Award for his service to the campus.
Ness has a history of active service to and involvement in the Duluth community. He founded the Bridge Syndicate, a group of young people whose mission is to increase civic, cultural, and economic opportunities in the Twin Ports. Ness was also festival director for Homegrown Music Festival for two years, the festival expanded to a eight-day festival under his leadership.
Ness also worked for the Zeppa Family Foundation, a progressive-minded foundation focused on hunger and poverty, environmental sustainability, and support for the visual and performing arts in 2007.
In 1997, Congressman Jim Oberstar hired Ness to be his campaign manager — a position Ness continued to hold for nearly ten years.
In the Fall of 1999, Ness was elected to the Duluth City Council as the city's councilor-at-large. In 2001 and 2004, he served as council president.
Ness was elected mayor of Duluth in November 2007, and took office in January 2008.
Ness and his wife, Laura, met in 2002 when she was a field staff worker for the late Senator Paul Wellstone. They were married in 2004, and are the parents of three children, Eleanor Mary, James Olav, and Owen Fitzpatrick.