As if Minneapolis City Council meetings aren’t tense enough.
Now Council Member Linea Palmisano has accused her colleague, Council Member and mayoral candidate Emily Koski, of violating several state campaign finance laws.
Palmisano and DFL donors Sam and Sylvia Kaplan have filed a complaint with the state Office of Administrative Hearings claiming Koski violated several laws including by using their donations to fund her 2025 mayoral campaign. Palmisano and the Kaplans donated to Koski’s Ward 11 council reelection campaign in 2023.
“Emily Koski wants to run our city, and she can’t manage her own campaign account,” Palmisano said. “It’s not rocket science.”
The complaint, filed Feb. 3, alleges Koski improperly used her council campaign money for her mayoral run. Koski reported nearly $31,555 in funds received on her 2024 campaign finance report for her council campaign committee, but most of the account’s contributions and expenditures came after her Dec. 4 mayoral launch.
Mayor Jacob Frey reported receiving $108,500 in 2024 contributions for his re-election campaign; Sen. Omar Fateh reported nearly $50,000; and DeWayne Davis nearly $37,000.
The complaint also said Koski received a $1,000 contribution last year that exceeds the $250 maximum allowed by state law during non-election years.