Emily Larson (born 1973) is an

American politician The politics of the United States function within a framework of a constitutional federal republic and presidential system, with three distinct branches that share powers. These are: the U.S. Congress which forms the legislative branch, a b ...

and the current mayor of

Duluth, Minnesota , settlement_type = City , nicknames = Twin Ports (with Superior), Zenith City , motto = , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top: urban Duluth skyline; Minnesota ...

. She is a member of the

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to i ...

. Larson was elected Mayor of Duluth in November 2015 and inaugurated on January 4th, 2016, the first female mayor in the city's history. She won reelection in 2019. Prior to becoming Mayor, she was a member of the Duluth City Council.

Life and education

Emily Larson was born and raised in

St. Paul Paul; grc, Παῦλος, translit=Paulos; cop, ⲡⲁⲩⲗⲟⲥ; hbo, פאולוס השליח (previously called Saul of Tarsus;; ar, بولس الطرسوسي; grc, Σαῦλος Ταρσεύς, Saũlos Tarseús; tr, Tarsuslu Pavlus; ...

, the youngest of three children. Her mother, a poet, and her father, an information technology worker, divorced when she was 10 years old, but both later remarried. She graduated with a

Bachelor's Degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

in social work from the

College of St. Scholastica The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) is a private Benedictine college in Duluth, Minnesota. Founded in 1912 by a group of pioneering Benedictine Sisters, today St. Scholastica educates almost 4,000 students annually and has graduated more than 29, ...

and later earned a

Master's Degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

from the

University of Minnesota-Duluth A university () is an educational institution, institution of higher education, higher (or Tertiary education, tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several Discipline (academia), academic disciplines. ''University'' ...

. A graduate of the Intermedia Arts Creative Community Leadership Institute, Larson served on the advisory committee that developed the Duluth Energy Efficiency Program (DEEP). She has worked in Duluth for CHUM, a charity assisting homeless people and people at high risk for homelessness, and as a consultant to other non-profit organizations. She owns a small business that specializes in helping non-profits.

Political career

Larson finished first in the 2011 election for an at-large city council position, and was elected president of the Duluth City Council. She served for one term until she was elected mayor of the city.

Mayor of Duluth

In November 2015 Larson won election as the first female mayor of Duluth, with almost 72% of the total votes. She was inaugurated on January 4, 2016, at a ceremony held at the

Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) is a multi-purpose arena and convention center complex located in Duluth, Minnesota. It was home to the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldog hockey team from 1966 to 2010. The DECC is located on th ...

. She was again reelected in 2019, this time with about 64% of the total votes.

Personal life

She is married to Doug Zaun, co-owner of Duluth-based design firm Wagner Zaun Architecture, and together they have two sons. Larson is an active

trail runner Trail running is a sport-activity which combines running, and, where there are steep gradients, hiking, that is run "on any unpaved surface". It is similar to both mountain and fell running (also known as hill running). Mountain running may, h ...

and fitness enthusiast.

Electoral history

Voters could cast up to two votes

References

External links

City of Duluth webpageEmily Larson's facebook page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Larson, Emily Living people 1970s births Politicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota College of St. Scholastica alumni University of Minnesota Duluth alumni Mayors of Duluth, Minnesota Minnesota city council members Minnesota Democrats Women city councillors in Minnesota 21st-century American women