Meet Montrell Bond, Mayoral Candidate in Columbia Heights, MN

On November 5, 2024, voters in Columbia Heights, Minnesota will choose between incumbent mayoral candidate Amáda Márquez Simula and challenger Montrell Bond. Bond is a non-partisan and GoodParty.org Certified candidate, meaning he has committed to running a truly independent, people-powered, and anti-corruption campaign for mayor.

Bond shared with GoodParty.org why he is passionate about bringing non-partisan representation to Columbia Heights.

Montrell Bond: A Non-Partisan Candidate with a Heart for Service

Bond is a registered nurse who moved to Columbia Heights a year and a half ago. He has served on committees and commissions with the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), including the MNA’s Commission on Governmental Affairs. This is Bond’s first time running for public office. While he does not have previous political experience, his work in nursing has provided him with plentiful leadership experience.

“I've always been in the industry of service, from a young age. I've been a registered nurse for years. Being a leader, serving the community, and being able to help people thrive and be happy, this is a part of who I am. I just love to see people thrive and grow,” Bond said.

Bond hopes to bring this spirit of service to local government, which he said has become increasingly divided in recent years.

“Our city is essentially being destroyed by petty politics. A non–partisan race is now a partisan race, and that is leaving out other members of the community,” Bond said. “The whole community needs to have a voice in the decision-making process. That's essentially what motivated me to run; I feel like only a select, special group of voices are being heard, and I want to give the voiceless a voice.”

It has not taken Bond long to see how partisan divisions are preventing progress in Columbia Heights.

“I can't sit back any longer and allow this kind of environment to be cultivated, because it's dividing us even further. It's causing a bigger wedge between us as community members, and that's not how we're going to fix our issues. We have to come together, be able to hone in in a cohesive manner, and learn and grow from one another. That's what community is about,” Bond said.

Focusing on Local Issues, Not Partisan Politics

Bond said he is focused on running a grassroots campaign and engaging with all community members, not just those who belong to one political party or another.

“Whether you are Republican, whether you are independent, or whether you are a Democrat, we all make up the community, and we all need to be heard. The thing I'm doing differently is I am actively engaging with everyone, not just one side. This fosters an environment of creativity and innovation, so we can find solutions to our problems that affect our day-to-day lives,” Bond said.

Bond noted that while “hot-topic” issues are important, Columbia Heights’ city government should be focused on solving local, non-partisan problems.

“There's no Republican way to fix a pothole. There's no Democratic way to fix the sewer line. These are the local issues that we have to bring back focus on,” Bond said. “The state issues and the international issues are important; we do have members of the community on both sides of their spectrums that have been affected by various hot topics in our communities. Essentially, I'm bringing the focus back to local politics and local government here.”

One issue that Bond has prioritized in his campaign is property taxes, which he said have been increasing at a disproportionate rate to inflation in Columbia Heights.

“Why are our property taxes rising in double-digit numbers compared to our inflation rate for the whole nation? There are ways that we can cap property taxes, if not decrease them,” Bond said. “That requires lobbying, getting state and federal funding, and finding different, innovative, creative ways that the city can bring in new revenue so we can decrease the burden of the taxes. Municipal politics rely on property taxes for the day-to-day operations and funding the city, but there are ways to alleviate that tax burden. I'm going to work tirelessly to find those innovative solutions.”

Next Steps for Columbia Heights Voters

Montrell Bond will appear on the ballot for mayor on November 5, 2024. Voters in Columbia Heights have an important choice ahead of them, as they will either reelect the incumbent mayor or chart a new path forward.

Voters can learn more about Bond’s campaign for mayor by visiting his campaign website. To get ready for election day, visit your local government’s website for the latest information and updates.

Do you know someone who is running for office in a non-partisan election? GoodParty.org’s free campaign tools and support are available for independent and non-partisan candidates across the United States.

“I'm forever indebted and in gratitude for this platform because historically speaking, independent candidates are thrown to the wayside,” Bond said. “Politics have been heavily polarized here in this country. It puts us at a disadvantage as a country. Our democracy is in a fragile state, and we have to handle it with care or we're going to lose it.”