Rachel James for
Mayor of Columbia Heights
Leadership rooted in community, results, and opportunity for everyone.
WHY I AM RUNNING
I’m running for Mayor because I love serving my community and making a real difference in people’s lives. From my early days on the parliamentary procedures team in high school to my work today, I’ve always been drawn to how local government works and how it can work better. In my first term on the City Council, we’ve done good work moving Columbia Heights forward, and I want to keep that progress going. I believe in building a more reflective democracy in our city by bringing new voices into leadership, supporting immigrants in our community, and creating space for more neighbors to get involved. I’m energized by connecting with people, solving problems together, and doing the hard work to turn good ideas into real results.
The future of Columbia Heights is about fresh thinking and a shared vision. That means embracing new ideas and innovative problem solving, supporting business development that eases the tax burden on families, expanding affordable housing so more people can call our city home, and investing in safe streets and transportation options for everyone. Most importantly, it means building a broad coalition that reflects the full diversity of our community, longtime residents, new homeowners, renters, people of color, working families, young people, LGBTQ neighbors, and more, because we are all in this together and the future of Columbia Heights should include all of us.
Meet
Rachel James
Rachel James is Council President of Columbia Heights, first elected to the City Council in 2022. She has served as Chair of the Economic Development Authority and as liaison to the Planning Commission, Charter Commission, and Sustainability Commission, and has been a strong advocate at the Capitol for state and federal support of city priorities. Rachel helped lead the city’s search for a new city manager, has overseen economic development efforts, and served as liaison to the Fire Protection Council. She also brings six years of service on the Multicultural Advisory Committee to the Columbia Heights Police Department, supporting stronger relationships between the department and the community. Rachel holds a degree in Business Administration and Urban Ministry and a Master’s degree in Community Ministry Leadership, and spent 12 years at First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights working with children, youth, and families. She has lived in Columbia Heights for 16 years with her husband Leo, and they have two children who attend Columbia Heights High School. She is committed to transparency, collaboration, supporting diverse neighbors, and delivering practical results that strengthen the community.