Adam Duininck joins MDC at a pivotal time in its history. Charged and funded by downtown businesses, the council has long been the frosting on the cake built on the vibrancy created by downtown workers and residents. Now, MDC has to remake the cake as well, with Minneapolis measured as third worst in the nation for return-to-downtown metrics since the pandemic. “My personal preference is to advocate with employers to bring people back five days per week,” he says, while affirming the value of more residents and the kind of downtown activations the council historically sponsors. He plans to look to other cities for ideas as well. Having just completed six years representing the regional carpenters union, he is keen on the value of building methodically. “Downtown needs to be a place where mature, responsible thinking comes into play,” he says, “not a place that uses government to experiment with risky policy.” 2024 priorities include fashioning the MDC’s 2035 plan, growing the membership, and engaging with the new City Council.
2016: Adam Duininck is quickly learning that running a regional planning and governing body is fraught with drama. Eyebrows rose when Gov. Mark Dayton appointed the former construction worker and labor advocate, who is also the husband of his chief of staff, Jaime Tincher. Soon after he took over, he had to deal with the skyrocketing costs and cumbersome lawsuits around the Southwest light rail project. Duininck has handled the issue deftly and he’s impressed many with his approachability and openness, but he’s got a lot more on his plate, including convincing the Legislature to fund SWLRT, housing and water squabbles with various exurbs, and calls to reorganize and reform the Met Council.