Larson was elected mayor of Duluth in November 2015 and inaugurated on January 4, 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, 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.[1] She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in social work from the College of St. Scholastica and later earned a Master's Degree from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. 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.[2] She owns a small business that specializes in helping non-profits.[3]
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.[2]
Mayor of Duluth
In November 2015, Larson won election as the first female mayor of Duluth, with almost 72% of the total votes.[4][5] She succeeded popular mayor Don Ness, who in his second term held a nearly 90% approval rating.[6] Larson was inaugurated on January 4, 2016, during a ceremony at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).[7]
Flag of Duluth
In 2018, Larson advocated for a new city flag. She claimed a great flag would make a strong brand for the city,[8] representing the city to its people and its people to the world.[9] She said one of Duluth's strengths is its unique neighborhoods, but a common flag would also improve the sense of unity of residents,[9] and she noted city flags were a part of a resurgence of city pride around the country.[9] After an open competition, a flag committee and Mayor Larson recommended a flag to the city council based on design, public feedback and public polling.[10] The Flag of Duluth was approved by the city council in 2019[10][11] and again in 2020.[12] The flag was first flown at city hall on June 21, 2021.[13]
She was again reelected in 2019, this time with about 64% of the total votes.[14]
In December 2022, Larson announced her reelection bid, making her the first Duluth mayor to run for a third term since Gary Doty in 1999.[15]
During the November 7th, 2023 elections Larson lost her re-election bid 60-40 percent to Roger Reinert.[16]
Personal life
She is married to Doug Zaun, co-owner of Duluth-based design firm Wagner Zaun Architecture, and together they have two sons.[1][3]
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