Minneapolis Councilman Jeremiah Ellison to Keep Six-Figure Salary While at Harvard Fellowship

Minneapolis City Council member Jeremiah Ellison announced Wednesday that he will continue to receive his roughly $110,000 annual council salary while participating in a full-time, paid fellowship at Harvard University.

Ellison’s decision drew immediate criticism from some colleagues, who said the fellowship will limit his ability to attend council meetings and serve on committees, leaving parts of North Minneapolis without representation.

Council member LaTrisha Vetaw, speaking at a press conference last month, said she was "extremely disappointed" and urged others on the council to block the arrangement. "Without Council member Ellison sitting on those committees, we have zero North Minneapolis representation on those committees. That’s not acceptable to the only other North side council member up here," Vetaw said.

Officials did not detail how long Ellison’s fellowship will last or whether he plans to temporarily step away from committee assignments. The council salary figure cited by Ellison and his critics is the approximate annual pay for his seat.

Ellison is the son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The council member said in his announcement that the Harvard fellowship is a paid position; he did not release additional specifics about the terms of the fellowship or how his duties will be managed while he is on leave.

Council rules and city policies govern leaves of absence and the filling of committee vacancies, but the extent to which a member can hold a salaried municipal office while accepting an outside full-time position varies by municipality and is typically addressed through local ordinances or council procedures. Council members who raised concerns said constituents in North Minneapolis could be left without direct representation on committees that address issues affecting their neighborhoods.

The announcement adds to an ongoing debate in Minneapolis and elsewhere about elected officials holding outside employment while serving in office. Supporters of outside fellowships argue they can broaden officials’ expertise and networks; critics contend that full-time outside roles can conflict with elected responsibilities, especially when the official receives no salary reduction or formal leave stipulations.

Ellison did not immediately release a detailed plan for covering his council responsibilities during the fellowship, and the city council had not announced any formal steps to reassign his committee work as of Wednesday. Council members and constituents who have raised objections said they will press for clearer arrangements to ensure North Minneapolis has representation on key committees in Ellison’s absence.

As the council and community leaders consider next steps, the dispute highlights tensions between professional development opportunities for public officials and expectations of continuous, local representation. Further developments may depend on council processes and any formal requests or disclosures Ellison provides about the duration and scheduling of his fellowship at Harvard.