Elliott Payne began his time in City Hall in 2016 as a member of the Office of Performance and Innovation (OPI) before representing Ward 1 on City Council. In his role as a consultant, he helped his team establish the Behavioral Response Team, designed the Small Business Portal to make it easier for BIPOC and immigrant entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses, and helped amend the Conduct on Licensed Premises ordinance to protect renters from unjust evictions. In addition to his work in City Hall, Elliott has served his community as a volunteer and board member of several non-profit organizations including Art Buddies and Minneapolis College Foundation.
Council Member Payne made his home in Minneapolis after moving to the city to attend the University of Minnesota for a degree in mechanical engineering. He went on to earn an MBA from the Carlson School of Management and, prior to taking office, Elliott was a small business owner and consultant with a focus on strategy and innovation for private sector, public sector, and non-profit organizations. He has also taught classes on innovation and futurism in the Entrepreneurial Studies program at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.
He lives in the Audubon Park neighborhood with his wife Lindsay and Chinese Crested Lyla and is proud to represent his neighbors in the Audubon Park, Columbia Park, Como, Holland, Logan Park, Marshall Terrace, Mid-City Industrial, Northeast Park, Waite Park, and Windom Park neighborhoods of Minneapolis.