Amada Márquez Simula, Mayor of Columbia Heights, MN

Amada Márquez Simula is the Mayor of Columbia Heights, Minnesota. She took office on January 4, 2021.

Informed. Fearless. Creative. Leadership.

Here are just a few of the ways Columbia Heights has improved since I took office.

Smarter spending

I’ve helped keep property taxes as low as possible by seeking state and federal grants, such as:

$400K for sanitary sewer improvements
$25M from MNDOT for Central Ave corridor redevelopment
$10M for replacing our Public Works building
Grant for Safe Streets for All
80/20 split grant to construct safe routes (sidewalks) to schools
Grant to construct an outdoor sport court at Sullivan Park

Healthier Spaces

Eliminated smoking in all public parks
Eliminated indoor tobacco sampling
Started the Sustainability Commission
Introduced No Mow May
Approved additional bicycle lanes
Completed construction of a pickleball court
Approved the planting of 190 city trees per year
Signed a gun storage safety resolution and supported Be Smart gun lock giveaways
Helped mitigate Eurasian milfiol in Silver Lake

Easier access to services

Updated utility billing to include automatic online payments
Instituted the CodeRED system
Employed multi-lingual staff
Approved digital transformation of property records, building permits, city project planning, and many other legacy systems

Thriving Local Business

We have attracted several new businesses including:

A gym
Restaurants
Coffee shops
A music store
A brewery

23 businesses have taken advantage of the city’s facade improvement program.

Modernized public safety

Hired two social workers to work with the Public Safety department
Introduced police bola wraps as alternative to tasers
Hired the first woman police captain, the first Somali police sergeant, and the first two Black sergeants in Anoka county.
Acquired a grant for a therapy dog for our Public Safety Department

Get a Lawn Sign

Teal campaign lawn sign that reads "Vote Amáda Márquez Simula for Mayor"

See my full Track Record…

Making a Difference

Protecting the Environment

Humans need pollinators. I’ve helped Columbia Heights become a national leader in protecting this critical link in our food chain. We are recognized by the National Wildlife Federation for fulfilling the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge. I have also made No Mow May a recognized city practice.

Lawn sign that reads 'We are participating in No Mow May to help keep our pollinators from fading away.'

A girl watches caterpillars eat milkweed at a Monarch Butterfly Festival in Columbia Heights, MN.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula leads the festivities at the Columbia Heights Monarch Festival.

Kids dressed in butterfly wings do a coloring activity at the Columbia Heights Monarch Festival.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula leads the community in grieving after Brooklyn Center police killed former Columbia Heights student Daunte Wright.

Community Grieving and Healing

Our society has deep problems with racism. Solutions will take generations. I recognize this injustice, I share the outrage, and I’m committed to long-term strategies. I have created a Rapid Response Team to ensure that everyone can assemble and demonstrate safely, if needed.

Listening and Leading by Example

Representation means constantly listening to our residents. I have established regular communication with various cultural communities within our city. I have also reestablished a Youth Commission in Columbia Heights.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula encourages a young cancer survivor, both dressed as Wonder Woman.

Kids listen to Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula talk about protecting the environment.

Kids ask Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula questions in a school classroom.

Teens from First Lutheran Church as Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula questions at Dairy Queen in Columbia Heights, MN.

Columbia Heights mayor declares July 1 Somali American Day in the city

Celebrating our Differences

One of the best features of Columbia Heights is our diversity. I recognize our many cultures and communities through official city proclamations, and by attending celebrations and events.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula gets a traditional henna tattoo during the annual Art and Info fair.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula holds a proclamation declaring PRIDE Day in Columbia Heights, MN.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula poses with performers at the Columbia Heights Multicultural Festival.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula teaches a Day of the Dead traditional crafting class at the Columbia Heights Public Library.

A uniformed person becomes a US citizen, holding an American flag and a naturalization certificate

The American Dream

Columbia Heights is one of the most diverse cities in Minnesota. Since taking office, I have helped two people become US citizens. This includes reuniting a family that was separated internationally. As Mayor, I have no power to make these changes. I simply saw opportunities to connect people with the resources they needed.

Reconciling Our Past

Many of us were raised on a single language and a single viewpoint of history without considering our immigrant and indigenous neighbors. I am proud to include a native land acknowledgement in city proceedings. I have also corrected the signage in our city park to include the correct spelling of our Sister City, Łomianki Poland.

Łomianki Park in the City of Columbia Heights, MN had its sign corrected by Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula to reflect the true spelling of its Sister City, Łomianki Poland.

Mayor Amáda Márquez Simula inspects the construction of a new City Hall in Columbia Heights, MN.

Securing Our Future

Columbia Heights has been viewed as an old bedroom suburb, but we are actually building new spaces for both businesses and housing. The new city hall and several new apartment buildings have opened in the past year. I’m excited to continue moving forward with other large development projects at the former Rainbow and Medtronic sites. Redevelopment of a smarter and safer Central Avenue will begin in 2028.