Horton Challenges Larson In Duluth Mayoral Race

Only Two Candidates In The Ring So Far

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Longtime Duluth boxing promoter and trainer Chuck Horton is jumping in the ring to be the next mayor of Duluth, and he says he’s in it to win it, as FOX 21’s Dan Hanger reports.

“I’ve been involved in this community for a number of years. And I have done a lot for this community. And I already consider myself like the unofficial mayor,” said Horton.

Horton is the only candidate – as of Tuesday — running against Duluth City Council President Emily Larson.

“I’m not going to sit back and take it anymore,” Horton said.

“Do you see all this positive growth that you see coming? Are you feeling it on the roads? Are you seeing it in the crime?”

Horton, 49, is a longtime Twin Ports boxing trainer and U.S. Army veteran who believes he’s the perfect fit for the job.

“I have a unique ability to find a way for everybody to win. You know in business you have to do that. And if both sides aren’t winning, you’re both going to lose. That is something I bring forward that the rest of them don’t have,” Horton explained.

Horton believes there’s plenty of money and opportunity to fix Duluth’s crumbling streets, keep the Lake Superior Zoo open, develop a new agreement with the Fond-du-Luth Casino – all while investing in our youth.

“I am definitely going to be looking and diving in hard at the budgets — every department — because I think there’s plenty of money in this town, but it gets wasted on special projects,” Horton said.

Meanwhile, Horton’s announcement came with open arms from Larson.

“I think it’s great. It’s really good for voters. It’s great for issues. It’s great for Duluth,” Larson said.

“We’ve been running for five months and running hard and making all sorts of connections in the city, but until you really have a field, you don’t have the opportunity to get into the issues as much,” Larson explained while referring to a race with no competition.

And as for her thoughts on Duluth’s future?

“We have more construction permits and building going on, we have low unemployment, the state sees Duluth very differently than 10 years ago and we see ourselves very differently.”

There’s a two-week candidate filing process in July to be able to get on November’s ballet.