From TurnSignl to City Hall: Why Jazz Hampton Has My Vote
By Mychal Frelix, Co-founder and COO of TurnSignl
My name is Mychal Frelix, and I'm the co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of TurnSignl. I've known Jazz Hampton for years – as a friend, a business partner, and now as someone I believe is exactly the leader Minneapolis needs. I'm writing today not just as Jazz's business partner, but as another person who cares deeply about the future of our city.
The Jazz Hampton I Know
When George Floyd was murdered in 2020, the three of us – Jazz, Andre Creighton, and myself – were like many of you: heartbroken, angry, and searching for ways to create meaningful change. We talked for hours about what we could do to address the systemic issues that led to this tragedy.
That's when I saw firsthand what makes Jazz exceptional. While many people were talking about change, Jazz was ready to act. He walked away from a successful legal career to build something that could save lives. When we founded TurnSignl, Jazz's leadership was characterized by three qualities that I believe make him perfectly suited to be our next mayor.
First, Jazz leads with courage. He doesn't shy away from difficult conversations or challenging situations. At TurnSignl, he's worked directly with law enforcement, community advocates, and legal experts to build bridges where others saw only division.
Second, Jazz sees solutions where others see only problems. The app we created connects drivers with attorneys during traffic stops to ensure everyone gets home safely. Jazz's ability to envision practical solutions to complex problems is exactly what our city government needs.
Third, Jazz understands that meaningful change requires bringing diverse stakeholders to the table. At TurnSignl, he's built relationships with corporate partners, community organizations, and individual users across demographic lines. He knows that lasting progress requires collaboration.
Why Jazz Is the Leader Minneapolis Needs
I've had a front-row seat watching Jazz grow TurnSignl from an idea sketched out in a coffee shop to a service available in all 50 states with over 200,000 lives covered by our services. This journey has shown me Jazz's resilience, his commitment to justice, and his ability to execute on a vision.
As our city faces challenges around housing affordability, public safety, economic development, and community trust, we need a leader who can bring fresh perspectives and proven experience in turning ideas into action.
Jazz has demonstrated that he can build something innovative and impactful from the ground up. I've watched him navigate complex stakeholder relationships, manage tight budgets, and make difficult decisions while never losing sight of our mission to protect civil rights and get everyone home safely. In every meeting, every challenge, and every victory at TurnSignl, I've seen Jazz embody the kind of principled, action-oriented leadership that Minneapolis desperately needs right now.
When we founded TurnSignl, we believed that innovation could help address systemic challenges and make our community safer for everyone. I've seen Jazz Hampton transform that belief into reality. Now I'm asking you to help him do the same for our city.
Minneapolis stands at a crossroads. We can choose a new direction – one of unity, progress, and shared prosperity. Jazz Hampton is the leader who can bridge communities, drive innovation, and create opportunities for everyone to thrive, regardless of their zip code or background.
I hope you'll join me in supporting Jazz Hampton for Mayor of Minneapolis.