Hofstede, Frey battle for Ward 3

Minneapolis City Council Member Diane Hofstede and her challenger, attorney Jacob Frey, faced off tonight in their only scheduled debate before local DFLers decide which of them -- if either -- to endorse.

Jacob Frey, left, is challenging two-term incumbent Diane Hofstede for her seat on the Minneapolis City Council. (MPR Photo/Curtis Gilbert)

Listen to the whole debate here:

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"I have been your neighbor and your friend," Hofstede told the audience, stressing her family's deep roots in the city and her long record in elected office.

Frey touted his work as a community organizer and presented himself as a forward-thinking alternative.

"I envision a ward that isn't divided by a river but is connected by it, a ward that's an attractive option for families," he said. "And that means a school, a park, maybe even a children's museum."

The DFL will try to make an endorsement May 4, and each candidate has pledged to drop out of the race if the other gets the nod.

The race has divided the City Council. So far three of them have endorsed Hofstede, and in an unusual move, four of them endorsed Frey, a political newcomer.