ST PAUL, Minn. — The commission charged with choosing Minnesota’s new flag and seal gathered Tuesday for a sometimes fiery discussion about which emblems best represent the state.
Under a law passed in the last legislative session earlier this year, the State Emblems Redesign Commission must decide on a new official state seal and state flag design by Jan. 1, 2024.
On Tuesday, commissioners shared their individual “top 25” selections of the more than 26 hundred designs submitted (85 percent of which were for the state flag). They then began debate on which of those designs should make it to the “top 5” of each category. And that debate prompted passions and perspectives on what images would best represent Minnesota, in terms of the state’s communities, geography and history.
“The demographics have changed since 1957,” said Denise Mazone, a voting commissioner who represents the Council on Minnesotans of African Heritage, as she advocated for more diverse representation of Minnesotans.
“I just want to share, too, that I had a conversation with my children, two young Lakota children, about how good it would feel to have a flag that we would feel proud to have in front of our house,” added Dr. Kate Beane, a voting commissioner who also represents the Capitol Area Architectural and Planning Board (CAAPB).
However, some members suggested any focus on any one community both deviates from the commission’s charge and undermines their representation of unity.
“I think every person, the group should be left off, to include Bjorn Olson and his Scandinavian heritage,” which Rep. Bjorn Olson, Republican from Fairmont, said he shares with 25 percent of the Minnesotan population.
The commission narrowed the field to six designs for both the flag and five designs for the seal.