Rachel Wales

Rachel Wales is the Councilwoman for Ward 3 in the City of Champlin, Minnesota, where she also works as a substitute environmental educator. She earned a bachelor's degree in education and sociology and later obtained a master's of science in environmental studies and environmental public policy administration from a college in Pulteney. Her professional path began with early advocacy work inspired by her younger brother's experiences with developmental disabilities and challenges in the special education system. She volunteered as a coach with the Special Olympics and worked in the field of special education before transitioning to political campaigns. She served as an assistant field organizer and later as an out-of-state field organizer for Organizing for Action, managing fundraising, voter registration, and get-out-the-vote efforts in Midwest swing states including Wisconsin. In 2018, she ran for the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and held the position of Precinct 12 Committee Woman with the Will County NLTDO in Illinois. She recently won a special election in May for her current council seat. Wales emphasizes kindness and empathy in her work and advises young women entering politics or advocacy to believe in themselves, trust their instincts, and forge their own paths.