Chris Fields, a resident of Minneapolis, is the alternative to Keith Ellison in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional district. After honorably serving his country for over 21 years in the United States Marine Corps, Chris and his wife Christa chose to make their home in Minneapolis, where Christa runs a successful law firm. Chris is also the proud father of a 21-year old son.

After settling in Minneapolis, Chris began to look for ways to continue to serve his community. He was appalled by the lack of leadership he saw from some of Minneapolis’ elected officials, most notably Representative Keith Ellison. After consulting with local community leaders, Chris decided that the best way to continue his service to his country was to leverage his lifetime of experience by seeking a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Born into humble beginnings in the South Bronx, Chris was the oldest of three children who were born to a teenage mother. Chris has personally felt what he calls “the stinging shame” of using well-meaning but poorly designed government programs like food stamps and welfare. Chris’ mother, determined to give her family a better life, worked long hours to provide for her family.

When he was ten, Chris’ stepfather entered his life. A young white man from the suburbs with a dream of making the inner-city neighborhood in the South Bronx better, he founded a non-profit organization, Banana Kelly, focused on helping low income families achieve home ownership. Today that organization has over $100 million in assets, and serves as a reminder of what people working together can achieve. Chris counts his stepfather among the most powerful influences in his life.

Though he faced struggles in his younger years, Chris was able to avoid many of the troubles that plague much of the poor inner-city, and graduated as his high school’s valedictorian. In spite of this, Chris found that his inner-city education left him woefully unprepared for the demands of college. After a stint as a foot messenger in New York City, Chris decided he wanted to get out and see the world. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served for over 21 years, including two combat tours in Iraq.

While in the Marines, Chris earned his commission as a Marine Corps Officer and finished college with the academic distinction of Magna Cum Laude. He retired from the Marines on August 1st, 2011, and is now seeking to continue his service to his community and country by representing Minnesota’s Fifth district in the United States House of Representatives.