St. Paul Mayor’s Race: A City in Flux
As the St. Paul mayor’s race heats up, some prominent figures are choosing to sit out, while others are weighing their options carefully. Developer Steve Wellington, a 51-year resident of the city, is one such individual who is not rushing to endorse any of the candidates. With a significant stake in the city’s development, having owned some two dozen buildings, including the Pitch apartments near Snelling and University avenues, Wellington’s opinion carries weight.
Wellington has written off three of the five candidates as too inexperienced or non-serious, leaving him to consider Mayor Melvin Carter and state Rep. Kaohly Her, Carter’s former employee and most visible challenger. While Wellington acknowledges Carter’s charisma and commitment to the city, he expresses concerns about the mayor’s focus on business development, citing the recent resignation of the director of the city’s Department of Planning and Economic Development.
A City’s Economic Challenges
The city’s tax base has been a subject of concern, with storefront vacancies in downtown St. Paul, the Midway, Dale and University avenues, and other areas showing visible signs of wear and tear. This has led to frustration among some prominent political donors, including the St. Paul Area Chamber’s political action committee, which has chosen not to endorse anyone in the mayoral race. The St. Paul Building Trades Council and the St. Paul DFL are also staying on the sidelines, citing a sense of stagnation around declining commercial property values and rising property taxes.
Despite these challenges, some voters have chosen to back one of the two most prominent candidates, with Her drawing endorsements from city council member Nelsie Yang, the Sheetmetal Workers Local Union 10, and the St. Paul Area Association of Realtors, among others. Carter, on the other hand, has received endorsements from the SEIU Minnesota State Council, the Minnesota Nurses Association, and prominent elected officials, including Gov. Tim Walz and U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
Similar Platforms, Different Approaches
Both Carter and Her have platforms that are closely aligned, with both supporting a school levy increase and voting “yes” on a question involving amending the city charter to allow the city council to impose administrative citations. However, some critics argue that Her’s pitch appears to be “I will do what Melvin does but better,” which may not be enough to differentiate herself from the incumbent mayor. Tom Basgen, a city council aide, notes that the city is facing new realities, including remote work and a Republican-controlled White House and Congress, which have fundamentally reshaped the playing field for St. Paul and other urban areas.
As the election approaches, voters will have the opportunity to rank up to six candidates under St. Paul’s ranked-choice election system. The ballot will include Carter, Her, Yan Chen, a biophysicist, Mike Hilborn, who owns a snow-plowing and power-washing company, and Adam Dullinger, a mechanical engineer. The election will be held on November 4, and the outcome will likely have significant implications for the city’s future development and economic growth.
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