Learn about the candidates for Mayor of St. Paul

St. Paul has been through a lot since Melvin Carter was first elected in 2017 — a racial reckoning spurred by the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers, the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic fallout in downtown St. Paul.

After navigating those crises, Carter makes the case that he is best suited to retain his position as mayor.

Voters will have a choice next November: either make Carter the second mayor to serve three terms in the past 30 years, or elect a new city leader.

Carter is quick to point to the low crime rate and investment in streets, infrastructure and programs that he says help bring investment to the city.

"“I don’t think I’m the one who does it, I think we are the ones who do it,” Carter said during a recent debate. “Everything we’ve done has been through deep public engagement, whether it’s the fact that every member of my cabinet was appointed through a community hiring process, or that every budget we presented was submitted with hundreds of St. Paul residents, and their signatures and fingerprints on it,” Carter said during a recent debate."

Carter has the support of many of the state’s most prominent Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

But Carter, a key figure in the Minnesota Workforce League, faces a politically connected challenger. State Rep. Kawley Hare, DFL-St. Paul decided to enter the race in August.

Saint Paul Municipal Soccer League It does not support any candidateThe Star Tribune reported that it was due to a lack of funding, volunteers and reorganization around a different election calendar.

At one point, she worked for Carter in the mayor’s office. She has the support of some prominent DFL members, including former House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and Sen. John Huffman, even though they don’t live in St. Paul.

She paraphrased what the late House Speaker Melissa Hortman said during a recent event.

"(Hortman said) These seats don’t belong to us, and we have to earn the right to represent all of you,” Hare said. “I have a vision for what my city should look like, and through that I will build abundant and affordable housing, a thriving economy, safe neighborhoods and defend our neighbors from what happens in the federal government."

While she and Carter are the biggest names in the race, there are three other contenders making their mark as well.

Yan Chen, a scientist who previously ran for a seat on the city council, believes the city budget is out of control. She would like to see public safety viewed more broadly and would like county councils to have more direct input on city management.

When Carter unveiled his new budget in early September, which included a plan to add more affordable housing downtown, Chin said the city needed to think more holistically about making downtown livable.

"“The idea is: First, focus on how to let existing residents feel like there are things to do downtown, and then you can focus on how to bring in more residents,” she said.

Mike Hilburn, a St. Paul business owner and Second Chance Business owner, says the city needs to lower property and sales taxes.

"“When it’s the most expensive place to live and the most expensive place to do business, people leave.”

Hilburn would like to see the city do more to combat crime and expand access to shelter for unhoused residents in St. Paul.

Adam Dollinger, a licensed professional engineer and self-described urban expert, wants to reduce the city’s reliance on tax increment financing districts to attract business and development; Requiring the city to build market-rate housing to expand the city’s housing and tax base; and increasing bicycle infrastructure in the city.

He also would like the city to think more about design and livability, such as adding pedestrian malls downtown.

"Making every place a better place to ride a bike, walk to, or anything other than a car. “I think we’ve prioritized cars long enough,” he said. “That’s kind of the straightforward stuff, because with the Department of Public Works, you control the design of the streets, and I think that’s very important for us to make a change, because I don’t think we’re doing enough there."

Several candidates will join MPR News and Pioneer Press at a candidate forum on Tuesday. The debate will be streamed online and will be broadcast on MPR on Friday.

Learn more about the candidates at MPR Voting Guide Which includes links to each candidate’s website.