St. Paul has been through a lot since Melvin Carter was first elected in 2017 — a racial reckoning spurred by the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police officers, the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic fallout in downtown St. Paul.
After navigating those crises, Carter is making the argument he's best suited for the keeping his job as mayor.
Voters will have a choice this November: Make Carter the second three-term mayor in the last 30 years, or elect a new leader for the city.
Carter is quick to point out drops in crime, investment in streets and infrastructure and programs he says are helping bring investment into the city.
"It's not that I think I'm the one to do this, it's that I think we're the ones to do this,” Carter said during a recent debate. “Everything that we've done has been through deep public engagement, whether that's the fact that every member of my cabinet has been hired through a community-based hiring process, or every budget that we've brought has been brought forward with hundreds of St Paul residents, signatures and fingerprints on it."
Carter has the backing of several of the state’s most prominent Democrats, including Gov. Tim Walz, Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, U.S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.
But Carter, a key figure in Minnesota's DFL party, is facing a politically connected challenger. State Rep. Kaohly Her, DFL-St. Paul, decided to enter the race in August.
The St. Paul local DFL is not endorsing any candidate, the Star Tribune reported, because of a lack of funding, volunteers and reorganizing around a different election calendar.
At one time, Her worked for Carter in the mayor's office. She has the backing of some prominent DFLers, including former House Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and Sen. John Hoffman, though neither live in St. Paul.
She paraphrased the late Speaker of the House Melissa Hortman during a recent event.
"[Hortman said] these seats don't belong to us, and that we have to earn the right to represent all of you,” Her said. “I have a vision for what my city should look like, and in that I will be building affordable and abundant housing, a thriving economy, having safe neighborhoods and defending our neighbors from what is happening at the federal government."
While Her and Carter are the bigger names in the race, there are three other challengers who are also making their mark.
Yan Chen, a scientist who previously ran for a city council seat, believes the city's budget has gotten out of control. She would like to see public safety looked at more broadly and would like district councils to have more direct input on city governance.
As Carter unveiled his new budget in early September, which included a plan to add more affordable housing downtown, Chen said that the city needs to think more holistically about making downtown livable.
"The idea is really: First, focus on how to allow the current residents feel there are things to do in downtown, and then you can focus on how to bring more residents in,” she said.
Mike Hilborn, a St. Paul business owner and second chance employer, says the city needs to cut both property and sales taxes.
"When you're the most expensive place to live and you're the most expensive place to do business, people leave,” he said during a recent debate.
Hilborn would like to see the city do more to combat crime and expand shelter access for the unhoused population in St. Paul.
Adam Dullinger, a licensed professional engineer and self-described urbanist, would like to reduce the city’s reliance on tax increment financing districts to attract businesses and development; have the city build market rate housing to expand housing and the city’s tax base; and increase the city’s bicycle infrastructure.
He would also like the city to think more about design and livability, such as adding pedestrian malls downtown.
"Making everywhere a better place to bike to, to walk to, anything other than a car. I think we've prioritized cars for long enough,” he said. “Those are kind of the direct things, because through the public works department, you have control over the design of the streets, and I think that's extremely important for us to make a change towards, because I don't think we're making enough effort there."
Several candidates will join MPR News and the Pioneer Press for a candidate forum Tuesday. The debate will be streamed online and will air on MPR on Friday.
Learn more about the candidates in MPR’s voter guide which includes links to each candidate’s website.
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