Melvin Carter is the new mayor of Saint Paul and will be the first person of color in that position, after taking a decisive and earlier-than-expected victory in a field of 10 candidates. Carter told supporters at Union Depot he’s thrilled, elated and humbled. He’ll succeed Chris Coleman, who’s running for governor.
In Minneapolis, city councilmember Jacob Frey (FRY) grabbed an early lead over rival Tom Hoch (HOKE) and incumbent Betsy Hodges, but no candidate reached 50 percent and all are waiting for votes to be distributed from ranked-choice ballots. Frey said late last night (Tues) “our city is in many respects divided right now, whether it’s between the cops and the community, or a division between businesses and activists, or even division on the DFL Party. And I think right now more than ever we need bridge-builders.”
Earlier in the evening, Mayor Betsy Hodges acknowledged her vote count wasn’t looking positive, thanked her supporters and indicated she did not expect the tide to turn her way as second- and third-choice votes were tallied.
Frey says improving police/community relations is “way up there” on his agenda, and “the other big one” is affordable housing. “Minneapolis should be an affordable place for everyone, and we’re still a good chunk off from that right now,” Frey says. “Rents are rising through the roof and people are getting displaced from the communities that they know and love.”
More in this interview with MNN’s Bill Werner: