Voters in St. Paul’s Ward 4 neighborhoods will choose a new city council member in a special election this August, and the first candidate forum of the campaign season will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at Hamline Methodist Church.
The forum, organized by the St. Paul chapter of Unidos Minnesota, a climate action and economic and social justice organization, has invited the three declared candidates to participate. They are nonprofit founder Molly Coleman, former Hamline-Midway Coalition president Cole Hanson and school board member Chauntyll Allen.
Candidates will be given the opportunity to respond to five questions, prepared in advance, on “climate resilience.”
“This year the city council will make big decisions about funding for home upgrades that lower energy bills, negotiating a new contract with our utility company and revising St. Paul’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan,” reads a statement from Unidos St. Paul, which raises concern about “rising energy costs, unaffordable homeowner’s insurance and unhealthy air quality.”
Hamline Methodist Church is located at 1514 Englewood Ave. in St. Paul. Attendees are asked to RSVP in advance at tinyurl.com/UnidosForum2025.
Ward 4 has five neighborhoods — Hamline-Midway, Merriam Park, St. Anthony Park and parts of Macalester-Groveland and Como. Former Ward 4 Council Member Mitra Jalali stepped down from office in February, citing health concerns, and interim Council Member Matt Privratsky was recently appointed by the mayor’s office to fill her role until voters elect a new member to complete the four-year term, which ends in 2028.
The Ward 4 filing period opened Tuesday and runs through June 2. The special election, which will be decided by ranked choice, is Aug. 12.
Related Articles
Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary likely to be renamed Wakan Tipi
Letters: Preventing landlords from screening tenants is a one-sided view of our housing problem
Ben Shardlow: The soon-to-close recycling plant and environs are places we should love, or learn to
St. Paul: At Highland Bridge, Weidner Homes, Ryan Cos. win concessions
St. Paul: Breakaway Music Festival approved for gradual volume increase
Leave a Reply