Kaohly Her, St. Paul’s new mayor, answered a series of questions on her candidacy for a Pioneer Press survey earlier this fall.
In her responses she touched on immigration enforcement issues, safer neighborhoods, housing as well as establishing an Urban Wealth Fund to allow the city to manage its assets — land, buildings and infrastructure — in ways to create more revenue streams.
Here’s what she said qualified her to be mayor, her thoughts on the role of government and her priorities as mayor.
What qualifies you to hold this position?
I have been a State Representative for seven years. Before that, I spent years working in the private sector in investments and finance, running a small non-profit empowering women and girls, overseeing operations and grant distribution for the largest community foundation in our state, serving as the first Board Administrator for the Saint Paul Public Schools, and leading as the Policy Director during Mayor Carter’s first term. In between my professional experience, I found time to be a stay-at-home mom and care for my aging parents struggling with healthcare needs, while trying to build wealth as a first-generation refugee. My experience spans private, public, foundation, and nonprofit sectors. Those experiences, coupled with my personal experiences, have prepared me to solve problems at the intersection of these sectors, rather than in the silos of traditional elected leaders. As a result, I can handle complex situations and bring people together to find solutions that we may not all agree with, but that can help us move forward for the greater good. My relationships at the city, county, state, and federal levels will bring more dollars to the city and ensure that we reach collaborative and innovative solutions to the most significant problems facing our city. Responsive communication and proactive leadership are sorely missing in City Hall right now, and I will work to bring those values back.
What would your top priorities be if elected?
I have four main priorities based on what I’ve been hearing from people while doorknocking across the entire city: a vibrant economy, safe neighborhoods, affordable and abundant housing, and defending our neighbors from the federal government. Building a vibrant economy is critical as our neighborhoods lose essential retailers, such as grocery stores. Without those businesses in place, the property tax burden will increasingly fall on the shoulders of renters and homeowners. This impacts those with limited fixed incomes, such as seniors and students, the most. Guaranteeing safe neighborhoods encompasses more than violent crime. Equally important is protecting access to our city resources for our kids to use, addressing the public health crisis of addiction and mental health, and supporting critical services like EMS, which is delivered entirely by our firefighters in Saint Paul. Building affordable and abundant housing will help us welcome even more neighbors, increase our tax base, and bring down the cost of living for everyone. Finally, our communities are at risk from our own federal government. People from immigrant and refugee communities are scared to leave their homes. The city needs to do more than just passively say we’re not collaborating with ICE; we need to provide real-time alerts for residents to inform them when ICE is in their neighborhoods, forbid agents in our community from hiding their faces, and teach our residents how to be constitutional observers.
What do you think is the primary role of government?
It is essential to recognize that the various levels of government have distinct responsibilities. Local governments are responsible for meeting the basic needs of their residents. It must maintain the infrastructure to deliver essential public services, public safety, and development. To make Saint Paul work for its residents, we need to get the nuts and bolts of running a city right, so that we can welcome residents, businesses, and development to expand our tax base and get our city moving again. Funding our city to deliver these services can no longer just fall on the shoulders of our residents through increased taxes. I have several plans to protect core city services, attract more development, and invest in our city as a destination for experiences. I propose diversifying our revenue streams beyond taxes by establishing an Urban Wealth Fund. Furthermore, our city must have transparent budgeting that not only meets the one-year requirement by charter but also projects our budget for an entire term, including future liabilities and city operations. Finally, we must be willing to coordinate with other levels of government to eliminate duplicate services and execute our core responsibilities effectively.
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How do you work to understand, and then learn from, opinions that differ from your own and people who disagree with you?
I am known as someone who can build consensus at the State Capitol. As the Chair of the Pensions Commission under Speaker Melissa Hortman, I was tasked with addressing a looming financial threat to our state. I worked with unions, pension funds, employers, Democrats, and Republicans to build consensus around this tough issue. At the end of the process, even if some people didn’t agree with the outcome, they respected the fact that they felt they were not only listened to, but heard. In the end, the bill passed as the largest pension bill in state history, garnering bipartisan support. My leadership style is to bring everyone to the table and hear their perspective. I’ve already committed to meeting with every city council member within my first month as mayor, so I can listen to the priorities they are bringing to the table. When we all feel heard, we’re better off for it. Disagreements are challenging, but they are also opportunities. The key is the willingness to engage even when it is hard. I am someone who does not shy away from conflict and who is always open to tough conversations. I carry that with me into this work and let that guide me.
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