Government and politics in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul, Minnesota is the capital of Minnesota. The city is also the largest city and county seat of Ramsey County. Saint Paul has a strong mayor-council government. Seven city council members elected in wards and one mayor elected at large serve the city.

City government and politics

Saint Paul is governed with a variation of the strong mayor-council form of government. Cite web|url=http://www.ci.stpaul.mn.us/depts/budget/2008budgetdocs/2008ProposedPlan.pdf|title=Description of Saint Paul's Form of Government|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=2008 Mayor’s Proposed Budget|format=pdf] The mayor is the chief executive and chief administrative officer for the city and the seven member city council is the legislative body. Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ac002.html|title=Sec. 2.01. Chief executive.|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Administrative Code] Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch004.html|title=Sec. 4.01. Legislative power.|accessdate=2007-11-11|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter] The mayor is elected from the entire city, while members of the city council are elected from seven different geographic wards, which have approximately equal populations.Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch002.htmll|title=Sec. 2.01. Elective officials.|accessdate=2007-11-11|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter] Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch004.html|title=Sec. 4.01.2. Initial districts.|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter ] Both the mayor and the city council serve four-year terms. Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch002.html|title=Sec. 2.02. Terms.|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter ]

The mayor's duties include preparing an annual budget, appointing heads to executive departments of the city and either signing or vetoing legislative ordinance passed by the city council. Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch003.html|title=Sec. 3.01.3. Powers and duties.|accessdate=2007-11-11|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter] The city council is responsible for the city budget, which is supposed to be based on the mayor's proposed budget. All appointments made by the mayor must be approved by the city council.Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch010.html|title=Sec. 10.02. Submission of budget. and Sec. 10.06. Council action on budget.|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter] Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch003.html|title=Sec. 3.01.3. Powers and duties. |accessdate=2007-11-11|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter] The city council may override the mayor's veto. Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch006.html|title=Sec. 6.03.1. Legislative ordinances. and Sec. 6.10. Reconsideration and overriding veto.|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter ] In addition, the city council creates all of the city's ordinance. The city council may create legislative ordinance with four of seven votes. Legislative ordinance must then be presented to the mayor who may then veto or approve the legislation. With an additional vote, for a total of five votes, the council may override the mayor's veto. Cite web|url=http://www.stpaul.gov/code/ch006.html|title=Sec. 6.03.1. Legislative ordinances. and Sec. 6.10. Reconsideration and overriding veto.|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=City of Saint Paul|work=Saint Paul City Charter ]

In addition to the mayor-council system, Saint Paul is governed by a unique neighborhood system. Since 1975, the city is split up into 17 City Districts, which are then governed by a District Council. The District Councils receive funding from the city but are otherwise independently run. Most councils have significant power on land use issues.Cite web|url=http://www.cpn.org/topics/community/stpaul.html|title=Saint Paul Participation|accessdate=2007-11-10|publisher=Citizen Participation Project |work=Citizen Participation Project Case Studies ]

Mayor

The city has had three mayors who were natives of Ireland, William Dawson, Christopher D. O'Brien, and Frank Doran. Other Irish-American mayors of Saint Paul include: William Mahoney, William H. Fallon, John J. McDonough, Edward K. Delaney, John C. Daubney, Joseph E. Dillon, Thomas R. Byrne, Randy Kelly, and the current mayor, Chris Coleman. Unlike the rest of Minnesota and Minneapolis, Saint Paul has always been a Democratic stronghold. Aside from Norm Coleman who became a Republican in his second term, Saint Paul has not elected a Republican mayor since 1952.Cite web|url=http://www.hhh.umn.edu/img/assets/23537/Twin%20Cities%20Mayoral%20Historical%20Overview.pdf|title=Twin Cities Mayoral Historical Overview|accessdate=2008-01-01|publisher=Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs|author=Eric J. Ostermeier|work=Center for the Study of Politics and Governance] The city's current mayor is Chris Coleman, a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL).

City Council

As of the 2007 general elections the Saint Paul City Council includes:

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Saint Paul is the capital of the state of Minnesota. The city hosts the capitol building, designed by Saint Paul resident Cass Gilbert. The Minnesota Supreme Court meets in the state capitol as well as the Minnesota Judicial Center. The Minnesota house and senate office buildings are also in the city. The Minnesota Governor's Residence, which is used for some state functions, is on Summit Avenue.

Minnesota's two major political parties are headquartered in Saint Paul. The Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, affiliated with the Democratic Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota.

Saint Paul is also the county seat for Ramsey County.

The city is represented by four Minnesota Senate districts; 64, 65, 66 and 67. Minnesota House of Representatives districts 64A, 64B, 65A, 65B, 66A, 66B, 67A and 67B are all located in the city.

Note: Ellen Anderson and Alice Hausman also represent Falcon Heights.

Federal

Saint Paul is located in Minnesota's 4th congressional district, a solidly Democratic district with a CPVI of D + 13. [cite web|title =Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?|publisher =The Campaign Legal Center|url =http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html|accessdate = 2007-03-30] The district is represented by Betty McCollum, a progressive Democrat, scoring 92% progressive by a progressive group [cite web| last = Grossman| first = Joshua| title = ProgressivePunch Leading with the Left| work = All Issues| publisher = ProgressivePunch|url = http://www.progressivepunch.org/members.jsp?member=MN4| accessdate = 2006-11-02] and 4% conservative by a conservative group [cite web | title = ACU Ratings of Congress, 2006| publisher = American Conservative Union | date = 2006 | url = http://www.acuratings.org/2006all.htm#MN | accessdate = 2007-09-08] on a range of issues. One of Minnesota's current senators, Norm Coleman, was formerly mayor of Saint Paul. Saint Paul's Xcel Energy Center will be the host of the 2008 Republican National Convention.

References