Saint Paul DFL-endorsed candidates for city council, school board File for election

Following historic turnout in the DFL endorsement process, eight candidates file for this Fall’s general election.

 

(From left to right: Dan Bostrom, Chris Tolbert, Mary Vanderwert, Jon Schumacher, Zuki Ellis, Jane Prince, and Steve Marchese.  Click here for more pictures.)

St. Paul —Saint Paul DFL-endorsed candidates for City Council and Saint Paul Board of Education filed for office today.  All candidates received the party endorsement at their local Ward DFL conventions or the citywide endorsing convention on April 19, 2015.

“We have endorsed a very strong slate of candidates this year,” remarked Libby Kantner, Chair of the Saint Paul DFL. “They all have very broad support from the community and are committed to working together for Saint Paul’s future, and we look forward to communicating that to voters in every neighborhood this election cycle.”

 

This year, the DFL precinct caucuses saw incredible attendance as members of our community turned out to make their voices heard and support the endorsement of a strong slate of DFL candidates for municipal office. Zuki Ellis, Steve Marchese, Jon Schumacher, and Mary Vanderwert each earned clear-cut endorsements for School Board at the citywide DFL convention. They will bring to the school board and the community new energy, expertise, and a strong commitment to ensuring all voices in our community are heard as we build a district where every student can succeed.

 

Mary Vanderwert, an early childhood education specialist, said: “I am looking forward to working with my fellow DFL-endorsed school board candidates to create positive change within the St. Paul School District to provide our children with the best education possible.”

 

Zuki Ellis, who currently works as a parent trainer with the St. Paul Federation of Teachers Parent Teacher Home Visit Project and is the chair of the PTO at J.J. Hill, stated: “I’m running because St. Paul Schools can do better. This is an opportunity to expand the number of voices at the table as we work towards more inclusive, transparent, and collaborative schools.”

 

Steve Marchese added: “Our community deserves schools focused on providing an excellent education for every child in St. Paul. As a parent, lawyer and community member, I look forward to working with the other endorsed candidates to bring greater accountability, accessibility and engagement to the St Paul School Board.”

Jon Schumacher, who has been involved with St. Paul Public Schools for 23 years as a parent, site council leader, mentor, advocate and tutor, shared that “I’m running to answer the call from our parents, students and teachers for a clear, consistent and measurable strategy for success for all of our kids.”

 

Councilmembers Dan Bostrom, Chris Tolbert and Russ Stark each earned DFL endorsement for their reelections at their respective local DFL ward conventions and Jane Prince won the DFL endorsement for the open city council seat in Ward 7.

Councilmember Bostrom, who has served on the Council since 1996, kicked off his reelection campaign, saying:  “I look forward to continuing my work for neighborhood and community reinvestment and revitalization throughout Ward 6, the Eastside and all of Saint Paul.  Keeping Saint Paul a safe, welcoming place to live, work, raise a family and enjoy our great neighborhoods is my number one priority. Together, with our four excellent Board of Education candidates, citizens can count on our team to deliver for Saint Paul.”

Councilmember Tolbert, an assistant county attorney who will be running for his second term, said: “We have a great opportunity to honor the things that have made St. Paul special for decades, while moving forward to strengthen our neighborhoods and our City for future generations. I have done this in my work on the Council around the Ford Site redevelopment, the City’s award-winning Right Track program and through leading on infrastructure investment and mass transit planning. ”

Council President Stark, who could not make the group filing event sent his regrets and added, “I am proud of the things we’ve been able to do over the past eight years I’ve been on the Council. Together we have successfully opened the Green Line, spurred development along its corridor, improved biking and walking conditions and restored evening and weekend hours to libraries across the City. I look forward to continuing to make a more livable and sustainable Saint Paul.”

Jane Prince, a long time East Side resident and community volunteer who was endorsed in the Ward 7 seat vacated by Kathy Lantry, shared the sentiments of her colleagues: “When I knock on voters’ doors, they know that the DFL endorsement stands for equity and justice for everyone in our community.  I am honored and proud to run for Saint Paul City Council with the endorsement of our Saint Paul DFL Party. “

Today is the first day in which candidates interested in elected office can file with Ramsey County. The general election will occur November 3, 2015.

About the Saint Paul DFL and candidates

For more information on the Saint Paul DFL, please visit www.stpauldfl.org.

For more information on the candidates, please visit their websites:

Zuki Ellis      http://zukiellisforschoolboard.nationbuilder.com/

Steve Marchese      http://www.steveforspps.com/

Jon Schumacher      http://www.jonschumacherforschoolboard.org/

Mary Vanderwert       http://www.maryvforstpaulkids.com/

Chris Tolbert      http://christolbert.org/

Russ Stark      http://www.russforward4.org/

Dan Bostrom    http://www.danbostrom.com/

Jane Prince      http://www.janeprincew7.com/