St. Paul DFL Mayoral Candidate
Melvin Carter III (He, Him, His)
What has been your proudest accomplishment as St. Paul Mayor?
We’ve accomplished a lot in the three years I’ve been in office. We raised the minimum wage to $15/hour, established a guaranteed income pilot program for families, put $50 into a college savings account for children born in the city through CollegeBound Saint Paul, and so much more.
My proudest accomplishment as Saint Paul Mayor is knowing that after three years, our city has executed on some of the most progressive, families-focused policies initiatives in the country. We are all working together to reimagine how local governments care for their residents.
What would be your #1 priority in a second term?
We have been called to continue engaging in the work of long-lasting, transformative change when it comes to neighborhood safety. That’s why in my first 100 days in office we came together to revise our police department’s use of force policy, brought together a community commission to reenvision a public safety framework, and have centered all our work around being proactive. The investments we’ve made and work we’ve led these past three years is just a beginning, and I look forward to an important next chapter. My top priorities in my second term will remain public safety, affordable housing and jobs.
Name three of your superpowers and how you will apply them to this role.
- Multitasking. I’m a father, a husband, and a mayor. While none of those jobs are easy, I know I’m not doing the work alone, and I’m not intimidated by asking for help. Part of my job as mayor is entrusting my team to dig deep into research, tap into their professional and community networks to advise me on the big issues we’re facing today. We’ve been able to accomplish so many things in my first term because we worked together to achieve a variety of great outcomes.
- Listening. Before I ran for office I was an organizer. The experience of being on the ground and having one to one conversations informs much of my decision making in the Mayor’s office. Our success building one of the most progressive mayoral administrations in the country is a result of our collaboration with community leaders and residents to work toward public policy outcomes that benefit all of us.
- Running. I cover a lot of the city on foot. It gives me the opportunity to see our neighborhoods at the ground level, connect with folks where they are, and provides me with a lot of energy to carry on.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing post-pandemic?
We’ve had to shift a lot of our engagements with the community to a virtual setting. I get my energy from people, and I truly believe that amazing things happen when you can breathe the same oxygen as others. Having face-to-face meetings and community gatherings is incredibly important to our mental health. dialogue Being face to face and e Our close-knit community breathes life into the city, and I look forward to getting together more regularly with one another.
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St. Paul DFL School Board Special Election Candidate (Two-Year Term)
Clayton Howatt (He, Him, His)
https://www.claytonforschoolboard.com/
Why do you want to serve on the St. Paul Public School Board?
What would be your #1 priority as a board member?
Name three of your superpowers and how you will apply them to this role.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing post-pandemic?
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St. Paul DFL School Board Candidates (Four-Year Term)
Halla Henderson (She, Her, Hers)
Why do you want to serve on the St. Paul Public School Board?
I am running for the school board because when I envision a public school system that works for all of us, we invest in each other, govern with community, and center the voices of our students, educators, and community members. I envision an SPPS where we continue to recruit, hire, and support teachers of color. I see schools where students have access to the resources they need — additional mental health supports, out-of-school time programming, ELL staff, adequate special education resources — and where they feel supported by smaller class sizes and time to connect with their teachers. To get there, I believe it will require strategic thinking about our budget and how we leverage for equitable funding and we need to be more intentional than ever on how we’re centering our community’s voices in decision making. I am excited to do this work and I see a path for us to build together.
What would be your #1 priority as a board member?
As we grapple with the impact of COVID-19 and a year of upheaval, now more than ever our students and staff need additional supports such as mental health providers, fully-staffed support teams, and Restorative Justice Coordinators. We need people in our buildings who can help our students and staff build safer, healthier communities. Our schools are more than places where our students learn daily lessons, they’re the center of our community and we need to staff them accordingly.
Name three of your superpowers and how you will apply them to this role.
- Big Picture Thinker – I am a person who likes to envision where we could go and dream big and then I like to start plotting how we get there. Whether it’s thinking about policy or significant life changes, before I jump into anything I name the goal, think about the steps needed to be taken to get there, and then start moving in that direction. So, when we have big conversations about SPPS, I think that strategic way of thinking is an asset to pushing the boundaries of what we can or have done while also being aware of any hurdles we might encounter.
- Collaborative – I believe my best work occurs when I have a team around me, and I know that my strengths will lift up theirs and vice versa. I see the opportunity to work with the other Board Members as an exciting chance to put that belief in collaboration into action.
- Youth-centered – My biggest strength, and one that I am incredibly proud of, is the relationships I’ve been able to build with students across the state. To center their voices is one of the main I’m running, and it’s something I believe will make our work stronger and more inclusive.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing post-pandemic?
I am so excited to be back in spaces with people and spend time with the people I love. This year has shown me the importance of surrounding yourself with people who give you joy and I am ready to be back around my friends and family!
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Uriah Ward (He, Him, His)
Why do you want to serve on the St. Paul Public School Board?
What would be your #1 priority as a board member?
Name three of your superpowers and how you will apply them to this role.
What are you most looking forward to experiencing post-pandemic?
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