Coleman says St. Paul has met challenges

Chris Coleman's first term as mayor of St. Paul hasn't had too many peaks or too many valleys. There haven't been towering new buildings or lots of joyous ribbon-cuttings.

There haven't been scandals or searing controversies, either.

Coleman has been steering the city along a bumpy economic road, trying to raise its profile and preparing for when the good times come again. The economy has stifled development and put pressure on neighborhoods because of foreclosures and vacant buildings.

"I'd argue that this has been one of the most challenging four years in St. Paul, and we've done a good job," he said.

Coleman, 48, wants to continue working on the Central Corridor light-rail line, expanding after-school programs and getting the city's finances into shape.

Voters will decide Nov. 3 if they want him to continue that quest.

Coleman is an experienced, homegrown politician challenged by Eva Ng, a relative political newcomer with an extensive business background.

He went unchallenged for the DFL endorsement and coasted to a primary victory, earning 68 percent of the vote.

It was widely thought that Coleman would run for governor in 2010, and he was open about considering it. Ng criticized him for having higher ambitions and not committing in writing to serve the people of St. Paul.

About two weeks ago, Coleman shocked many when he said he wouldn't run for governor and instead would focus on finishing work he started as mayor.

Coleman can point to two high-tech companies, Cray Inc. and Microsoft, adding jobs downtown. He also worked to help keep recycler Rock-Tenn, and hundreds of its jobs, in the city. He also has a $25 million initiative, Invest St. Paul, that is trying to pump money and resources into struggling neighborhoods to revitalize them. The Central Corridor, a nearly $1 billion ligh rail project expected to create an economic boom, could be running by 2014.

Perhaps the biggest thing Coleman has taken heat for was the 2008 Republican National Convention. The event drew tens of thousands -- from delegates to media members to protesters. Inside the Xcel Energy Center, the convention went smoothly. Outside, though, were barricades, riot gear and mass arrests.

Critics pelted Coleman for letting the city become a "police state."

"Clearly we did some things wrong," Coleman said, noting that better policies on using force and handling journalists were needed. "It was a mixed bag but, at the end of the day, despite the challenges we faced, St. Paul got good reviews across the globe."

A 'cooperative style'

City Council President Kathy Lantry said there has been a distinct change in the relationship between the council and the mayor's office. In past administrations, there was a lot more discord between the two sides.

"We challenge each other all the time, but we have a more cooperative style of running the city," Lantry said.

Over the past year, as the budget picture became bleaker, Coleman was quick to announce possible layoffs and other cost-saving measures. Council members met with his staff, as did employees.

"In these tight times, he has been good to work with," said Robin Madsen, president of AFSCME Local 1842. "He often talks about bringing people to the table, and he has done that with AFSCME."

She said she would expect the same inclusiveness in a second term.

Coleman has asked property owners to help out, too.

St. Paul levy amounts increased by 9 percent, 15.1 percent and 8 percent in the past three years. A 6.1 percent maximum levy increase for 2010 has been approved. Fees, from business licenses to water service, have also risen.

Ng, who has regularly blasted Coleman for the increases, has pledged to freeze them.

"Saying you're going to cut taxes is only the first part of the sentence," Coleman said. "What are you willing to do without?"

Even with the tax increases, he said by the end of 2010, 16 recreation centers will be closed. Libraries will be open less. Street maintenance is being deferred.

"There's no reason for the taxes to be going up like they are," said Greg Copeland, chairman of the St. Paul Republican City Committee. "We're not getting any more for it, especially when personal incomes are down, jobs are hard to find and neighborhoods are emptying out."

Coleman acknowledges property taxes put the squeeze on folks with fixed incomes. Still, the city has an obligation to put police officers and firefighters on the street, he said.

"We went 12 years without any kind of significant increase, and we became overly dependent on outside sources of money," Coleman said. He likes to highlight that the budget is now structurally balanced, meaning the money coming in equals the money going out. Previously, one-time money was used to pay for ongoing expenses.

Son of the city

Coleman is a lifelong St. Paul resident who has lived in several neighborhoods. He got much of his political inspiration from his father, Nick Coleman Sr., a DFL stalwart who spent nearly 20 years in the state Senate.

The younger Coleman served on the District Seven Planning Council and spent six years as a City Council member representing the Second Ward, which includes downtown and the West Side. He was a public defender in Hennepin County and a financial consultant for nonprofits.

Coleman, the second-youngest of seven children, and his wife of 21 years, Connie, have a son and a daughter. He laces up the skates for ice hockey and plays the bagpipes and guitar.

Coleman hopes the economy's sour notes will soon fade away. "What I hope is that we've built a really solid base. We're poised to take advantage of better times ahead."

Chris Havens • 612-673-4148