St. Paul school board incumbents Jean O'Connell and John Brodrick won DFL Party endorsements Saturday in a city convention that also saw Mayor Chris Coleman anointed for a third term.
This fall, voters will elect three school board members. For the third seat, DFL activists endorsed Chue Vue, co-founder and senior partner of the law firm United Legal Associates and a former chairman of the Hmong American Partnership.
O'Connell, the board's current chairwoman and a retired 3M Co. executive, helped shepherd a successful school-levy campaign last year and was the only candidate endorsed by Coleman. Brodrick, 69, a retired teacher and coach, has relied on labor backing in pursuit of a fourth term in office. Incumbent Elona Street-Stewart announced earlier this year she was stepping down to spend more time with her grandchildren.
Saturday's daylong convention at Washington Technology Magnet School drew about 400 delegates.
"For a Saturday, that's good," Rich Kramer, secretary for Ward 6, said of the turnout.
It began with the unanimous endorsement of Coleman, who went unchallenged for the party nod. Tim Holden, a landlord and businessman new to electoral politics, has said he plans to run against Coleman as an independent.
The departure of Street-Stewart, a Delaware Nanticoke tribal member, was expected to factor into the school endorsements because she had provided a voice for communities of color, the district's demographics are minority-dominant and the two other incumbents seeking re-election both are white.
The board has had Hmong members in the past, but currently none who are Asian-American — the district's largest ethnic group, at 31.4 percent. Black students are next at 29.6 percent, followed by whites, 23.7 percent, Hispanic students, 13.6 percent, and American Indians, 1.8 percent.
On Saturday, candidates needed the support of 60 percent of delegates to be endorsed. Over three ballots, Vue won the endorsement first, followed by O'Connell and Brodrick.
The other candidates were Sarah Lechowich, David Martinezand Luis Ortega.taff writer Kelly Smith contributed to this report.
Anthony Lonetree • 651-925-5036
