Two candidates — one a familiar name on the St. Paul ballot, the other new to politics — filed Tuesday to challenge Mayor Chris Coleman in his bid for another four-year term.
Sharon Anderson, a perennial candidate who lost last year running as a Republican for the state Senate, was the first to file with the Ramsey County elections office. She also ran for mayor in 2009.
She was followed by the DFL-endorsed Coleman, who was first elected mayor in 2005 and would be one of the city's longest-serving mayors if he wins Nov. 5. He won both his previous mayoral elections by landslide margins.
Also filing Tuesday was Tim Holden, an independent who has been campaigning since last winter to protest Coleman's handling of the downtown ballpark project and what he considers the mayor's indifference to small business. Holden is a landlord and businessman.
Joining Coleman in filing for office Tuesday were DFL-endorsed St. Paul school board candidates John Brodrick, Jean O'Connell and Chue Vue. Brodrick and O'Connell are seeking re-election to the board.
There will be no primary in St. Paul because the city now uses ranked-choice voting in the general election. Filings for city offices will close Aug. 13.
Kevin Duchschere
