Ben Petok, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minnesota, is taking the top communications job at the city of St. Paul.
The East Coast native worked and volunteered on city and federal campaigns in New York and Maryland before moving to Minnesota. He is shifting to the St. Paul job as Mayor Chris Coleman is running for governor and has less than a year left in his term.
"The opportunity to work for Mayor Coleman is real exciting for me. He has served the residents of St. Paul really very well," Petok said. "It's a great opportunity for me to see him through the end of the term."
Coleman has not offered him a job on the gubernatorial campaign, Petok said, and "my focus now is on the next nine months in St. Paul."
Petok has also worked at the New York County District Attorney's Office and was communications director for New York City Council Member Stephen Levin. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two children.
