Melvin Carter (politician)

Last updated

During his tenure as mayor, Carter was instrumental in raising the city's minimum wage to $15 per hour. He also established the Office of Financial Empowerment. [12] He launched CollegeBound Saint Paul, the city's college savings account program, [13] and the People's Prosperity Pilot, a guaranteed income program that gives 150 families $500 per month for 18 months. [14] His administration's slogan is "Building a city that works for us all means we all must do the work." [15]

Issues

Housing

Carter introduced The Housing Trust Fund as a way to address affordable housing in St. Paul. This program was directed toward low- and middle-income residents and provided them with stabilized and affordable housing options. [16] Carter also introduced The Families First Housing Pilot, which gave certain families financial assistance with rent and services to maintain their housing. This program has a direct partnership with St. Paul Public Schools by providing this assistance to families in need that have children enrolled in those schools. [17] In 2023, Carter added additional funding to an Inheritance Fund that would lend money to homeowners in low- to middle-income neighborhoods and renovate them. The Fund was initially introduced in 2020; its main goal is to ensure that the residents who move into these homes can build their wealth in their homes. [18]

Immigration

In 2021, Carter initiated programs directed toward immigrants and refugees in St. Paul. The St. Paul Immigrant Legal Defense Fund provides representation to immigrants who have been detained or are at risk of deportation. This is available for refugees or immigrants who make less than 200% of the poverty line. [19] Carter also introduced Welcoming St. Paul: Immigrant and Refugee Program, a system dedicated to integrating immigrants and refugees into St. Paul with other residents in the city, as well as opening up access to services within the city. [20]

Minimum wage

In 2018, Carter signed a Minimum Wage Ordinance into St. Paul that raises the minimum wage annually for residents. This took effect in 2020 and continues to rise each year. As of 2023, minimum wage had reached $15/hr for large businesses and $13/hr for small businesses. Effective July 2024, the minimum wage in St. Paul for large businesses will be $15.57/hr for large businesses and $15/hr for small businesses. [21]

Other local issues

In 2023, Carter proposed an initiative to get rid of medical debt for more than 45,000 St. Paul residents. To do this, money from COVID relief funds would go toward the foundation RIP Medical Debt in the 2024 budget. [22] Carter announced in 2018 that he intended to cancel late fees at libraries across St. Paul. [23] Library staff showed Carter the number of St. Paul cardholders unable to check out books due to late fees, which brought about the decision to cancel. It took effect on January 1, 2019. Carter also introduced CollegeBound St. Paul, a fund dedicated to children in the city. Each child gets $50 into a savings account meant for higher education; parents can add more money throughout their lives. [24]

Budget proposals

In his budget proposal for 2024, Carter focused on crime, infrastructure, and property taxes. This $820.5 million proposal includes $7.4 million to the city's property tax levy, decreasing median family contributions to property tax by $26 per month. [25] [26] A one-time safety aid provided by the state legislature gives Carter $13.6 million, of which he proposes that half go to gun violence initiatives and half to the fire and police departments and recreational facilities to improve safety measures. [25] [26] In November 2023, St. Paul voters approved a sales tax increase Carter had proposed to improve road conditions. [25] [27] Carter also proposed that remaining federal COVID relief funds be used to reduce citizens' medical debt [25] [26] and provide free swimming lessons for children under 10. [25] [26]

Appointments

Chief of police

On November 1, 2022, Carter appointed Axel Henry chief of police. [28] [29]

Other appointments

In October 2022, Carter appointed Jamie Wascalus as director and CIO of the Office of Technology and Communications and Stefanie Horvath as its deputy director and Chief Information Security Officer. [30] [31]

Elections

2017

Carter ran on four major themes: people, places, partnership, and community policing. He fought for a $15 minimum wage, development of the Green Line, and helping open new businesses while removing barriers to investment. He also rallied against a federal immigration policy, and aimed to decriminalize mental health and addiction issues. [3]

Melvin Carter
St Paul Mayor, Melvin Carter at Red Bull Crashed Ice, St Paul MN (39768482221) (cropped1).jpg
55th Mayor of St. Paul
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 2, 2018
Saint Paul Mayoral Election Results (First Choice) - 2017 [32]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Melvin Carter III 31,353 50.86
Nonpartisan Pat Harris15,28124.79
Nonpartisan Dai Thao7,59012.31
Nonpartisan Elizabeth Dickinson2,9274.75
Nonpartisan Tom Goldstein2,3603.83
Nonpartisan Other candidates2,1353.46
Total votes61,646 100.00

2021

As the incumbent, Carter focused again on building and protecting communities. [33] He also proposed a program to provide guaranteed income to low-income families. Carter focused on community wealth as a whole, advocating for the Office of Financial Empowerment. [34] He also proposed a new budget to address societal and infrastructure needs. [33]

Saint Paul Mayoral Election Results (First Choice) - 2021 [35]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic (DFL) Melvin Carter III (incumbent)36,42661.63
Nonpartisan Dino Guerin7,45412.61
Nonpartisan Paul Langenfeld5,2988.96
Nonpartisan Bill Hosko3,4235.79
Nonpartisan Dora Jones-Robinson2,3573.99
Nonpartisan Miki Frost2,0693.50
Nonpartisan Abu Nayeem1,5162.57
Nonpartisan Scott Evans Wergin3550.60
Write-in 2050.35
Total votes100.00

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Paul, Minnesota</span> Capital city of Minnesota, United States

Saint Paul is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center of Minnesota's government. The Minnesota State Capitol and the state government offices all sit on a hill close to the city's downtown district. One of the oldest cities in Minnesota, Saint Paul has several historic neighborhoods and landmarks, such as the Summit Avenue Neighborhood, the James J. Hill House, and the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Like the adjacent city of Minneapolis, Saint Paul is known for its cold, snowy winters and humid summers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richfield, Minnesota</span> City in Minnesota, United States

Richfield is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota. An inner-ring suburb of Minneapolis, Richfield is bordered by Minneapolis to the north, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport and Fort Snelling to the east, Bloomington to the south, and Edina to the west. The population was 36,994 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Riverside Plaza</span> United States historic place

Riverside Plaza is a modernist and brutalist apartment complex designed by Ralph Rapson that opened in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1973. Situated on the edge of downtown Minneapolis in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood, and next to both the University of Minnesota's West Bank and Augsburg University, the site contains the 39-story McKnight Building, the tallest structure outside of the city's central business district. Initially known as Cedar Square West, the complex was renamed when an investor group bought it out of receivership in 1988.

George Latimer was an American politician who served as mayor of Saint Paul, Minnesota, the state's capital city, from 1976 until 1990. A member of the DFL and a labor lawyer by profession, Latimer was known for his redevelopment of St. Paul's downtown core, serving as mayor during a period when St. Paul's population was declining as some residents moved to suburban areas while the city's ethnic diversity increased as, among others, Hmong refugees from Vietnam and Laos resettled in Saint Paul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demographics of Minnesota</span>

The demographics of Minnesota are tracked by the United States Census Bureau, with additional data gathered by the Minnesota State Demographic Center. According to the most recent estimates, Minnesota's population as of 2020 was approximately 5.7 million, making it the 22nd most populous state in the United States. The total fertility rate in Minnesota was roughly 1.87 in 2019, slightly below the replacement rate of 2.1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Paul Public Library</span> United States historic place

The Saint Paul Public Library is a library system serving the residents of Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The library system includes a Central Library, twelve branch locations, and a bookmobile. It is a member of the Metropolitan Library Service Agency, a consortium of eight Twin Cities library systems.

Saint Paul, Minnesota is the capital of Minnesota. The city is also the largest city and county seat of Ramsey County. Saint Paul has a strong mayor-council government. Seven city council members elected in wards and one mayor elected at large serve the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyline Tower</span> Apartments in Saint Paul, Minnesota

Skyline Tower is a large low-income high rise apartment complex in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. The building is also often called St. Anthony Tower, or 1247 St. Anthony. At 240 feet (73 m) it is the largest single HUD-subsidized building in Minnesota, and the 22nd-tallest building in Saint Paul. With over 500 units it is the largest single-building subsidized housing complex in the U.S. west of Chicago. The building is run by CommonBond Communities, the largest developer or owner of affordable rental housing in Minnesota. The nonprofit bought the building in 2000 with the help of U.S. Bank. The building was previously owned by Skyline Towers Co and managed by Sentinel Management Co.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saint Paul City Council</span> City Council

The Saint Paul City Council is the governing body of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, as part of a strong mayor–council government. It has seven members from seven wards, each elected to four-year terms. As of 2024, all seven are members of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, although city elected official positions are nonpartisan according to state law, and political party identifications are not included on election ballots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York Communities for Change</span> Advocacy organization

New York Communities for Change (NYCC) is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit focused on "building power for low and moderate-income communities in New York State". Issues described on the organization's website include affordable housing, worker and immigrant rights, improving public education, Wall Street accountability, and green energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Frey</span> Mayor of Minneapolis since 2018

Jacob Lawrence Frey is an American politician and attorney who has served as the mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota since 2018. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, he served on the Minneapolis City Council from 2014 to 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Saint Paul mayoral election</span>

The city of St. Paul, Minnesota held an election on November 7, 2017, to elect its next mayor, which was won by city councilman Melvin Carter III. Chris Coleman, who served as mayor from 2006, did not run for a fourth term and instead planning to run for Governor of Minnesota in 2018. This was the second mayoral election in St. Paul to use ranked-choice voting. Municipal elections in Minnesota are non-partisan, although candidates can identify with a political party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rondo neighborhood</span> Historically Black area in Saint Paul, Minnesota

The Rondo neighborhood, or simply Rondo, is located within the officially designated Summit-University district in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The boundaries of the historically black neighborhood are sometimes referred to as Old Rondo. For much of the 20th century, Rondo was an important cultural and residential center of the black community in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan region. The core of Old Rondo was demolished between 1956 and 1968, to make way for the construction of the Interstate 94 freeway. At least 650 families were displaced from the neighborhood, as well as many businesses and community locations. The neighborhood, although scarred by highway construction, remained a notable area in Saint Paul with a strong sense of cultural identity. Popular media and historians have the explored the impacts of highway construction and gentrification on Rondo residents past and present. In the 2000s, residents and public officials have discussed ways to reconnect the former community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaohly Her</span> American politician

Kaohly Her is a Hmong-American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2019. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Her represents District 64A, which includes parts of Saint Paul in Ramsey County, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Esther Agbaje</span> American state politician (born 1985)

Esther Agbaje is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2021. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Agbaje represents District 59B, which includes portions of north and downtown Minneapolis in Hennepin County, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Saint Paul mayoral election</span>

The city of Saint Paul, Minnesota held an election on November 2, 2021, to elect the mayor. It was held with ranked-choice voting, and there was no primary election. Few candidates filed to challenge incumbent mayor Melvin Carter III, and he easily won a second term with over 60% of first-preference votes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andre Dickens</span> Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Andre DeShawn Dickens is an American politician and nonprofit executive who is the 61st and current mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. He was a member of the Atlanta City Council and defeated council president Felicia Moore in the second round of Atlanta's 2021 mayoral election. He is the chief development officer at TechBridge, a nonprofit technology organization. He served as the chairperson of the transportation committee and chaired on the Public Safety and Legal Administration Committee.

Mayors Organized for Reparations and Equity (MORE) is a coalition of U.S. mayors committed to paying reparations to African American citizens of their cities. The association was announced on June 18, 2021, in commemoration of the first federally recognized Juneteenth holiday. Mayors from such large municipalities as Los Angeles, Denver, Sacramento, and Kansas City are part of the coalition, as well as the mayor of the small town of Tullahassee, Oklahoma, with a population of 83.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitra Jalali</span> American politician

Mitra Jalali is the City Council President and the Council Member for Ward 4 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She became the first Iranian-American elected official in Minnesota when she was elected to the Saint Paul City Council in 2018.

References

  1. ↑ "Melvin Carter sworn in as St. Paul's first new mayor in 12 years; Frey takes office in Minneapolis". Star Tribune . January 3, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Melvin Carter elected St. Paul's first African-American mayor". Twincities.com. November 8, 2017. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Melvin Carter III". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  4. ↑ Hobbes, Dwight (March 7, 2020). "St. Paul's Mayor Carter rejects simple answers to gun violence". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. Retrieved June 10, 2020.
  5. ↑ "St. Paul's leader". University of Minnesota. May 22, 2018.
  6. 1 2 "About the Mayor". Saint Paul, Minnesota.
  7. ↑ Walsh, James (March 27, 2018). "Melvin Carter's historic rise from Old Rondo to St. Paul's 'made-for-this' mayor". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Alpha Phi Alpha Brother Melvin Carter Elected 1st Black Mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota". Watch The Yard. November 8, 2017.
  9. ↑ Drousie, Émile (April 1, 2018). "Melvin Carter (1979- )". Black Past. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "About MDE (Melvin W. Carter III)". Minnesota Department of Education.
  11. ↑ "Previous Jordan Award Winners". YEO Network.
  12. ↑ "Minimum Wage". Saint Paul, Minnesota. December 18, 2018. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  13. ↑ "St. Paul set to kickstart a college savings account for every newborn". MinnPost. December 12, 2019. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  14. ↑ "EDITORIAL | St. Paul to provide low income families with $500 per month cash payments". Star Tribune. September 7, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  15. ↑ "About". Melvin Carter for St. Paul.
  16. ↑ "4D Affordable Housing Incentive Program | Saint Paul Minnesota". www.stpaul.gov. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Families First Housing Pilot | Saint Paul Minnesota". www.stpaul.gov. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  18. ↑ "St. Paul Mayor Carter, city council poised to approve $2.6M home-buying 'Inheritance Fund'". Twin Cities. January 29, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  19. ↑ Blotz, Tim (September 15, 2021). "St. Paul expands programs to support immigrants, refugees". FOX 9. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  20. ↑ Omastiak, Rebecca (September 15, 2021). "St. Paul mayor, community leaders announce new efforts to support immigrants, refugees". KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Minimum Wage | Saint Paul Minnesota". www.stpaul.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  22. ↑ "St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter pitches wiping away $110M in medical debt for residents - CBS Minnesota". www.cbsnews.com. August 11, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  23. ↑ "St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's plan to erase library late fees". sppl.org. December 12, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  24. ↑ "College Bound Saint Paul | Saint Paul Minnesota". www.stpaul.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Wiita, Tommy (August 11, 2023). "Here's a look at St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter's 2024 budget proposal". Bring Me The News. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  26. 1 2 3 4 "2024 Proposed Budget | Saint Paul Minnesota". www.stpaul.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  27. ↑ Cummings, Caroline (November 8, 2023). "St. Paul voters overwhelmingly approve sales tax increase for road repair, parks". CBS News.
  28. ↑ "Administration-Office of the Chief | Saint Paul Minnesota". www.stpaul.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  29. ↑ St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to announce city's new police chief, November 2022, retrieved December 4, 2023
  30. ↑ "Saint Paul, Minn., Announces Technology Appointments". GovTech. October 31, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Mayor Carter Appoints New Director of Saint Paul Office of Technology and Communications | Saint Paul Minnesota". www.stpaul.gov. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  32. ↑ "MN Election Results". Electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved November 10, 2017.
  33. 1 2 Gustavo, Solomon (September 17, 2021). "'Our biggest competition is apathy': a Q&A with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter".
  34. ↑ "Mayor, St. Paul, Minnesota | Aspen Ideas". Aspen Ideas Festival. Retrieved December 2, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Index". Election Results. November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of St. Paul
2018–present		Incumbent
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.