Chris Coleman (mayor)
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| Chris Coleman (mayor) | |
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| Name | Chris Coleman |
| Birth date | 11 September 1972 |
| Birth place | Hastings, Minnesota |
| Office | 53rd Mayor of Saint Paul |
| Term start | January 3, 2006 |
| Term end | January 2, 2018 |
| Predecessor | Randall Coleman |
| Successor | Melvin Carter |
| Party | Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Spouse | Molly' |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota, William Mitchell College of Law |
Chris Coleman (mayor) is an American politician and attorney who served three terms as the 53rd mayor of Saint Paul from 2006 to 2018. A member of the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party, he previously represented District 58 in the Minnesota Senate before winning municipal office. Coleman's tenure as mayor intersected with issues involving Metropolitan Council, Xcel Energy, Saint Paul Saints, and regional initiatives including transit and downtown development.
Early life and education
Coleman was born in Hastings, Minnesota and raised in a family with ties to Minnesota politics and local government. He attended public schools in Minnesota before matriculating at the University of Minnesota, where he studied and became involved with campus groups and local chapters of Democratic organizations. He later attended William Mitchell College of Law (now part of Mitchell Hamline School of Law), earning a Juris Doctor and participating in clinic work that connected to legal clinics in Hennepin County, municipal law in Ramsey County, and nonprofit legal services affiliated with Legal Services Corporation networks.
Early career and legal work
After law school, Coleman worked as an attorney focusing on municipal and nonprofit litigation tied to agencies such as the Saint Paul Port Authority and advocacy groups like AFL–CIO affiliates and local Chamber of Commerce chapters. He served in roles that brought him into contact with the Minnesota Bar Association, public interest law partnerships, and labor organizations connected to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. His early career included community development work with organizations cooperating with HUD programs and regional planning efforts with entities like the Metropolitan Council.
Minnesota Senate
Coleman was elected to the Minnesota Senate representing a Saint Paul-area district, joining colleagues from the Minnesota House of Representatives and working with statewide leaders such as Jesse Ventura, Tim Pawlenty, and members of the Minnesota DFL caucus. In the Senate he was involved in legislation concerning local infrastructure projects, collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, and committees that intersected with policies championed by figures like Paul Wellstone and Amy Klobuchar. His votes and sponsorships linked him to debates involving the Minnesota State Capitol and budget negotiations with governors from both the DFL and Republican ranks.
Mayor of Saint Paul
In 2005 Coleman ran for mayor of Saint Paul, succeeding Ralph Engelstad-era offices of prior municipal leaders and campaigning on platforms that referenced regional actors such as Met Council and civic institutions like the Science Museum of Minnesota and Xcel Energy Center. He was inaugurated in 2006 and oversaw administration initiatives that engaged with the Saint Paul Public Schools, public safety partnerships involving the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, and development projects connected to the Downtown Saint Paul revitalization. During his three terms Coleman worked with city councils, business groups including the Greater MSP economic development organization, and cultural institutions such as the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts.
Political positions and initiatives
As mayor Coleman prioritized transit and development, coordinating with the Met Council on corridors related to Metro Transit light rail projects and working on agreements involving regional employers like Xcel Energy and sports franchises such as the Minnesota Twins affiliate Saint Paul Saints. He supported affordable housing efforts connected to HUD funding streams, partnered with philanthropic groups like the McKnight Foundation, and advanced public safety reforms that intersected with statewide discussions featuring figures like Keith Ellison and Tim Walz. Coleman engaged in labor negotiations with unions including the Service Employees International Union and supported arts funding benefiting venues like the Fitzgerald Theater and Minnesota cultural organizations.
Later career and controversies
After leaving the mayor's office in 2018, Coleman remained involved in regional civic work, nonprofit boards, and private-sector roles interacting with development entities such as Ryan Companies US, Inc. and economic partnerships with Greater MSP. His post-mayoral career included consulting on municipal projects and participating in public policy forums alongside leaders from University of Minnesota and statewide elected officials. Coleman's tenure saw controversies common to urban executives, including debates over policing and use-of-force policy in coordination with the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office, disputes over economic development incentives involving private developers and municipal borrowing subject to scrutiny from entities like the State Auditor of Minnesota, and public conversations about pension and labor contract negotiations that drew criticism from political opponents and media outlets such as the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press.
Category:Mayors of Saint Paul, Minnesota Category:Living people Category:University of Minnesota alumni Category:Mitchell Hamline School of Law alumni