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Three-term St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman is laying out his political future on Thursday, at least for the short term.


"I've had a great 11 years as mayor and have another year left. But after that, I will not run for re-election and will give a chance for someone else to be the occupant of the corner office," Coleman said in an interview.


Coleman is making a formal announcement at a brewery on Vandalia Street, confirming widespread expectation that he wouldn't seek a fourth term. His decision opens up the seat for the first time since 2001, when then-mayor Norm Coleman, no relation, decided not to run for a third term. Chris Coleman defeated incumbent DFLer Randy Kelly by an historic margin in 2005, and easily won re-election in 2009 and 2013.


Coleman said he's weighing a run for governor in 2018, when Mark Dayton's second term ends. 


"Obviously I've been looking at that, talked with folks around the state of Minnesota and I'll make a final decision some time in the next month or so," Coleman said. He'll join nearly a half dozen other DFLers reported to be eyeing the race, including Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith, Attorney General Lori Swanson, State Auditor Rebecca Otto and state legislators Tom Bakk and Erin Murphy.


Two former city council members, Melvin Carter and Pat Harris, are expected to run to replace Coleman in City Hall. Former school board member and former city council candidate Tom Goldstein is also making a mayoral bid.


The DFL endorsement is traditionally a decisive factor in the race, starting with precinct caucuses as early as February. But city party chair Libby Kantner said the local DFLers are planning to change the traditional endorsement process, in part by moving the start of precinct caucuses to April 22 and running through April 30.

Next year will mark the first open mayoral seat in St. Paul since voters approved ranked choice voting in 2009.

Correction (Dec. 1, 2016): A previous version of this story misstated Tom Goldstein's status with the city council. He is a former candidate.

Tim Nelson

Author

Coleman said he's weighing a run for governor in 2018, when Gov. Mark Dayton's second term ends. Two former city council members are expected to run to replace Coleman in City Hall.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will not seek re-election

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