By Vincent Ledo, Central High School
When I was 13, I walked down University Avenue one day and could not help but notice the trash, the unhoused people, and the overwhelming sense of neglect. When I got back home, my mom was worried for my safety and told me not to go back to the area. Four years later, I returned. Things were worse. I wondered why nothing seemed to have changed.
That’s why when I heard about the upcoming St. Paul mayoral election, I was excited to vote for the first time. But for whom? As a first-time voter, I don’t just want to vote, I want to vote for change.
The lack of action from City Hall has allowed University Avenue to remain unchanged. What we need is a real plan and commitment to redevelop the area; invest in public safety, address drug use, and ease the tax burden on property owners. We are not getting these from Carter.
In the upcoming 2025 election, five candidates are on a ranked-choice ballot for mayor. Incumbent Melvin Carter, Kaohly Vang Her, Yan Chen, Adam Dullinger, and Mike Hilborn. The race is expected to come down to Carter and Her.
You should cast your vote for Kaohly Her so we can improve the city and the welfare of its citizens. The current city government has failed to address the core issues within the St. Paul, and it’s time for change.
Carter has been mayor for eight years and previously served on the City Council from 2008-2013. Many St. Paul residents feel his leadership has become stagnant, and he has been to policies on core issues. Her has spent six years as state representative and is a leader in city’s thriving Hmong immigrant community. What St. Paul needs now is an ambitious mayor with a fresh approach at City Hall.
To be clear, Carter has introduced policies around welfare and immigration, according to his campaign website. These have included raising the minimum wage, clearing medical debt, eliminating library late fees, and funding legal defense for detained immigrants. His 2026 plan includes more support for small businesses and funding to address the fentanyl crisis.
But property taxes have skyrocketed under Carter’s leadership. Rising costs and economic uncertainty have fueled homelessness. Many of his policies have failed to completely address or do enough to fix the city’s issues, with crime rates and drug usage having risen since the pandemic.
Hamline-Midway is a prime example of Carter’s failures. In August Cub Foods shut down due to shoplifting, amidst reports of little response from the city.
Her has promised to be a more engaged partner with developers. “We have to make sure that our city is open to business,” she said. In response to rising property taxes, Her said she would expand the tax base with a combination of affordable housing and attracting new businesses. She also supports stronger public safety efforts focused on nonviolent crime and more funding for homelessness services and addiction treatment, including expanding access to suboxone for first responders.
As a new voter, I take my responsibility seriously. I seek candidates who share my values while recognizing who can carry out a vision or plan. Carter has had his time, and while his contributions are real, the city is stuck.
While Her and Carter share similar political leanings, Her is offering a fresh, more proactive approach. She can re-energize the city, tackle public safety and redevelopment more directly, and help residents feel seen again.
St. Paul is a historic, vibrant city, a cultural hub and the capital of Minnesota. We can’t allow it to continue to decline. We need a mayor who understands this and can act boldly. That’s why I’m voting for Kaohly Her.
Vincent worked with Star Tribune Columnist Rochelle Olson and University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School Senior Lecturer Scott Winter to complete his story. This story was produced as part of ThreeSixty Journalism’s 2025 Opinion and Commentary Workshop for youth, in partnership with Sahan Journal and MinnPost.
