Kaohly Her, a former state representative, who after a short campaign defeated a well-known incumbent in an upset last fall, took the oath of office Friday to become the first woman and Asian American to lead St. Paul, Minnesota, as its mayor.
She had a private ceremony alongside family early in the day before a larger celebration at St. Catherine’s University with state lawmakers across the political aisle, city officials, friends and other community members.
The backdrop was not lost on Her, who chose the school, an institution that has taught women for decades, to commemorate her barrier-breaking ascent to the city’s top job.
“It is important for us to know that when we do big things and shatter glass ceilings, that we break them open for generations to come,” Her said in her inaugural address. “Across our city, young women, my Hmong family and refugee immigrant communities will know that no office is too high for them to dream up or reach. I may be the first in some of these categories, but I will not be the last.”
Her vowed to work with the St. Paul City Council to push back on “incursions” into the city by the Trump administration, which has escalated U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement actions in St. Paul in recent months.
She also promised to steer the city’s budget on a sustainable path as residents face higher property taxes and a languishing downtown. She estimated the city has an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance to public facilities.
“Finances and getting our government back to doing the basics right may not be flashy, but it is important for every facet of our city, from renters to business owners to visitors to homeowners,” she said.
Before she took the oath of office, administered by a longtime family friend and pastor, three artists read a poem, and friends and former colleagues shared remarks about the new mayor, giving insight into her leadership style.
“I have witnessed in our seven years together at the legislature her tenacity, her compassion, her vision to make lives better, her desire to empower each and every person in this city to achieve their dreams,” said Rep. Ginny Klevorn, a Democrat who served with Her in the Minnesota House.
In a tearful tribute, Her also honored her mentor and friend Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were assassinated in a politically-motivated attack last June. She shared how the former Minnesota House speaker informed her own leadership style, saying that Hortman made her a better lawmaker because she expected members of the DFL caucus to fight for their seats and the right to represent their constituents.
“Her legacy and words wrapped themselves around my heart after her death, and it was her mentorship and example that led me to run for this office,” Her said. “She was an in-the-weeds, hard-working, putting people first kind of leader.”
Her is the 47th mayor of the capital city and will serve an abbreviated three-year term instead of four years, since the city will shift its municipal elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years that align with presidential elections starting in 2028.
Caroline Cummings
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