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Evan Frost
St. Paul

St. Paul mayor's race: 5 in the starting gate

Melvin Carter
Melvin Carter Age: 38 Born: St. Paul Party: DFL Photographed at Martin Luther King Recreation Center. Melvin Carter grew up "right here," he says, standing outside the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in St. Paul. Before heading to Florida A&M to run track, he would run the sidewalks of the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul, where his family has lived for three generations. "We have some really incredible history in St. Paul, in all of our neighborhoods. And that's our best foundation to build our future on."
Evan Frost | MPR News

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Tuesday is the first day for candidates to officially file for city races, but there are five running for St. Paul mayor already raring to go.

The window to file to run for any city-wide race starts August 1 and closes August 15. While there is the possibility for last-minute entries, there are four from the DFL and one from the Green Party who have been campaigning for months to sit in the mayor's chair.

Here's a look at each of them.

Gallery
5 of 5
Dai Thao
Dai Thao Age: 42 Born: Laos Party: DFL Photographed in St. Paul's Frogtown neighborhood. Dai Thao came to the US as a political refugee from Laos in 1983. Now, he wants to give back through leadership, "I'm thankful for what America has done for me and I don't want to squander this opportunity." Representing Ward 1, "the heart of St. Paul" on the City Council since 2013, Thao says as mayor he'd focus on bringing opportunity to one of the most diverse parts of the city through aid for small businesses, as well as making public transit more efficient.
Evan Frost | MPR News
1 of 5
Melvin Carter
Melvin Carter Age: 38 Born: St. Paul Party: DFL Photographed at Martin Luther King Recreation Center. Melvin Carter grew up "right here," he says, standing outside the Martin Luther King Recreation Center in St. Paul. Before heading to Florida A&M to run track, he would run the sidewalks of the Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul, where his family has lived for three generations. "We have some really incredible history in St. Paul, in all of our neighborhoods. And that's our best foundation to build our future on."
Evan Frost | MPR News
2 of 5
Elizabeth Dickinson
Elizabeth Dickinson Age: 56 Born: Lowell, Mass. Party: Green Photographed in the garden of her home on St. Paul's West Side. Sitting among a bush of bleedings hearts in her garden, Elizabeth Dickinson recalls a long history of environmental activism and a shorter one of local politics. She ran for St. Paul City Council in 2003 and mayor in 2005. A life coach by training, Dickinson wants to engage anyone interested in politics. "I think there's a way to involve them and have folks feel like they're making authentic and genuine contributions to the city."
Evan Frost | MPR News