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Saint Paul Swears In Molly Coleman as Ward 4 Council Member; Mayor Calls for Leadership After Morning Violence
Summary
Molly Coleman was sworn in as Saint Paul Ward 4 council member. Mayor Melvin Carter asked attendees to observe a moment of silence for victims of a Minneapolis mass shooting and framed the swearing-in as a time for leadership amid ongoing crises.
Mayor Melvin Carter presided over remarks and welcomed Molly Coleman as she was sworn in to the Saint Paul City Council, Ward 4, during the council meeting today. Carter asked the room to observe a moment of silence for victims of a mass shooting in Minneapolis earlier the same morning and said the city faces “an era solemnness of the task that we take on.”
The swearing-in made Coleman an active member of the council. Council President administered the oath, asking Coleman to repeat the pledge to support the constitutions of the United States and the state of Minnesota and to “discharge faithfully the duties devolving upon me as a city council member of the city of Saint Paul.”
Why it matters: the ceremony combined formal transition of representation in Ward 4 with broader remarks about leadership in turbulent times. Mayor Carter framed the moment as one that demands leadership, citing recent crises including the pandemic, civil unrest and a cyberattack. The remarks set a public tone for the incoming council member’s tenure.
In brief remarks after taking the oath, Molly Coleman thanked outgoing interim council member Matt Pirodsky and past Ward 4 leaders, and outlined why she ran: “I love the city of Saint Paul,” she said; she added she ran to “build an economically just city” and to “build a functional democracy here in the city of Saint Paul.” Coleman also thanked council staff for onboarding assistance.
Councilmember Colbert, who spoke after Coleman’s oath, called Coleman’s swearing-in an honor and welcomed constituents and colleagues in the chamber. Coleman referenced a legacy of Ward 4 leaders including former council president Mitra Jalali and former council member Russ Stark while accepting the role.
The formal portion of the ceremony concluded with brief thanks and an informal adjournment from the dais. No votes or ordinance actions were taken during the swearing-in segment; the primary outcome was the administration of the oath to Molly Coleman.
The council did not record any additional formal directives or motions connected to the swearing-in during the segment.
