Kaohly Her sworn in as St. Paul’s 1st woman and Asian American mayor

Former state representative Kaohly Her was sworn in Friday in St. Paul, Minnesota, becoming the first woman and the first Asian American to serve as mayor of the state capital. Her took office after winning last fall’s election and was formally inaugurated during public ceremonies held later in the day. She now begins her term as the city’s 47th mayor at a moment of heightened focus on representation, city finances and federal policy impacts.

Her takes oath: Her’s first day in office included a private oath ceremony with family followed by a larger public inauguration at St. Catherine University attended by elected officials, community leaders and residents. In her speech, Her addressed the broader significance of her election for women and immigrant communities across the city. “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,” she said.

Message after inauguration: After the ceremonies, Her released a written statement addressing residents and outlining her approach to governing. “It is my honor to serve as the 47th mayor of the great city of Saint Paul. We have great opportunities ahead of us to build a better Saint Paul, which is more resilient and prosperous for all,” she said. She also reiterated a pledge she made on election night to remain present in neighborhoods across the city as mayor.

Challenges facing city: Her enters office as St. Paul faces ongoing fiscal and policy pressures, including rising property taxes, a struggling downtown and an estimated $1 billion in deferred maintenance to public facilities. She has also said she plans to work with the St. Paul City Council on concerns tied to increased federal immigration enforcement activity in the city. An initial list of appointments and a staffing structure is expected to be released Monday, with a public inaugural celebration scheduled for Jan. 30 at the Saint Paul RiverCentre.