2001 Saint Paul mayoral election

Summary

The 2001 Saint Paul mayoral election in the U.S. state of Minnesota held a scheduled primary election on 11 September and a general election on 6 November.

2001 Saint Paul mayoral election

← 1997 November 6, 2001 (2001-11-06) 2005 →
 
Candidate Randy Kelly Jay Benanav
Party Nonpartisan Nonpartisan
Popular vote 29,819 29,416
Percentage 50.07% 49.39%

Mayor before election

Norm Coleman
Republican

Elected Mayor

Chris Coleman
Democratic (DFL)

Incumbent mayor Norm Coleman had opted against seeking a third term.[1]

The general election was particularly close, with Kelly winning by a mere 403 vote margin.

Candidates edit

  • Marc D. Anderson
  • Sharon Anderson
  • Jay Benavav, City Council member[1]
  • Jerry Blakely
  • David R. Buehler
  • Bill Dahn
  • Tom Fiske
  • Honey M. Hervey
  • Bill Hosko
  • Bob Kessler, former administrative employee for Saint Paul mayor's office[2]
  • Randy Kelly, Minnesota State Senator
  • Bob Long, St. Paul City Council member[2]
  • Louie Lopez
  • Roberta "Bobbi" Megard, activist[2]
  • Devin L. Miller
  • Maryjane Reagan

Primary edit

A primary was held on September 11,[3] from which the top two candidates would advance to the general election.

The primary coincided with the date of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States.

Saint Paul Mayoral Primary results[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Jay Benavav 11,441 30.36
Nonpartisan Randy Kelly 10,006 26.55
Nonpartisan Bob Long 6,456 17.13
Nonpartisan Jerry Blakely 4,564 12.11
Nonpartisan Bob Kessler 2,187 5.80
Nonpartisan Roberta "Bobbi" Megard 1,989 5.28
Nonpartisan Sharon Anderson 241 0.64
Nonpartisan Bill Hosko 191 0.51
Nonpartisan Marc D. Anderson 136 0.36
Nonpartisan Maryjane Reagan 136 0.31
Nonpartisan Devin L. Miller 108 0.29
Nonpartisan Louie Lopez 62 0.16
Nonpartisan David R. Buehler 57 0.15
Nonpartisan Tom Fiske 58 0.15
Nonpartisan Bill Dahn 42 0.11
Nonpartisan Honey M. Hervey 37 0.10
Total votes 37,690 100

General Election Results edit

Outgoing mayor Norm Coleman threw his support behind Kelly, and Kelly campaigned as a candidate that promised to continue much of Coleman's leadership style.[1]

Kelly pledged that public safety would be his top priority, while Benavav pledged that housing would be his.[1]

Saint Paul General Election Results[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Nonpartisan Randy Kelly 29,819 50.07
Nonpartisan Jay Benanav 29,416 49.39
Nonpartisan Write-Ins 320 0.54
Total votes 59,465 100.00

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Wilcoxen, William (November 7, 2001). "MPR: Kelly beats Benanav in St. Paul mayor's race". news.minnesota.publicradio.org. Minnesota Public RadioWilliam Wilcoxen. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Wilcoxen, William (August 31, 2001). "MPR: Profiling the St. Paul mayoral candidates". news.minnesota.publicradio.org. Minnesota Public Radio. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  3. ^ "Unofficial Results Tuesday, September 11, 2001 Results for Selected Contests in 58000 - St. Paul". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "Saint Paul Elections Online". www.co.ramsey.mn.us. Ramsey County, Minnesota. Archived from the original on October 24, 2001.
  5. ^ "Unofficial Results Tuesday, November 6, 2001 Results for Selected Contests in 58000 - St. Paul". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved May 3, 2020.