Rebecca Noecker, the longest-serving member of the St. Paul City Council, is expected to be elected council president by a vote of her fellow council members next month following the departure of current Council President Mitra Jalali, who is stepping down from office to focus on her health.

The city council announced on Tuesday that it will elect new leadership for 2025, including new chairs of the St. Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority — which is currently chaired by Noecker — and a newly-forming public safety committee.

The leadership changes are expected to take effect on Feb. 12, a week after Jalali begins her leave of absence in advance of her full resignation.

“I really want our council to model good government,” said Noecker, in a phone interview on Tuesday afternoon. “Right now, we have a state government that is uncertain at best and a federal government that is frightening.”

Funding, budget issues

Noecker, described by some as one of the council’s more moderate members, inherits a liberal council likely facing federal funding cuts under the Trump administration to federal and state funding for environmental services and programs geared toward people of color, among other identity groups.

The council also remains at an impasse with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter over unresolved budget questions. The council has asked the city attorney’s office to review whether its decision to override the mayor’s 11th-hour budget veto was done in a timely manner under the city charter.“We absolutely need to get clarity on which version of the budget is the official version,” Noecker said.

She said constituents had sent the council a clear message about the need to “focus on the basics” of city government and city services, and she said she would emphasize “responsiveness … getting the work done” and “good relations with one another,” an apparent reference to a flare-up between two council members over a legislative aide who was hired by one, fired and then rehired by another member in a different capacity.

Council president

Noecker, who was first elected in 2015 and represents downtown and nearby areas, had expressed interest in serving as council president in January 2024 but withdrew from the running and supported Jalali at the time instead.

Under the city charter, the council president facilitates council meetings, sets priorities by approving the weekly council meeting agendas and appoints members of council committees.

The president also represents the council at official city functions such as the mayor’s budget address.

Noecker, who represents Ward 2, will become council president and Council Member Hwa Jeong Kim, of Ward 5, will continue to serve as council vice president, according to a written statement from the council.

Council Member Cheniqua Johnson, of Ward 7, will chair the HRA, and Council Member Saura Jost, of Ward 3, will serve as vice chair.

Appointment process

The council will soon share information about the public appointment process to select an interim council member for Jalali’s seat, which is in Ward 4. A special election to fill the seat will be scheduled in the months to come.

“As I exit City Hall to focus on my health, I care deeply about our community having continued focused leadership across the council,” said Jalali, in the statement.

“Local government is on the frontlines for our community right now in a difficult national reality, and in this transition, I want St. Paul to know we are still here for you,” Jalali said. “I am grateful to incoming Council President Noecker, whose institutional knowledge and experience will continue to be an asset to our council; to Vice President Kim, for her continued support as vice president in this transition; excited for incoming HRA Chair Johnson, who will become the first Black woman ever to chair the HRA; and thankful to CMs Jost, Bowie and Yang, who will all also be stepping up into more responsibilities.”

Noecker also expressed gratitude, calling Jalali “a driving force for positive change” who will be “dearly missed.”

New responsibilities

Noecker said she had approached council members individually to seek their support for her new role. She also said she was eager to see council members chair committees and take on new responsibilities, broadening the pipeline of talent for future leadership.

“I look forward to continuing our work to build a more resilient, vibrant and inclusive St. Paul,” she said. “I will work hard every day to make sure our council is fully equipped to pass good policy and fight for the interests of our constituents, especially in a time of uncertainty in federal and state government.”

Noecker’s ward includes all of downtown St. Paul and neighboring communities, including the West Side, Cathedral Hill and parts of Grand Avenue, Summit Hill and West Seventh Street, among other areas.

She obtained her bachelor’s degree in social studies from Harvard College in Massachusetts, after which she served as a middle school science teacher with Teach for America in Baton Rouge, La., a program officer at the Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Teach for India, and as director of community engagement at AchieveMpls. She also served on the West Side Community Organization and the St. Paul Planning Commission, and founded West Siders for Strong Schools, a neighborhood group dedicated to promoting public schools in her area.

Committees

Noecker will continue to chair the council’s Audit Committee. She will also chair the council’s Organizational and Policy Committee, which is responsible for advancing shared policy priorities, with Johnson serving as vice chair.

The Budget Committee will be chaired by Council Member Nelsie Yang, of Ward 6, with Kim serving as vice chair.

The Library Board will continue to be chaired by Jost, and Bowie, of Ward 1, will serve as vice chair.

The council also intends to create a new Public Safety Committee whose scope and responsibilities will be defined. Bowie and Yang will serve as chair and vice-chair, respectively.

“This expanded leadership structure aims to maximize the expertise of new and returning council members alike and give more opportunities for council members to gain additional leadership experience,” according to the joint written statement from the council.

“We are reimagining how power is held and shared and building a deep bench of leadership ability amongst all council members,” Kim said. “When our members have a wider range of policy and leadership experiences, we’ll be able to craft better legislation and deliver better services for constituents.”