10/13/2023
We are so proud to endorse James Lo and Yan Chen for Ward 1. They join Isaac Russell as Service Saint Paul-endorsed candidates. Stay tuned for future endorsements.
"James Lo has an inspiring personal story. He was born in a refugee camp in Thailand in 1985. His family settled in the United States when Lo was nine, escaping from communism and political persecution in Southeast Asia.
Since moving to the United States in 1994, the Lo family has called Frogtown their home. Saint Paul has been a place of opportunity for the Los. It is the place where they escaped generational poverty and purchased a home.
Lo has clearly shown that he’s listening to the residents of Saint Paul. His call for more foot and bike patrols, in addition to expanding alternative response, clearly demonstrates that he knows public safety isn’t a “zero-sum” issue. He’s made street maintenance a hallmark of his campaign, and he’s demonstrated a willingness to critically examine current city policies like rent control that, while well-intentioned, have failed to advance their objectives.
In reviewing candidate positions, we also recognize candidate Yan Chen as someone worthy of consideration by the voters. While her campaign has far less resources on hand, Chen has defined herself through the clarity of her message on the issues before the voters.
Chen prioritizes excellent city services, constituent outreach, and public safety in her campaign. These priorities are both crucial and uniquely suited to a city council member’s role. We would proudly rank her on our ballot and hope that she stays active in Saint Paul politics whether or not she is elected this November."
- Service Saint Paul
Our committee members review the publicly available questionnaires of candidates, past statements, and assess campaign viability. Many candidates have filled out questionnaires from political groups like the Democratic Socialists of America–Twin Cities Chapter, civic organizations like Saint Paul ...
