Saint Paul announces finalists for Ward 4 interim appointment

The Saint Paul City Council has selected four finalists for the interim Ward 4 Council member appointment.
The four finalists are:
• Sean Lim
• Lisa Nelson
• Matt Privratsky
• Melissa Martinez-Sones

The finalists will participate in public interviews on Wednesday, March 19, and the city council will vote to appoint one candidate on Wednesday, March 26. The selected individual will serve until a special election in August determines the permanent representative for Ward 4.

The city council required that finalists met the following criteria:
• Meeting all legal qualifications to serve.
• Agreement not to run in the special election in August.

Additionally, the dity douncil evaluated candidates based on their qualifications and experience and prioritized candidates using the following criteria:
• Availability to actively participate in council meetings, engage with constituents, and contribute to policy and committee work.
• Familiarity with city government operations and the role of a Councilmember.
• A demonstrated history of community engagement and local involvement.

• A collaborative approach to decision-making, to balance representation of Ward 4 with citywide policy considerations.

Next steps in the appointment process
March 19, 2025 – Finalist interviews conducted.
March 26, 2025 – City Council votes to appoint the interim Ward 4 Councilmember.
April 2025 – The appointed interim Councilmember will be sworn in and begin serving.

This appointment follows the resignation of Council President Mitra Jalali, effective March 8, 2025. The selected interim representative will serve until the winner of a special election takes office in August 2025.