“It’s not just about people starting businesses. It’s about what they can pass along to their children and what they can leave behind.”
Kaohly Her, a Minnesota state representative and candidate for mayor of St. Paul, stands at the intersection of University and Snelling avenues in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood. (Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
**Trust Out of Turmoil at SPPS**
After returning to Minnesota, Her stayed at home with her two children for a few years and consulted with nonprofit organizations before taking a job as an administrator for the St. Paul school board.
“It was a challenging time to build trust,” said John Schumacher, a former St. Paul school board chair who was elected in 2016 along with a class of board members aligned with the teachers union, which worried the central office administration, he said.
Schumacher noted that Her was hired for her background in finance and retirement plans, but it was her people skills that left a lasting impression.
“The one thing we didn’t really understand at the time was her ability to build community,” Schumacher said. “Especially at a time when there was so much mistrust.”
Her excelled at listening and enjoyed building personal relationships with her colleagues. Those skills helped her find creative solutions, Schumacher said, and gave her the credibility to get people on board with her ideas.
“She does her homework,” Schumacher added. “She comes with a full portfolio of skills to analyze situations, understand the voices that need to be in the room.”
**Campaign Challenges**
However, in the campaign environment, Her’s search for nuance has not always translated well, as the political atmosphere often demands straightforward yes-or-no answers.
During recent debates, Her has expressed a desire to learn more about the proposed Summit Avenue Regional Bike Trail. She also thinks the debate over the plan has unnecessarily pitted cyclists against Summit Avenue homeowners.
But some bike advocates view Her’s position as inadequate compared to candidate Carter’s full-throated support of the project.
“The process has been extensive, so to hear Kaohly Her say the process has been incomplete or wrong is just frankly offensive,” said Dan Marshall, a bicyclist and co-owner of Mischief Toy Store on Grand Avenue.
Marshall worries that Her’s approach signals deference to the lane’s opponents, despite the plan having already been approved by other neighborhood groups, the city, and the Metropolitan Council.
**Time in the Legislature**
Her left the school board to work in Carter’s first administration as his policy director in 2018.
During her legislative tenure, Winkler served as majority leader while Her was a whip for the DFL caucus. Winkler praised her organizational skills and leadership.
“There was no slack in the line in the whip operation under Kaohly Her,” he said.
*Rep. Kaohly Vang Her, center, talks to DFL Reps. Brad Tabke of Shakopee, left, and Rep. Zack Stephenson of Coon Rapids during the last day of the legislative session at the State Capitol on May 19.* (Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
**Showing Up**
Her prides herself on keeping her schedule full, attending meetings, and taking every opportunity to listen.
During her time in the Legislature, she often attends community gatherings and public meetings even when there’s no state business on the agenda because she considers it her job to stay informed about what is going on in her district.
Her says that consistently showing up—not just when she needs something—has been key to her ability to get things done.
Winkler agreed, highlighting her dedication and persistence as strengths in her political career.
https://www.startribune.com/kaohly-her-st-paul-mayor-profile-election-2025/601470243