Newly elected mayor Jake Spano and City Council member Thom Miller, along with re-elected City Council member Steve Hallfin, will raise their right hands and get down to business following their swearing-in ceremony.

There will be no big party, exciting speeches or inaugural ball to celebrate Jan. 4, according to mayor-elect Jake Spano.

“We raise our hand, we say ‘yes, we’ll do our job’ and we go right to work,” Spano said.

Spano defeated Conrad Segal Nov. 3, winning more than 75 percent of the vote. Miller defeated Sara Maaske, with an approximately 54 percent majority. Voters reelected Steve Hallfin to City Council in an unopposed election, according to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Spano said work surrounding the Southwest Light Rail transit will present a major challenge for his administration.

“(We should) make sure that Southwest Light Rail serves our community, and
doesn’t just run through our community,” Spano said.

Miller said he looks forward to being the only new member of the Council, especially given his past experiences working with community members on the Safety in the Park, a project dealing with concerns over rail reroutes.

“Because I’m brand new to the Council, I’m just excited to be in that chair and fill the roleof the next at-large member representing the whole of St. Louis Park,” Miller said.

Spano said he believes in the importance of youth involvement in the city’s political process.

“I’d like to get young people more involved in the decision-making process in St. Louis Park,” Spano said.
Miller said he values the district’s school system and considers it the city’s major strength.

“Our school district is our number one asset as a city,” Miller said. “We should do whatever we can to help.”
The ceremony will take place at the City Council meeting 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4 in the City Council chambers, and will be open to the public. It will also be broadcast online on live stream and on Park TV, according to city clerk Melissa Kennedy.