Who runs South St. Paul, and what the official record shows
Seven elected officials and a city administrator. Basic profiles are now available for the mayor and all six council members. These are roster-verified profiles sourced from official city records. Individual voting records and public-record actions have not yet been added.
Official sources verified. Basic profiles available for mayor and all six council members.
This page covers what can be confirmed from the official South St. Paul city website: who holds each seat, the government form, the council authority, and election dates. Basic profiles are now available for Mayor James Francis and all six at-large council members. These profiles confirm the public office, term, contact path, and official source trail. Individual meeting records and vote history have not yet been added.
Three council seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This roster reflects incumbents as of the last review date. Recheck after the November 2026 election.
South St. Paul uses a council-administrator form of government, adopted in 1988. Seven elected officials, a mayor and six council members, approve the budget and set policy direction, then rely on a city administrator for day-to-day operations.1 The council holds the city's legislative authority; it does not control the county, school district, or state programs. Three council seats are on the November 3, 2026 ballot.3
Every name and role below comes from the official city record. Basic profiles are now available for Mayor James Francis and all six at-large council members. These are roster-verified profiles. Individual voting records and public-record actions have not yet been added. All council seats are elected at large with no ward designations.
Source: South St. Paul Mayor and Council and City Council Staff Directory (Official record, accessed )
Three council seats (Joe Kaliszewski, Tom Seaberg, Matthew Thompson) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This roster reflects incumbents as of May 28, 2026. After the November 2026 election, the roster should be rechecked and updated.
To verify: After November 3, 2026, check southstpaulmn.gov/229/Mayor-Council for the updated roster.
This is an early source-backed overview. Individual profile pages are not yet available for South St. Paul council members. Authority details are based on the council-administrator form of government; the city charter has not been reviewed for this profile.
To verify: City charter and authority details can be reviewed at the South St. Paul City Code (library.municode.com) or by contacting City Hall.
Meeting agendas are available online from October 21, 2024 forward. Earlier records require contacting the City Clerk at dwerner@southstpaul.org or 651-554-3204.
To verify: Current agendas and minutes are at southstpaulmn.gov/agendacenter.
Three council seats open in November 2026
South St. Paul's official election page shows three City Council seats are open in 2026. Those seats are currently held by Joe Kaliszewski, Tom Seaberg, and Matthew Thompson (incumbents, terms expire January 1, 2027). Holding a seat does not confirm that an incumbent has filed as a candidate.
Candidate filing is scheduled to close June 2, 2026 at 5:00pm. If more than six candidates file, the race appears on the August 11, 2026 primary ballot. If six or fewer candidates file, they appear on the November 3, 2026 general election ballot only. The final candidate list should be confirmed at the official elections page after the June 4, 2026 withdrawal deadline passes.
Current affidavits of filing shown on the official elections page: Gusta Carr, Brian Ducklinsky, and Matthew Thompson.
This is not a final candidate list. Candidate filing is scheduled to close June 2, 2026 at 5:00pm. Ballot status should be treated as time-sensitive until after the June 4, 2026 withdrawal deadline passes and the city posts the official final list.
Source: South St. Paul Elections (Official record, accessed )
The council holds legislative authority for the city as a body. Individual members cannot act alone. Charter authority details have not been fully reviewed for this profile.
Who holds each seat as of the last review date and general contact information.
Election outcomes after November 2026, or changes from appointments or resignations since last review.
The council-administrator government form and codified ordinances.
Full charter authority limits without a dedicated charter review.
We do not tell you what to think or who to support. We make the next step easy, whatever you decide to do with what you have read.
Verify any of it yourself
Every numbered claim above traces to one of these official records. Each receipt notes the source type and the date we last accessed it.