(VIDEO) Hallfin, Spano Sworn in to Council

They took the oath at the first St. Louis Park City Council meeting of 2012.

Steve Hallfin and Jake Spano were sworn in Monday night as the newest members of the St. Louis Park City Council. Incumbent Mayor Jeff Jacobs was also sworn in for a new term. The three took the oath of office at the beginning of the year's first council meeting. Judge Allen Oleisky, who is a St. Louis Park resident, performed the swearing in ceremony. Both new council members took over at-large seats vacated by incumbents (Phil Finkelstein and Paul Omodt) who decided to not seek re-election. In the Nov. 8 election, Hallfin took nearly 69 percent of the vote and beat Justin Kaufman. Jake Spano took 61 percent of the vote in his race against Claudia Johnston-Madison.

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Story of the Year No. 5: Council, Board Get New Blood

St. Louis Park Patch reviews the year that was by counting down the most talked about local stories of 2011.

Editor's Note: With 2011 winding down, we're using this last week of the year to look back at the five stories that shaped St. Louis Park over the past 12 months and had people talking. Today, we look at story No. 5—the fall election. Look for story No. 4 tomorrow. It was a year of certain change for the City Council and school board, as two council incumbents—Paul Omodt and Phil Finkelstein—along with board member Rolf Peterson announced they wouldn't be running again. For Finkelstein and Peterson, spending more time with family was the deciding factor. Omodt said attacks directed toward him and his family compelled him to leave the race. When the dust settled, Steve Hallfin and Jake Spano had won the open council seats, while Joe …

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Editor's Notebook

Election Results Shouldn't Rock the Boat Too Much

St. Louis Park got two new City Council members and a new school board member on Tuesday.

While nearby Golden Valley saw a bit of a shakeup Tuesday night when challenger Shep Harris beat four-term incumbent Linda Loomis for the mayor's seat, St. Louis Park's election provided no such changing of the guard. Newcomers Steve Hallfin and Jake Spano won two open council seats, while Joe Tatalovich joined three incumbents in winning spots on the school board. Of course, only time will tell how these three mesh with their respective colleagues and what policy decisions will emerge. But an educated guess would suggest that St. Louis Park won't be in for a drastic change. On arguably the biggest issue facing the city—the proposed freight rail reroute—Hallfin and Spano have voiced opposition. So did the current council, by a 6-1 vote in …

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Ground Games: Candidates Go Door-to-Door for Votes

With St. Louis Park's election on Nov. 8, the four City Council candidates are busy canvassing local streets.

In presidential politics, how much money a candidate raises—and how many ads he or she airs—is often a barometer of a campaign's success. In local politics, there is a much simpler measurement—how many doors a candidate knocks on. It’s a lesson that was quickly learned by St. Louis Park City Council candidates Steve Hallfin, Claudia Johnston-Madison, Justin Kaufman and Jake Spano. “I think it makes a whole lot of difference,” Johnston-Madison said. “That one-on-one (time).” With the election less than a week away, all four candidates have ratcheted up their ground games. Recently, St. Louis Park Patch tagged along with each of the candidates to get an inside look at what goes on at the doors. It's 11 a.m. on a recent Saturday morning, and …

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Why I Support Spano For Council

The St. Louis Park City Council election is Nov. 8

I am writing in support of Jake Spano’s candidacy for the At-Large B City Council position. As the co-owner of an advertising and marketing firm located in St. Louis Park, I have had the opportunity to work with Jake professionally in his current position at the City of St. Paul. I have been consistently impressed with his depth of knowledge and his ability to connect us with the information and resources we need to get our job done.  Jake has a strong background in volunteering, a passion and drive to improve the world around him, a straightforward communication style, and a great resume that I believe provides him with the skills and talents to be a great addition to our city council. I have seen, first-hand, his ability to truly listen …

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Candidates Lay Out Priorities at LWV Forum

The St. Louis Park City Council election is Nov. 8.

In one of their last chances to speak about issues in front of a crowd before the Nov. 8 election, the four candidates for two City Council seats took part in a League of Women Voters forum on Thursday night. Claudia Johnston-Madison, Jake Spano, Justin Kaufman and Steve Hallfin were asked a wide range of questions, from where they stand on a potential plastic bag ban (all four said they would at least be willing to look into it) to what they would tell someone thinking of moving to St. Louis Park. The issue of a controversial freight rail reroute was—not surprisingly—raised again, and all four candidates reiterated their opposition to the proposal. The candidates did get a chance to show differing views when they were asked what their top…

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(UPDATED) Spano Top Vote-Getter in SLP Primary

The general election is on Nov. 8.

Jake Spano and Claudia Johnston-Madison received the most votes in Tuesday's St. Louis Park City Council primary, and the two will advance to the general election on Nov. 8. Tim Brausen finished in third and was eliminated from the race. The unofficial vote tally was as follows: Spano: 663 votes Johnston-Madison: 479 Brausen: 323 (Results will remain unofficial until city canvassing on Thursday at 5 p.m.) Spano, who was celebrating the victory at Bunny's Bar and Grill when reached by phone Tuesday night, said he was humbled and honored by the results. "I'm really grateful to the people who got out there and voted," he said. "This has been a great experience." But he added, "It's only one step." Spano also congratulated Brausen on a well-…

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Candidates Offer Thoughts on Eve of SLP Primary

Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday.

With the St. Louis Park City Council primary election just a day away, Patch caught up with the three candidates to see how campaigning has gone so far and what they’re thinking heading into the big day. Tuesday’s election will whittle down the pool for the council’s “at-large B” field from three to two. The two winners will then compete in the general election on Nov. 8.  Also up for election on Nov. 8 is the mayor’s seat—incumbent Jeff Jacobs is running unopposed—and the “at-large A” spot, where Steve Hallfin faces Justin Kaufman. Brausen said his first time running for office has been a great experience. “It’s been marvelous for me,” he said. “I’ve learned so much about my community.” The candidate said campaigning has kept him busy, …

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Bill James

1:56 pm on Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Yes all three candidates said they were in full support of the resolution passed by the City to oppose the Freight Rail Re-Route in June.   more ›

(VIDEO) Why I'm Running for City Council

The St. Louis Park primary election is on Tuesday.

St. Louis Park City Council Candidate Jake Spano makes his pitch in a short video.

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