George Latimer is an iconic voice in Minnesota politics, and to some, he is best known as a popular former mayor of Minnesota’s capital city.
Latimer was mayor of St. Paul from 1976 to 1990 and still holds the record for the longest serving mayor in the city’s history. During his years in office, St. Paul saw dramatic changes, including a construction boom downtown.
But these hits, although popular in St. Paul, were not enough to propel Latimer to victory when he sought the DFL nomination for governor in 1986. He lost the primary contest to Rudy Perpich.
Latimer went on to serve in the Clinton administration as an expert on housing and urban development, then was a professor at Macalester College and has advised many of his successors in the city council.
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Latimer, 87, still holds court and is eager to talk politics from the comfort of his bedroom at a senior housing and care center in St. Paul. Latimer has been laughing, joking and reflecting on his long political career.
Friday at noon, we will hear the former mayor of St. Paul George Latimer in conversation with retired MPR News host Gary Eichten.
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