FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 7, 2022
Contact:
Kamal Baker
Office of Mayor Melvin Carter
763-381-1335
kamal.baker@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Mayor Carter Announces Staffing Changes
Mayor Appoints Chief of Staff; Expands Communications and Engagement Capacity to Support Recovery
SAINT PAUL, MN - Today, Mayor Melvin Carter announced the promotion of Communications Director Peter Leggett to the role of Chief of Staff. The Mayor also welcomed new staff members to his administration, with the addition of Kamal Baker who will serve as Press Secretary, and Krystle Cruz Williams who will serve as Advance & Engagement Coordinator.
“Building back better starts with the talented team of individuals who do the work on a daily basis," said Mayor Carter. "I am grateful that Peter, Kamal and Krystle have accepted these roles."
Peter Leggett has served as Communications Director for the City of Saint Paul since the Mayor was sworn in for his first term in 2018. As Chief of Staff, he will support Deputy Mayor Tincher in citywide operations management, manage the Mayor’s Office, including planning and implementation of the Mayor’s agenda and priorities, and oversee citywide communications in collaboration with department public information officers.
Kamal Baker joins the administration having previously supported U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar’s as well as U.S. Representative Dean Phillips’ re-elections, assisting then Governor-elect Walz and Lt. Governor-elect Peggy Flanagan’s transition office, and serving as campaign manager for Mayor Carter’s 2021 re-election campaign. As Press Secretary he will serve as primary media contact for the Mayor’s Office, and engage with fellow public information officers to support citywide communications.
Krystle Cruz Williams joins the Mayor’s Office having previously served as a corporate group sales manager in hospitality, and as fundraiser for the Mayor’s re-election. As Advance & Engagement Coordinator she will coordinate and support logistics for official functions in the Mayor’s Office, as well as leading planning and engagement of official events.
ABOUT THE MAYOR’S OFFICE
The City of Saint Paul Mayor’s Office leads the daily operations of Saint Paul’s government, including its fourteen departments and more than 3,000 employees in support of the City’s more than 315,000 residents.
As the Mayor begins his 2nd term, the Mayor's Office will continue to lead the city’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as the ongoing impacts of the economic crisis Saint Paul residents and businesses face by prioritizing equity, innovation, and resilience. The Mayor’s Office will continue to collaborate with city department and community partners on the Community-First Public Safety framework, address the housing crisis, serving our residents who are unsheltered, and connecting our community to opportunities to ensure everyone can access the prosperity our city has to offer. The Office will also continue to support healing in our community through the vital work of rebuilding our neighborhoods, and transforming the economic and justice systems in our city.
These ongoing efforts build upon the work of the past 4 years to support Saint Paul’s residents, workers, businesses and visitors including raising the minimum wage, engaging in unprecedented housing investments, developing the Community-First Public Safety framework with thousands of city residents, launching the People’s Prosperity Guaranteed Income Pilot, and launching CollegeBound Saint Paul, providing a college savings account for every child born in our city.
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