An admiring observer’s top 10 list of Minnesota mayors

When most kids were writing to Santa, I was writing to my mayor. I even attended city council meetings in elementary school, sometimes out of curiosity and sometimes just to see what went on behind the scenes. Decades later, my fascination hasn’t faded.

Minnesota just wrapped another election cycle. In Minneapolis, Jacob Frey secured a third term, rare in a city that seldom lets its mayors settle in. Watching that play out made me think about the few who’ve held the job for decades and why some mayors seem to age like fine wine instead of campaign coffee.

And now, in the lull between election results and the January swearing-ins, it feels like the right moment to look back at the mayors who didn’t just win once, they kept winning.

Here’s my (admittedly biased) list of Minnesota’s 10 most popular mayors. Some led big cities, others governed towns where everyone knew their dog’s name. All share one thing in common: their communities kept re-electing them.

1. Marvin Johnson — Independence (1979-2024)

Known as the “Farming Mayor of Independence,” Johnson led the city for 45 years, building a reputation for neighborly, no-nonsense leadership. A lifelong farmer, he guided Independence with steady hands and a deep sense of community. When he retired in January, the town held a retirement party in his honor. The Community Room at Independence City Hall bears his name. Johnson is 89.

2. Elizabeth Kautz — Burnsville (1995-present)

Kautz has spent nearly 30 years guiding Burnsville’s growth. She managed the ambitious Heart of the City redevelopment, balanced support for the arts with the nuts-and-bolts demands of city services and represented Burnsville nationally as chair of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. She continues to serve in the suburb she loves at age 78.

Related: Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz leads national mayors’ group to check Gulf oil spill

3. Jane Robbins — Pine City (1992-2013)

Pine City’s first woman mayor, Jane Robbins led years before Minneapolis elected its first female mayor. Dubbed “Teflon Jane” for her ability to withstand criticism, she navigated challenges like the closure of the city’s airport and only hospital with poise. She was always present at community gatherings, often bringing her famous sticky buns, and inspired a memorial dog park named in her honor. Robbins died in 2023 at 87.

4. Marlys Palmer — Cambridge (1998-2018)

For roughly 21 years, Palmer was Cambridge’s civic heart — approachable, fair and endlessly patient. She steered the city through financial challenges while championing projects that kept spirits high, from downtown beautification and park upgrades to supporting the community center and library. A conference room at the Cambridge Public Library bears her name. Palmer died in 2019 at 81.

5. Bob Schlagel — Marshall (1973-1988)

Schlagel guided Marshall’s growth during the rise of Southwest Minnesota State College and downtown renewal. After retiring to Pine City, his wife’s hometown, he remained a symbol of quiet civic decency. Marshall has a history of popular mayors, including another “Mayor Bob,” Bob Byrnes, who has been serving since 1993. Schlagel died in 2011 at 81.

6. Dave Kleis — St. Cloud (2005-2025)

For 20 years, Kleis was St. Cloud’s calm center — practical, nonpartisan and relentlessly accessible. He oversaw downtown revitalization, infrastructure improvements, university partnerships and welcomed a growing Somali population into city life. Kleis is 61.

Related: St. Cloud Mayor Kleis apologizes for the city’s past racial problems

7. Gene Winstead — Bloomington (2000-2020)

Winstead made Bloomington hum with smart growth, strong parks and balanced budgets. He guided major development around the Mall of America, nurtured new housing and parkland, and worked collaboratively with residents and business leaders alike. No drama, no flash, just a city that worked. Winstead is 74.

8. Ardell Brede — Rochester (2003-2019)

Brede was Rochester’s smiling statesman during the Mayo boom. He served as president of the League of Minnesota Cities and became the city’s ambassador, representing Rochester with warmth and dignity at every opportunity. The “Ardee Awards,” a playful nod to his initials (A.D.B.), honor arts contributions in the city. Brede is 86.

9. Donald M. Fraser — Minneapolis (1980-1994)

Fraser’s 14 years were marked by integrity and reform. Early in his tenure, he faced criticism for being passive during police raids on LGBTQ venues, but he went on to become one of the city’s strongest advocates for open government, neighborhood empowerment and civil rights. The Donald M. Fraser Early Childhood Family Development Center, a large Head Start and early childhood center in North Minneapolis, carries on his legacy. Fraser died in 2019 at 95.

10. George Latimer — St. Paul (1976 to 1990)

Latimer was a transformational mayor whose vision reshaped St. Paul, from downtown revitalization to expanded housing. Despite missteps and a failed run for governor in a DFL primary, he led with humility and left a lasting imprint on the city. The downtown branch of the St. Paul Public Library was renamed the George Latimer Central Library in his honor. Latimer died in 2024 at 89.

Honorable mention

Ben Boo — Duluth (1967-1975)

Boo guided Duluth through economic change and helped launch Spirit Mountain. Originally from Pine City, he brought small-town values to city hall and later served in the Minnesota House. His calm leadership and hometown pride made him one of Minnesota’s most respected public servants. Boo died in 2021 at 86.

These long-serving mayors share something rare: clean records. Longevity in Minnesota politics comes less from charisma than from consistency. You don’t last 20 years by grandstanding; you last by returning phone calls and showing up for parades, funerals and zoning meetings, often all in the same week.

Mayors have one of the toughest jobs in government. They’re close enough to get blamed for the potholes, but too far from Washington to get credit when things go right.

The ones who endure — the Marvins, Janes and Georges — remind us that good government isn’t glamorous but deeply human.

So yes, argue with my rankings. That’s the fun of it. But amid another noisy election season, it’s worth tipping our hats to the leaders who led with patience, humor and humility. Their cities kept re-electing them for a reason.

Nathan Johnson is a historian, writer and rural-America advocate who grew up in Pine City, Minnesota. A lifelong admirer of local government, he began writing to his mayor and attending city council meetings while still in elementary school. He now lives in Minneapolis.

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