Chris Coleman passes on gubernatorial bid

Chris Coleman is seeking a second term as mayor of St. Paul — and no other political office. After months of speculation that he would turn around and run for governor next year, Coleman told reporters at a press conference today that he did not intend to seek the state’s top post.

“My work is here,” Coleman told reporters during a press conference at City Hall.

There were abundant signs that the Democrat was seriously entertaining a gubernatorial bid. He hired the DFL’s communications director to oversee a re-election campaign that looked to be a cakewalk and brought on high-powered political consultant Mandy Grunwald to assist with the effort. His lawn signs conspicuously failed to mention exactly which office he was seeking. And Coleman participated in a couple of candidate forums with the 10 other potential Democratic candidates.

But apparently he will be content to seek a second term as mayor. Coleman claimed to have only made the decision not to run for governor this morning. He will face Republican-backed Eva Ng in next month’s general election.