Carolyn Will
Name: Carolyn Will
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-414-9661
Campaign Website: www.carolynwillforcitycouncil.com
Twitter handle: @carolynwillforward4
Facebook Page: facebook.com/Carolynwill4ward4
Candidate Bio
Carolyn Will is a dedicated communications professional, civic leader, and small business owner with deep Minnesota roots. Raised in Bemidji, she graduated from Bemidji High School, earned a degree in English from the College of St. Benedict, and a master’s in business communication from the University of St. Thomas.
As a nationally recognized journalist and media producer, Carolyn has worked with PBS, Discovery Health, and KSTP-TV, earning accolades such as the FREDDIE Award, Gracie Allen Award, and EMMA from the National Women’s Political Caucus. In 2010, she founded CW Marketing & Communications, a strategic public relations firm in St. Paul, where she helps organizations enhance their brand and connect with communities through compelling storytelling. Clients have included Ecolab, Cathedral of Saint Paul, Ballet Minnesota, and the Metropolitan Council.
Active in civic life, Carolyn served over a decade on the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association board and has played a leadership role in the Rotary Club of St. Paul, enhancing its public profile and fostering civic dialogue.
With a moderate voice and proven results, Carolyn offers an inclusive vision for Ward 4 and the city.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I lead by listening and by seeking out diverse perspectives, particularly from those who are often unheard. I believe in practical solutions over ideology, and I strive to build coalitions across divides. My leadership is rooted in transparency, collaboration, and accountability.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Saint Paul?
The biggest challenge is rebuilding trust—between residents, city government, and local businesses. We have an opportunity to become a model for how diverse communities like Ward 4, can thrive when safety, infrastructure, and housing are properly aligned and supported.
What is your perspective on the rent stabilization ordinance in Saint Paul, and how do you view its effect on housing availability, affordability, and the city's economic climate?
The current rent control ordinance has had unintended consequences: discouraging investment in housing and freezing new construction. We need to protect tenants from displacement, but we also need policies that attract development and expand the supply of quality, affordable housing. I support reforming the ordinance to allow for balanced, incentive-aligned solutions that grow our constituents access to housing.
What steps would you take to revitalize downtown Saint Paul and promote long-term economic growth in the area?
We need to treat downtown like the economic engine it should be. I lived downtown for five years, and it served my daughter and I very well. Her daycare was downtown, we grocery shopped downtown, played in Mears Park in the evenings. On Saturdays, we went to the library and carousel (all through the skyway during winter months) and sometimes took in a movie and played miniature golf in Galtier Plaza, and eventually bought a membership to the Science Museum. I took the bus to my job, and I later took a new job that was also downtown. My daughter started ballet in Lowertown. Our lives revolved around all the amenities that made up a thriving downtown. Those amenities no longer exist downtown. To revitalize downtown, I would prioritize safety on transit and in public spaces, along with strenuous efforts to keep streets and green spaces clean, support incentives for mixed-use development, and champion public-private partnerships that bring life and activity back downtown—day and night.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development?
The city must partner with businesses as allies, not adversaries. From workforce development to housing, businesses offer expertise, capital, and innovation. The city’s role is to create an environment of trust, where collaboration is the norm, not the exception. Last summer, I forged a collaborative partnership with the Ohio State Retired Teachers Fund to display the 30th anniversary timeline of Circus Juventas costumes in their empty storefront windows (formerly Pottery Barn) on Grand Avenue. I’d like to bring those strengths in forging partnerships to city hall, along with the rich diversity of strengths from Ward 4.
How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Saint Paul?
Saint Paul has talent, location, and values—but a reputation for being hard to work with. We need to simplify permitting, commit to predictable policy, and be known as a city that welcomes jobs and entrepreneurship. That starts with listening to employers and working with—not against—them. And adding a dose of creativity, followed by a jolt of energy!!
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
Residents and businesses alike deserve a city where they feel safe. That includes supporting a fully staffed and community-engaged police department, expanding mental health response options, and addressing the root causes of crime. I applaud the achievements the Saint Paul Police Department has made recently in solving non-fatal shooting cases and reducing violence crimes with the World Youth Connect program. That’s terrific and I hope this trend continues and flows into Metro Transit safety, especially for women and youth.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We must make streets safe for everyone: drivers, bikers, pedestrians, and transit riders. I support increased transit patrols, better lighting, and accountability on transit lines. My curling partner is a young man who lives in Frogtown and works as a cancer researcher at the University of Minnesota. He rode the light rail a few times in the morning and said, “no more,” and switched to taking the bus. That is incredibly disheartening.
I also support investments in bike and pedestrian infrastructure that connects—not divides—our communities. We have too many “orphan” bike trails that do not connect. It points to a lack of big picture planning and amounts to a waste of our tax dollars. And I also believe strongly in looking into modernizing our road construction techniques to reduce disruption to our businesses and residential neighborhoods when utilities, water and sewer lines need to be updated and roadways rebuilt. There are better, more modern and creative ways to approach these projects that will also help preserve our urban tree canopy.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability with the uncertainty surrounding future federal funding and the expiration of temporary COVID relief dollars?
With COVID relief funds ending, Saint Paul must get back to budgeting fundamentals: spend wisely, track results, and avoid one-time gimmicks. We need to re-evaluate programs and focus on outcomes to ensure every dollar delivers value for taxpayers.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Cities must focus on what’s closest to home: clean streets, public safety, affordable housing, and responsive services. While cities can pilot creative ideas, mandates on wages or benefits funded by property taxes are best debated at the state level, where broader tax and labor policies are considered. The city’s strength lies in service delivery, local infrastructure, and maintaining conditions where families and businesses can thrive.
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 612-414-9661
Campaign Website: www.carolynwillforcitycouncil.com
Twitter handle: @carolynwillforward4
Facebook Page: facebook.com/Carolynwill4ward4
Candidate Bio
Carolyn Will is a dedicated communications professional, civic leader, and small business owner with deep Minnesota roots. Raised in Bemidji, she graduated from Bemidji High School, earned a degree in English from the College of St. Benedict, and a master’s in business communication from the University of St. Thomas.
As a nationally recognized journalist and media producer, Carolyn has worked with PBS, Discovery Health, and KSTP-TV, earning accolades such as the FREDDIE Award, Gracie Allen Award, and EMMA from the National Women’s Political Caucus. In 2010, she founded CW Marketing & Communications, a strategic public relations firm in St. Paul, where she helps organizations enhance their brand and connect with communities through compelling storytelling. Clients have included Ecolab, Cathedral of Saint Paul, Ballet Minnesota, and the Metropolitan Council.
Active in civic life, Carolyn served over a decade on the Summit Avenue Residential Preservation Association board and has played a leadership role in the Rotary Club of St. Paul, enhancing its public profile and fostering civic dialogue.
With a moderate voice and proven results, Carolyn offers an inclusive vision for Ward 4 and the city.
What style of leadership would you bring to this position?
I lead by listening and by seeking out diverse perspectives, particularly from those who are often unheard. I believe in practical solutions over ideology, and I strive to build coalitions across divides. My leadership is rooted in transparency, collaboration, and accountability.
What would be your top three priorities if elected? How might these priorities be affected by the state's projected economic outlook?
- Restoring public trust through fiscal responsibility – As federal aid sunsets and local taxes rise, we must prioritize efficient, results-based budgeting.
- Clean and safe neighborhoods and protecting our urban tree canopy– Trash, vandalism, and transit safety must be addressed to make residents and businesses feel invested. I would also prioritize preserving our urban tree canopy which delivers dividends in stormwater filtration, cooling our neighborhoods, and adding property value, not to mention the health benefits to our residents.
- Support for housing that works – We need more affordable housing, but smart policies—not rent control—are the way to unlock investment and supply.
What do you consider the biggest challenge and conversely, the biggest opportunity in Saint Paul?
The biggest challenge is rebuilding trust—between residents, city government, and local businesses. We have an opportunity to become a model for how diverse communities like Ward 4, can thrive when safety, infrastructure, and housing are properly aligned and supported.
What is your perspective on the rent stabilization ordinance in Saint Paul, and how do you view its effect on housing availability, affordability, and the city's economic climate?
The current rent control ordinance has had unintended consequences: discouraging investment in housing and freezing new construction. We need to protect tenants from displacement, but we also need policies that attract development and expand the supply of quality, affordable housing. I support reforming the ordinance to allow for balanced, incentive-aligned solutions that grow our constituents access to housing.
What steps would you take to revitalize downtown Saint Paul and promote long-term economic growth in the area?
We need to treat downtown like the economic engine it should be. I lived downtown for five years, and it served my daughter and I very well. Her daycare was downtown, we grocery shopped downtown, played in Mears Park in the evenings. On Saturdays, we went to the library and carousel (all through the skyway during winter months) and sometimes took in a movie and played miniature golf in Galtier Plaza, and eventually bought a membership to the Science Museum. I took the bus to my job, and I later took a new job that was also downtown. My daughter started ballet in Lowertown. Our lives revolved around all the amenities that made up a thriving downtown. Those amenities no longer exist downtown. To revitalize downtown, I would prioritize safety on transit and in public spaces, along with strenuous efforts to keep streets and green spaces clean, support incentives for mixed-use development, and champion public-private partnerships that bring life and activity back downtown—day and night.
Please characterize your perspective on the ideal collaboration between government and the business community when it comes to tackling challenges whether they be education, housing, or workforce development?
The city must partner with businesses as allies, not adversaries. From workforce development to housing, businesses offer expertise, capital, and innovation. The city’s role is to create an environment of trust, where collaboration is the norm, not the exception. Last summer, I forged a collaborative partnership with the Ohio State Retired Teachers Fund to display the 30th anniversary timeline of Circus Juventas costumes in their empty storefront windows (formerly Pottery Barn) on Grand Avenue. I’d like to bring those strengths in forging partnerships to city hall, along with the rich diversity of strengths from Ward 4.
How would you characterize the business climate in Saint Paul and what role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs and new businesses in Saint Paul?
Saint Paul has talent, location, and values—but a reputation for being hard to work with. We need to simplify permitting, commit to predictable policy, and be known as a city that welcomes jobs and entrepreneurship. That starts with listening to employers and working with—not against—them. And adding a dose of creativity, followed by a jolt of energy!!
What are your strategies to address public safety challenges in your community?
Residents and businesses alike deserve a city where they feel safe. That includes supporting a fully staffed and community-engaged police department, expanding mental health response options, and addressing the root causes of crime. I applaud the achievements the Saint Paul Police Department has made recently in solving non-fatal shooting cases and reducing violence crimes with the World Youth Connect program. That’s terrific and I hope this trend continues and flows into Metro Transit safety, especially for women and youth.
How would you work to improve transportation options in your community, including improved safety for transit riders, pedestrian/bike, and drivers alike?
We must make streets safe for everyone: drivers, bikers, pedestrians, and transit riders. I support increased transit patrols, better lighting, and accountability on transit lines. My curling partner is a young man who lives in Frogtown and works as a cancer researcher at the University of Minnesota. He rode the light rail a few times in the morning and said, “no more,” and switched to taking the bus. That is incredibly disheartening.
I also support investments in bike and pedestrian infrastructure that connects—not divides—our communities. We have too many “orphan” bike trails that do not connect. It points to a lack of big picture planning and amounts to a waste of our tax dollars. And I also believe strongly in looking into modernizing our road construction techniques to reduce disruption to our businesses and residential neighborhoods when utilities, water and sewer lines need to be updated and roadways rebuilt. There are better, more modern and creative ways to approach these projects that will also help preserve our urban tree canopy.
Cities have addressed many ongoing needs with temporary, federal COVID relief dollars, what are your plans to ensure fiscal stability with the uncertainty surrounding future federal funding and the expiration of temporary COVID relief dollars?
With COVID relief funds ending, Saint Paul must get back to budgeting fundamentals: spend wisely, track results, and avoid one-time gimmicks. We need to re-evaluate programs and focus on outcomes to ensure every dollar delivers value for taxpayers.
Uber/Lyft wages and proposed childcare subsidies funded by local property taxes are just a few areas where local units of government are wading into policy debates that may be best suited at the state. Please articulate the different scopes of work between state and local government (City/County). Are there specific areas of policy that the city should lead on in lieu of the state or county government?
Cities must focus on what’s closest to home: clean streets, public safety, affordable housing, and responsive services. While cities can pilot creative ideas, mandates on wages or benefits funded by property taxes are best debated at the state level, where broader tax and labor policies are considered. The city’s strength lies in service delivery, local infrastructure, and maintaining conditions where families and businesses can thrive.