SAINT PAUL – Mayor Chris Coleman announced today that Ricardo Cervantes, who is currently serving as the Deputy Director for Minneapolis Licenses and Consumer Services, will become the new Director of Saint Paul’s Department of Safety and Inspections. He will assume his duties on November 1.

"Ricardo brings a wealth of experience in both inspections and management to this position. A dedicated leader, he will be an important asset to both Saint Paul and the Department of Safety and Inspections. I look forward to working with him to ensure that DSI continues to keep our residents safe, and our infrastructure strong," Mayor Coleman said.

“I am extremely honored and very excited to be appointed as Director of Safety and Inspections. By drawing on my 20 years of experience, I will continue to improve service to the residents of Saint Paul,” Ricardo Cervantes said.

A graduate of Harding High School before attending Macalester College, Cervantes started working for Minneapolis in 1990 as a Housing Inspector. In 1999, Cervantes was promoted to district supervisor and then district manager in the Minneapolis Housing and Inspections Department. Cervantes managed the newly formed Minneapolis Problem Properties Unit in 2004 before becoming Deputy Director of Minneapolis Licenses and Consumer Services. 

His brother, Manuel Cervantes, served as Saint Paul City Attorney from 2002 – 2006.