Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her Announces Assistant Mayor and Department Director Appointments

SAINT PAUL, Minn. — Mayor Kaohly Her announced her intention to appoint the following Assistant Mayor and Department Directors:

Cedrick Baker, Assistant Mayor, People and Neighborhood Vitality
Cedrick Baker is a public sector leader with more than a decade of experience advancing people-centered policy and enterprise strategy. He has held senior roles at Saint Paul Public Schools and the McKnight Foundation, where he managed high-stakes initiatives and helped bridge government, philanthropy, and community partnerships.

In January 2026, Baker joined Mayor Her’s administration, overseeing the Office of Neighborhood Safety and helping align the city’s community safety strategy. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development at the University of Minnesota and remains actively engaged in the community through ongoing service.

Maureen Hartman, Libraries
Maureen Hartman has served as director of Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) since 2023. She leads a team of more than 230 staff members dedicated to providing equitable and responsive library services across 13 library locations, the Mobile Library, and online through sppl.org.

Hartman is passionate about equity, inclusion, and belonging in libraries and the important role libraries play in city infrastructure. She especially values opportunities to engage with community members about the evolving role of public libraries and to mentor library leaders at all levels. Hartman earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Macalester College and a master’s degree in library and information science from Simmons College in Boston.

Melanie McMahon, Planning and Economic Development
Melanie McMahon has worked for the City of Saint Paul since 2017 and joined the Department of Planning and Economic Development in 2024. She has served as interim director since last year.

McMahon is an attorney with extensive public sector experience. In her roles within Planning and Economic Development, she has guided the city through complex legal, regulatory, policy, and political environments to deliver results for Saint Paul businesses and residents.

Rick Schute, Emergency Management
Rick Schute has served as the City of Saint Paul’s Emergency Management Director since 2019, leading citywide coordination for preparedness, response, and recovery efforts across departments and regional partners.

He works collaboratively before, during, and after incidents to align response efforts, support informed decision-making, and maintain continuity of services and public trust. Schute also contributes to regional and national advisory efforts focused on public safety communications, emergency alerting, and geospatial coordination.

Toy Vixayvong, Office of Neighborhood Safety
Toy Vixayvong joined the Saint Paul Police Department in 2001. As a sergeant, he served as a trusted school resource officer, a leader in the Gang and Gun Unit, and most recently as a public information officer for the department.

Vixayvong has partnered with Saint Paul Public Schools and the Minnesota Trades Academy to expand youth access to paid internships, helping young people build lifelong skills and explore careers in the trades. He has also worked to connect youth with specialized addiction treatment programs and expand access to medication-assisted treatment resources. His strong relationships within schools, community organizations, and neighborhoods across Saint Paul have made a meaningful impact on residents and prepared him to lead the Office of Neighborhood Safety.