St. Paul City Council member announces campaign

ST. PAUL (AP) -- DFL City Council Member Chris Coleman has officially announced he will seek the DFL nomination in the race to replace 4th District U.S. Rep. Bruce Vento, who will retire to fight lung cancer.

The 38-year-old Coleman grew up in St. Paul and is in his second term on the council. He represents the 2nd district, which includes downtown, Summit Hill and part of the West Side. He plans to seek the DFL endorsement

Coleman considers himself a champion of affordable housing and job creation, two passions he would carry to the Capitol.

He is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and its law school. He was an assistant public defender in Hennepin County for eight years and opened his own law office in 1995.

Coleman is the son of the late Nick Coleman, Minnesota Senate majority leader in the 1970s.

Vento has held the 4th Congressional District seat since 1976. Since 1948, Democrats have held the seat representing St. Paul, suburban Ramsey County, West St. Paul and a portion of Dakota County's northern suburbs.

Many more candidates are expected to enter the race. Rep. Betty McCollum, DFL-North St. Paul, already is in the race.