Meet Paul

My name is Paul Cumings. I moved to South St. Paul in 2008 and have been a homeowner in this city for 13 of those years. My mother was a public school teacher and my father was a Lutheran pastor. Since those early years, my life has been dedicated to public service and bringing people together to find innovative, community-based solutions. Part of that early service was becoming an Eagle Scout in my local Boy Scout Troop.

After high school, I served for two years as an AmeriCorps member with Pillsbury United Communities in the Cedar Riverside Neighborhood of Minneapolis. I served as a tutor and mentor to youth in afterschool programs.

I am a graduate of Augsburg College and the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs where I focused on public and nonprofit leadership and management.

In 2007, I started working for Rep. Paul Marquart and the House of Representatives Property Tax Relief and Local Sales Taxes Committee and the bi-partisan Government Redesign Caucus. We worked with local units of government across the state including school districts to craft programs to drive down the cost of property taxes.

In 2011, I went to work at the Department of Revenue on tax policy where I fought for a more fair tax code, worked to cut net property taxes for the first time in decades, and developed proposals aimed at improving water quality across the state.

I currently work for the Majority Leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives as a connector and problem solver. During my 17+ years in state government service, I have learned how to work collaboratively to solve problems and get things done. Now, I am eager to use my experience to deliver results for South St. Paul students.

I was a member of Luther Memorial Church where I was active in church council, the finance committee, choir, and led the book club. I currently enjoy swimming at Central Square Community Center.