St. Paul City Council Member Rebecca Noecker has withdrawn her intention to lead the city council as president, opening a clear path for Mitra Jalali to assume the role when the council convenes for its first meeting of the year Wednesday.

“I’m supporting Council Member Jalali for council president,” Noecker wrote Sunday. “I think she’ll be a strong voice for our council and I’m excited to support her leadership.”

Noecker, the longest-serving council member after two terms, had expressed interest in the role but appeared to lack sufficient votes among the seven-member council, which includes four newly elected members.

Jalali, a progressive advocate for rent control and tenants’ rights, has proposed a written resolution on Wednesday’s council agenda that would have herself appointed as president and incoming council member HwaJeong Kim as vice president.

Jalali, who was first elected by special election in August 2018, indicated Sunday that Noecker will serve as chair of the city’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority. The St. Paul HRA plays key roles in backing affordable housing, selling surplus city land and wrangling economic-development downtown and elsewhere throughout the city.

Other council member appointments that will roll out Wednesday include positions on the St. Paul Port Authority, the Board of Water Commissioners, the St. Paul Children’s Collaborative, the Visit St. Paul Board and additional public boards and authorities.

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