Odd-numbered years are often quieter on the political front. Presidential and congressional elections never fall in them, and most governors are elected in even years too. But the Twin Cities keep activists active with mayoral elections in both major cities, as well as several large suburbs.

The local elections are particularly interesting this year because, for many cities, it will be their first experiment with ranked-choice voting. Ranked-choice voting allows citizens to indicate their first, second, and third choices for office.

The organization FairVote Minnesota has been pushing for ranked-choice voting programs to decrease partisanship. This will be St. Paul’s first mayoral race with the system and Minneapolis’ second.

In Minneapolis, three-term incumbent R. T. Rybak announced he will not run for a fourth term. Rybak, a Democratic former radio and print journalist, was first elected mayor in 2001. His dynamic style has attracted national attention, including his title as a Vice Chair of the Democratic National Committee, one of five in the nation. He was also a strong candidate for governor in the 2010 race.

The competition to succeed Rybak is heated. Six DFL members have already stepped up with their races: three current city council members and one former president, a former Hennepin County commissioner, and one private citizen. Also appearing in the race is Cam Winton, an independent attorney who casts himself as a more conservative alternative.

Even within a system dominated by one party, competition can be fierce. In the 2001 election, Rybak, a political newcomer, knocked out two-term DFL incumbent Sharon Sayles Belton by a stunning thirty-point margin. The reasons for the upset are still not entirely clear, but corporate welfare and constituent outreach have been cited as among the reasons.

The candidates are working to stand out in a crowded field. Schiff, who took the early lead in campaign funds, has focused on jobs, promising less red tape and a 25% quota of city residents in public works projects. Hodges discussed unification and an ambitious pledge to “make Minneapolis the great city of the 21st century”. Samuels has mentioned his anti-crime ambitions.

In St. Paul, incumbent Chris Coleman confirmed his bid for a third term. The DFL powerhouse may end up running unopposed. The only candidate so far to announce a challenge, Green Party candidate Roger Meyer, dropped out at the beginning of March, citing his uphill battle and fundraising shortfalls.

Outside of the immediate metro, the mayor of nearby Red Wing, Dennis Egan, announced his resignation. The city council recently began an ethics investigation on Egan for his becoming executive director of a frac sand mining lobbying company. Frac sand mining is a controversial environmental issue in the city, and his work was criticized as a conflict of interest. His resignation triggers a special election to replace him in June.

Four citizens have stepped up to run for mayor. Dan Bender, former city councilor, was the first to file the papers to become mayor. Signmaker Ernest Stone and John Sachen of the Red Wing Shoe Company filed soon after. Christopher Nelson, a former army combat engineer and a current security worker at the Prairie Island nuclear plant, was the most recent to announce his run.