OCT 28, 2014 PROGRAM:
Looking Back and Looking Ahead
George Latimer was the mayor of Saint Paul from 1976 until 1990. He was known for his redevelopment of Saint Paul's downtown core, serving as mayor during a period when Saint Paul's population was declining somewhat as some residents moved to suburban areas while the city's ethnic diversity increased.
As a labor attorney, Latimer practiced law in Saint Paul from 1963 until his election as Mayor. While Latimer was mayor, the City of Saint Paul received the All-America City Award (1983-1984), and numerous other awards for excellence in housing, community development and human rights. He served as President of the National League of Cities and as President of the League of Minnesota Cities. Latimer was Dean of Hamline University Law School from 1990 to 1993.
George Latimer joined the faculty of Macalester College in January 1996 as Distinguished Visiting Professor of Urban Studies. In January 1998, Latimer completed his two year service as CEO of the National Equity Fund. NEF finances affordable housing for working people through use of the Low Income Tax Credit. The Fund manages $2.5 billion, 27,000 units in 35 cities, providing housing for 75,000 Americans.
Latimer served as special advisor to HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros from January 1993 to November 1995. Today he is a neutral labor arbitrator in the state of Minnesota.