Mayor-Elect Reinert Makes First Shakeup At Duluth City Hall

DULUTH, Minn. — A shakeup has begun at Duluth City Hall.  Mayor-Elect Roger Reinert announced new nominations Wednesday for Chief Administrative Officer and City Attorney.

Reinert has tapped Dave Montgomery to return to the role of CAO.  Montgomery retired from that position in 2018 after serving nine years under Mayors Emily Larson and Don Ness.

Reinert said Montgomery will only be the CAO for 2024.

“I’m grateful his response to my request to come back and be here during a time of transition. It also provides, again, some stability while I go look for the city administrator that we will have long-term,” Reinert said.

Meanwhile, for the city attorney position, Reinert has chosen Jessica Fralich who is the current Referee with the 6th Judicial District Court in St. Louis County. Before that position, Fralich prosecuted some of Duluth’s highest-profile criminal cases with the St. Louis County Attorney’s Office, while actively being involved with domestic violence response efforts.

“The attorney’s office is involved in big projects and business developments the city is working on. It’s public safety, it’s the prosecution side of things that happen within our community that we care about from a public safety standpoint, it’s municipal law, it’s HR employment issues, and Jessica has experience in many of these areas,” Reinert explained.

In a prepared statement Wednesday, Reinert thanked current Chief Administrative Officer Noah Schuchman for his service.  Reinert also thanked current City Attorney Rebecca St. George, who is the first woman to hold that position.

“Public work is a calling. It’s never where you can make the most money, or most easily advance your career – you do it because you care about the work, our community, and our residents. Both Noah and Rebecca are exceptional professionals, and I sincerely appreciate their  intentional choice to do this work,” Reinert said.

If the new city council approves Reinert’s nominations in January, Fralich will continue making history as a woman running the attorney’s office.

Meanwhile, Reinert has power to appoint police and fire chiefs and department heads. But he said, he wants to work with everybody for at least six months before any possible changes come to those roles.