South St. Paul Mayor Faces Allegations of Campaign Finance Violations and Misconduct; Complaint Sent to State and Federal Officials
SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA—A formal complaint has been filed against Mayor James "Jimmy" P. Francis, accusing him of multiple violations of Minnesota's Campaign Finance and Fair Campaign Practices Acts, alongside allegations of inappropriate conduct. The complaint, submitted by a local resident seeks a thorough investigation into these accusations. The complaint was also sent to several state and federal officials, including Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith.
Campaign Finance Violations
Nicole Larson alleges that Mayor Francis failed to report a significant campaign expenditure related to paid postage mailers distributed in late July, which she estimates to be valued between $2,000 and $3,000. These mailers were not listed in his official campaign filings. Larson also claims multiple donors contributed more than the $600 individual limit, violating Minnesota’s campaign finance laws. According to the Campaign Financial Reporting Chapter 211A, donations and contributions are capped at $600 in an election year for a candidate’s territory with a population of 100,000 or less. The 2020 census shows the population of South St Paul, Minnesota, was around 20,759.
Furthermore, she states that a campaign ad placed in the August edition of South St. Paul Voice failed to include the required legal disclaimers, as mandated by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 211B.04.
Allegations of False Social Media Profiles
In addition to campaign finance issues, the complaint accuses Mayor Francis of creating and using a fake Facebook profile under the alias "Carl Franklin" to falsely endorse his candidacy and discredit political opponents. Larson alleges that this profile, along with other fake accounts, has posted inappropriate and offensive content. She believes these profiles could be linked to Mayor Francis through IP address verification, raising questions about transparency and the ethical conduct of public officials.
First Amendment Concerns
Larson further claims that Mayor Francis has blocked several constituents from his social media platforms after they questioned his actions or pointed out discrepancies, including the existence of these alleged fake profiles. She cites the recent legal precedent set by O’Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier, which determined that blocking individuals from an official’s social media platform may constitute a violation of free speech rights under the First Amendment.
It has been reported to us that some accounts previously blocked by the Mayor have allegedly been unblocked since this complaint was sent.
Allegations of Intimidation and Harassment
The complaint also includes an accusation that Mayor Francis attempted to intimidate Larson and her husband by asking a neighbor to harass the couple via TikTok. The neighbor reportedly refused the request. Larson alleges that this behavior is part of a pattern of intimidation aimed at silencing critics, a violation of Minnesota Statutes Chapter 211B.02 and 211B.075.
Complaint Sent to State and Federal Authorities
The seriousness of the allegations has led Larson to send her complaint to several high-profile officials. Among those copied on the complaint are:
Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General
Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, U.S. Senators from Minnesota
Angie Craig, U.S. Representative, MN
Rick Hansen, Minnesota State Representative
Matt Klein, Minnesota State Senator
Joe Atkins, Dakota County Commissioner
Kathy Keena, Dakota County Attorney
Deanna Werner, South St. Paul City Clerk
Larson has requested that these officials take action to ensure an impartial investigation into Mayor Francis' conduct, stressing the importance of transparency and integrity in public office.
Community Response and Next Steps
The complaint has sparked intense discussion in South St. Paul, with some residents expressing concern over the accusations and others defending the mayor. William Kump, who spoke during a South St. Paul City Council meeting on October 7, highlighted what he described as dismissive behavior by the mayor towards residents who express dissenting opinions. Larson, too, has claimed she was told to leave the community if she disagreed with Mayor Francis’ leadership.
As of this report, Mayor Francis has not publicly responded to the allegations nor replied to our email request for comment. Should the Office of Administrative Hearings determine that the complaint has merit, a formal investigation will be initiated, with potential legal and electoral consequences.
This article provides an overview of the allegations against Mayor Francis, detailing the charges, evidence, and potential legal outcomes. The community is reminded that charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings.
Written By: Will Wight
