Mayoral candidate James Trantina III talks about goals, St. Joseph residency allegations

ST. CLOUD — With the Aug. 13 primary election nearing, the St. Cloud Times spoke with mayoral candidate James Trantina III about his policy agenda and allegations that he resides at a St. Joseph address.

Trantina, who is the CEO of Collins Brothers Towing of St. Cloud, said as mayor he would focus on public safety, affordable housing, city infrastructure and economic development. He said bringing these elements together could make a better St. Cloud.

When it comes to public safety, the 38-year-old candidate said he hopes to put police trailers with cameras in key crime hotspots to allow law enforcement officers to keep better tabs on these neighborhoods.

“It’s not just from the law enforcement side but everything regarding public safety,” Trantina said. “It’s making sure that we keep our crime down, making sure that you can walk anywhere in the city, on any city street, and feel safe and comfortable.”

Trantina also wants the city to look at its infrastructure and determine best practices for maintaining the city’s roadways and water mains. He said being on top of routine maintenance could help the city save tax dollars down the road.

“We need to get ahead of our infrastructure. I feel like we're having a lot of water main breaks that we shouldn't have,” Trantina said. “Just making sure we stay ahead of the game on our water mains, sewer and roadways. If we're not proactive enough, we become reactive, and when we have an emergency break or a sewer issue, it's usually going to cost (more) to fix.”

Trantina has yet to craft a set-in-stone plan for business development and affordable housing. The candidate said he needs to be in the hot seat to analyze all available information before giving a defined plan. He said the city should focus on keeping businesses in St. Cloud to maintain jobs while also providing affordable housing options for residents choose from.

“It's easy to judge from the outside, but until you get in and get dirty and get to work, you don't know (the most effective approach),” Trantina said.

Campaign Hiccups

Trantina’s mayoral campaign doesn't come without its controversy. The St. Cloud Times received several tips alleging Trantina’s primary address isn’t within St. Cloud’s city limits, saying he resides at a St. Joseph address.

Trantina, who graduated from Elk River High School, told the St. Cloud Times he moved to the St. Cloud area in 2009 and eventually made his way within city limits around 2012, but he moves place to place flipping houses. However, a March 2023 speeding ticket listed in Minnesota court records shows Trantina’s St. Joseph address. The city also confirmed Trantina used a St. Joseph address when he submitted his address of residence form on May 28.

"I have several houses in St. Cloud, and I usually buy them, I fix them and I live in (them) a while,” Trantina said. “I fix them and I flip them.”

Not having a St. Cloud address prior to the primary election is not illegal. A mayoral candidate can file for office with an out-of-city address but must reside in St. Cloud 30 days prior to the Nov. 5 general election, according to St. Cloud's 2024 candidate filing packet .

But Trantina said he currently resides in St. Cloud at a house he is fixing up and possibly flipping. If he would win St. Cloud’s primary election, he said he would continue residing there but he may sell the house if he loses. When Trantina filed to run for mayor, he "was not 100% moved into" the St. Cloud house, so he gave the St. Joseph address on his forms. Trantina also said he owns several other properties in St. Cloud.

“(I) live in a house in St. Cloud right now, (and) I've been there for two and a half months now,” he said. “We're fixing it up for me (and) my family. If I win the primary, we're gonna live in there 100% sure. And if I don't win the primary, we'll probably live there through December, and then we'll put it on the market for sale or rent it out.”

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In addition, Trantina says he owns properties across the state. He uses different addresses due to safety concerns surrounding the nature of his towing business. He said he keeps his addresses private because "it’s hard to tell where (the information will) end up."

“I will not put an address … (because) we deal with 80+ law enforcement agencies and tow (hundreds) of vehicles (a) day for them and (crossing paths with) multiple felons, drug lords, etc. (who would then) have the opportunity to retaliate,” Trantina said. “That is why our business address is listed on the mayor application.”

Additionally, St. Cloud Clerk Seth Kauffman previously said candidates are not allowed to put up yard signs before June 28, and the St. Cloud Times reported seeing Trantina signs propped up on the front yards of St. Cloud houses prior to that date. Trantina said he did not put the signs up himself , but delivered them to supporters.

“I … did not install the yard signs, I dropped them all off at the people’s houses that wanted (them. I left signs) on their doorstep, in the ground by their sidewalk or leaned up against their house,” Trantina wrote in an email to the St. Cloud Times.

Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Mayoral candidate James Trantina III talks about goals, St. Joseph residency allegations