Duluth council approves new city administrator

light-skinned man wearing gray suit and blue tie, standing in front of two flags — Matt Staehling

By Peter Passi

January 28, 2025 at 5:46 PM

DULUTH — Matt Staehling has been picked to succeed David Montgomery as the city’s next city administrator.

The Duluth City Council unanimously voted to support a contract Monday, offering the former St. Cloud City Administrator a $225,000 annual salary to jump ship and replace Montgomery, who is retiring.

Mayor Roger Reinert praised and thanked Montgomery for coming out of retirement to serve as city administrator for a third time, agreeing to do so in an interim capacity during the new mayor’s first year in office.

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Reinert noted Montgomery has served admirably under three administrations, saying: “In those years, he has been a sharp financial eye and a steady hand, guiding Duluth through challenges and opportunities. His leadership has been instrumental in driving forward significant infrastructure improvements in our community, as well as economic development projects, both of which have shaped the face of our beloved ‘Zenith City.”

But as he bid adieu to one city administrator, Reinert said he also was pleased to welcome another in Staehling.

Duluth’s new city administrator served nearly 30 years in St. Cloud, beginning work there as an attorney and rising to the top city leadership role under Mayor Dave Kleis for the past decade.

Reinert noted that St. Cloud is Duluth’s peer as a regional center and has demonstrated steady growth during Staehling’s tenure there.

“His deep understanding of municipal operations, as well as his collaborative and innovative approach to governance, will serve us well as we continue to make it a priority to be a good partner and to be more regional,” said Reinert, adding that he’s excited to get to work with Staehling.

About the Duluth City Council

The Duluth City Council’s regular meetings are on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7 p.m., with agenda meetings at 5:15 p.m. each Thursday preceding a regular meeting, unless otherwise scheduled, at City Hall, Room 330. Meetings are also livestreamed and recorded for later viewing at duluthmn.gov/city-council/city-council-meetings-events/council-meeting-media.

District 1: Wendy Durrwachter

Represents: Duluth city precincts 1-7
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028
Contact: 218-730-5700, Ext. 3, wdurrwachter@DuluthMN.gov

District 2: Mike Mayou

Represents: Duluth city precincts 8-13
Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026
Contact: 218-428-9195/218-730-5355, mmayou@duluthmn.gov

District 3: Roz Randorf

Represents: Duluth city precincts 14-19
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028
Contact: 218-443-8364/218-730-5353, rrandorf@duluthmn.gov

District 4: Tara Swenson

Represents: Duluth city precincts 21-27
Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026
Contact: 218-730-5356, tswenson@duluthmn.gov

District 5: Janet Kennedy

Represents: Duluth city precincts 28-35
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028

Contact: 218-341-6113/218-730-5357, jkennedy@duluthmn.gov

At large: Azrin Awal

Represents: All Duluth city precincts
Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026
Contact: 218-730-5359, aawal@duluthmn.gov

At large: Arik Forsman

Represents: All Duluth city precincts
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028
Contact: 218-409-8822/218-730-5352, aforsman@duluthmn.gov

At large: Lynn Marie Nephew, vice president

Represents: All Duluth city precincts
Term expires: Jan. 3, 2028
Contact: 218-730-5354, lnephew@duluthmn.gov

At large: Terese Tomanek, president

Represents: All Duluth city precincts
Term expires: Jan. 5, 2026
Contact: 218-216-9126, ttomanek@duluthmn.gov

more by peter passi

By Peter Passi

Peter Passi covers city and county government for the Duluth News Tribune. He joined the paper in April 2000, initially as a business reporter but has worked a number of beats through the years.

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