Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
The Cities Blog
Curtis Gilbert

Hodges taps state official for top city job

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Log inCreate a free Account

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Show me!

Spencer Cronk, who has led the State Department of Administration since 2011, got the nod Tuesday as Mayor Betsy Hodges' nominee for city coordinator.

Cronk Headshot (2)
Spencer Cronk is Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges' nominee for city coordinator. Courtesy of the State Department of Administration

The coordinator oversees the city's finance, human resources, information technology and communications departments. Also under the coordinator are such disparate services as animal control, emergency management and lobbying.

The Department of Administration has some similarities to the coordinator's role in that it handles a variety of back-office functions for state government. It provides bulk purchasing, construction management and state employee workers compensation insurance, among other services.

Leaving a cabinet-level position at the state for one at the city might seem like a step down, but Cronk would manage almost 700 employees as city coordinator, up from 450 in his current job.

The coordinator job has a starting salary of $143,181 -- a nice pay bump from the $119,517 Cronk earns now.

If confirmed by the city council, Cronk would succeed Paul Aasen, who left in May. Aasen also came to the city from state government, where he was the commissioner of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.