Elected officials or community leaders who are engaged, have the time, interest and temperament to serve and have a working knowledge on a large assortment of issues are a rare breed, particularly at the local level.
That’s what made Paul Kess one of the most effective leaders Ely has had in the last half-century, or perhaps longer.
Kess, who passed away last month at the all-too-early age of 73, certainly made his mark at City Hall and at the council table during his two stints on the council, which encompassed more than 20 years since 1995.
During his first tenure, Kess joined the council at a time of transition in Ely, providing a fresh voice as the city moved forward when economic development was at the forefront.
Kess was a leader on a number of projects, particularly when the Minnesota Department of Revenue greatly expanded its local presence and when the city was taking a lead role in developing its business park with a new facility for the state as well as the transition to an existing building for another job-growing entity: SatoTravel.
After some time away from the council table in the 2000s, Kess returned to office with a victory for city council in 2012 and again hit the ground running.
This time, Kess was the undisputed tax and budget hawk on the council, keeping an eye on city spending and very often becoming the lone voice at the council table to speak out against proposals to increase the tax levy.
At this time, we often joked that Kess fashioned himself as “the man of the people.”
But Kess was hardly limited to the budget and taxes.
Name an issue and very often it was Kess who understood it the best, framing conversations in a way that made it easier for his fellow council members or the public to understand.
Kess cut to the chase and sorted through the mumbo-jumbo and red tape that often define government proceedings.
Kess served as a mentor to newer council members and spoke on behalf of Ely beyond the Rock Crusher, representing us on the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools.
Despite his admittedly left leanings, Kess bucked his party on the issue of copper-nickel mining and proved to be an advocate for new mining projects planned here and across the Iron Range.
We didn’t always see eye to eye with Kess. Whether the issue was Covid or other matters that steered him left, it made for good arguments and healthy debate.
But with Kess, one could disagree on one issue and agree on others. It was never all-or-nothing.
City Hall and the council table haven’t been the same since he left office a year and a half ago, and Kess continued to serve Ely ably in 2025 as its representative on the lodging tax board.
Even then, despite public efforts to oust him, Kess stood firm and asked the hard questions and voiced his beliefs with facts to back them up.
That’s what leaders do, and without question, Paul Kess was a community leader - one Ely can be proud of.
We remember Paul Kess fondly and offer our sympathies to his wife Laurie and all of his loved ones.
