Beefing up campaign staff for his re-election bid might be a clue that St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman has higher ambitions, says the Minnesota Independent.

He recently hired John Stiles, DFL communications director, for the campaign team. Coleman easily won election as mayor four years ago, and although there is a fair amount of grumbling by residents about tax hikes, no formidable challenger has emerged for this year.

So why hire Stiles?

 “This is using the sledgehammer to kill the fly,” David Schultz, a political science professor at Hamline University, told the Independent. “He doesn’t need this person, but it’s a great way of sort of building for the future.”

Coleman staffers are careful to point out that they're focusing attention on the mayoral race, but there always seems to be a "wink-wink" when I've asked about a 2010 run for governor.

George Latimer, the last St. Paul mayor to run for governor (losing the DFL nomination in 1986), told the Independent:

“I have no doubt that if things go well that he should look towards going the next step. I think that he should keep all of his options open to run statewide.”