St. Paul’s final Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party ward conventions — a classic rite of election-year politics — were overshadowed Sunday by allegations that mayoral candidate Dai Thao, a city council member, pressured a lobbyist for “resources” before a council vote and that his campaign manager later texted the lobbyist to say a campaign donation might get him to “rethink this issue.”

Thao denied wrongdoing, but he fired campaign manager Angela Marlow, who acknowledged asking for a donation from the lobbyist in an interview with KMSP-TV reporter Tom Lyden. Lyden’s segment on what is being described as a failed bribery solicitation aired Saturday night.

St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell issued a statement Sunday saying he will ask the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate. “It’s my duty and obligation as police chief to follow up anytime

allegations of criminal activity are made,” said Axtell, who said referring the case to the BCA will avoid conflicts of interest.

Axtell said he decided to seek an outside investigation after speaking with St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. “These serious allegations need to be looked into so we can determine the facts,” said Ben Petok, a spokesman for Coleman’s office.

UPDATE: BCA will investigate allegations against St. Paul City Council Member Dai Thao

Thao’s sit-down meeting with the lobbyist and her client took place in February at the Golden Thyme coffee shop on Selby Avenue in St. Paul, where the group discussed an issue to come before the city council. Thao repeatedly noted that his mayoral campaign needed “resources,” Lyden’s report said.

Lyden’s report said Marlow, who was not at the meeting, sent the lobbyist a text message a few hours later: “Dai asked me to see if I could get a donation from your clients or yourself for his mayor campaign? My understanding is that they are leaving tomorrow. We will certainly rethink this issue.”

The lobbyist later declined to make a contribution to Thao’s mayoral campaign, citing state bribery statutes. Lyden did not identify the lobbyist or the issue that was scheduled to come up for vote before the council.

At the Ward 7 convention at Harding High School on Sunday, Thao confirmed to a reporter that the lobbyist was Sarah Clarke, who represents the Holiday gas station and convenience stores, the Dart Container company and the Minnesota Nurses Association, among other clients. Clarke is married to Minneapolis City Council member Jacob Frey, who is running for mayor in his city. In a brief phone interview, Clarke said she would issue statements to the media on Monday.

Thao told audiences at the Ward 7 convention that he had met with a tobacco lobbyist but allegations of impropriety in their exchange were a “bait and switch” and he would be exonerated by the facts as they emerge. He said more information would come out in the next day or two.

“Today is just to focus on this (ward convention) and get this over with,” Thao said in a brief interview.

Even some of Thao’s critics questioned the timing of the news segment, which aired on the night before the Ward 7 convention, historically a voter stronghold for Hmong-American candidates.

“I don’t know what I think, really,” said Tim Herman, an East Side resident who is backing Melvin Carter for mayor. “It’s suspicious that it came out right now. I’m interested to see how it plays out, and what more information comes out. I want to know more about the lobbying group.”

On social media, the news was met with some calls for Thao to resign his office.

Dai thao should resign his position on City Council & withdraw from Mayoral race. No place for bribery in St. Paul . https://t.co/F2zd2TQ4cZ — Sally Nankivell (@SallyNan) April 30, 2017

Thao, an information technology specialist and former organizer with the advocacy groups TakeAction Minnesota and ISAIAH, won a special election to the seven-member council to fill the vacant Ward 1 seat in 2013. He won re-election in 2015.

WARD CAUCUSES WRAP UP

Carter retained his sizable lead following the final two DFL caucuses Sunday, with Thao taking a firm second place.

Carter picked up 28 delegates at the Ward 3 convention at Highland Park Middle School and eight at the Ward 7 convention at Harding to give him 156 across the seven wards.

Thao (30 Harding, three Highland) has 107, followed by Pat Harris (seven Harding, 37 Highland) with 93 and Tom Goldstein (five Highland) with 14.

The party’s citywide endorsing convention will be held June 17.

To win the party endorsement at the citywide convention, a candidate needs 60 percent of the delegate vote — an uncertain outcome given that many delegates have not declared a preference in the endorsement race. An additional 50 “auto delegates” — elected officials and members of the DFL executive committee — are also guaranteed a vote.

There will not be a political primary before the Nov. 7 mayoral election, which will be decided by ranked-choice ballot.

Two non-DFL candidates are in the race. Elizabeth Dickinson was endorsed by the 4th Congressional District Green Party on April 9, and Tim Holden is not seeking a party endorsement for the seat, which is officially nonpartisan.