County board reappoints Commissioner Irene Fernando as Chair

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The Hennepin County Board has reappointed District 2 Commissioner Irene Fernando as chair.

Fernando has served as county commissioner since 2019 and is the first woman of color to serve as board chair in Hennepin County. Cities in her district include Golden Valley, Medicine Lake, North and Northeast Minneapolis, Southeast Plymouth, and St. Anthony.

Board re-elects Commissioner Debbie Goettel as vice chair

District 5 Commissioner Debbie Goettel will serve again as vice chair of the board. Her district includes the cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, and Richfield. Commissioner Goettel joined the board in 2016.

Committee chairs

The board selected the following committee chairs:

  • Administration, Operations and Budget: Commissioner Goettel, District 5
  • Health: Commissioner Conley, District 4
  • Human Services: Commissioner Edelson, District 6
  • Intergovernmental Relations: Commissioners Conley, District 4, and Lunde, District 1
  • Law, Safety and Justice: Commissioner Lunde, District 1 (co-chairs)
  • Public Works: Commissioner Anderson, District 7
  • Resident Services: Commissioner Edelson, District 6

Regional Railroad Authority leadership

Acting as the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority, the board elected Commissioner Greene, District 3, as chair and Commissioner Lunde, District 1, as vice chair of the authority.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority leadership

The Housing and Redevelopment Authority will meet next Tuesday, January 14, to elect its chair and vice chair.

About the Author

Jamal Darwish
Jamal Darwish
Jamal Darwish covers local government for Minneapolis Times.

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