ST. PAUL, MN - Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the following appointments to the Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council; Board of Firefighter Training and Education Compensation Council; Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council; Governor's Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction; Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure; Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission; Seaway Port Authority of Duluth; and State Guardian Ad Litem Board.

Zach Bruer – Grand Forks, MN
Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council
Potato Wash Plant Representative
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Lonnie Spokely

About the Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council:
The Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council promotes Minnesota-grown Irish potatoes by providing grants for research and advertising.

Additional information about the Area One Potato Research and Promotion Council can be found on the? Secretary of State’s website.

Jesse Buhs – Cloquet, MN
Board of Firefighter Training and Education
League of MN Cities Representative
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Robert Falcon

Jason Forshee – Waseca, MN
Board of Firefighter Training and Education
Career Firefighter
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 3, 2028
Replacing: Christopher Kummer

About the Board of Firefighter Training and Education:
The Board of Firefighter Training and Education supports firefighter training and education and works to fund standardized training and licensing of the firefighters in Minnesota.

Additional information about the Board of Firefighter Training and Education can be found on the? Secretary of State’s website.

Thomas Boyd – Saint Paul, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 4)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Replacing: Amy Koch

Janice Brandt – Brooklyn Center, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 5)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Replacing: Samuel Kaplan

Benjamin Gerber – Edina, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 3)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Replacing: Charles Weaver

Roger Josephson – Detroit Lakes, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 7)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Replacing: Scott Van Binsbergen

Amanda Matchett – Blaine, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 6)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Reappointment

Amber Naqvi – Eagan, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 2)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Reappointment

Jason Resseman – Lanesboro, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 1)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Reappointment

Kristi Schmidt – Duluth, MN
Compensation Council
Citizen Member (District 8)
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: April 3, 2025
Replacing: Noah Hobbs

About the Compensation Council:
The Compensation Council makes recommendations to the legislature on salaries for judges and constitutional officers by April 1 of each odd-numbered year. The council is comprised of 16 members—8 appointed by the Governor and 8 appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court—with members representing each congressional district.

Additional information about the Compensation Council can be found on the? Secretary of State’s website.

Michael Allshouse – Ramsey, MN
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
Public Member
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
New seat

David Berg – Owatonna, MN
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
Public Member
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
New seat

Lisa Rogers – Lake Elmo, MN
Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council
Public Member
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
New seat

About?the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council :
The new Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council is the successor to the Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board. The advisory council must review and make recommendations to the director and the deputy director of ambulance services on the administration, the regulation of ambulance services, medical response units, and the operation of the emergency medical services system in the state.

Additional information about the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Wendy Jones – Saint Paul, MN
Governor's Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction
Chair
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Beth Elstad

About the Governor’s Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction: The Governor’s Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction identifies opportunities for and barriers to the development and implementation of policies and strategies to expand access to effective services for Minnesotans. The council also examines services, supports, and needs, and provides opportunities for Minnesotans who have experienced addiction.

Additional information about the Governor’s Advisory Council on Opioids, Substance Use, and Addiction can be found on the?? Secretary of State’s website.

Robin Hutcheson – Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure
Member
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
New Seat

Richard Kolodziejski – Ham Lake, MN
Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure
Member
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
New Seat

About the Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure:
The Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure defines and maintains a vision for the future of Minnesota's infrastructure that provides for its proper management, coordination, and investment.

Additional information about the Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Marlon Meszaros – Minneapolis, MN
Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission
Treatment or Rehabilitative Service Provider
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 4, 2027
Replacing: Christopher Crutchfield

About the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission:
The Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission establishes and modifies the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines, which promote uniform and proportional sentences for convicted felons and help to ensure that sentencing decisions are not influenced by factors such as race, gender, or the exercise of constitutional rights by the defendant.??

Additional information about the Minnesota Advisory Council on Infrastructure can be found on the Secretary of State’s website.

Ida Rukavina – Eveleth, MN
Seaway Port Authority of Duluth
Member
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 6, 2031
Replacing: Anthony Sertich

About the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth:
The Seaway Port Authority of Duluth promotes international and domestic waterborne commerce in port district, owns port and industrial properties, and may acquire or construct port facilities.

Additional information about the Seaway Port Authority of Duluth can be found on the? Secretary of State’s website.

Timothy Zuel – Minneapolis, MN
State Guardian Ad Litem Board
Member
Effective: January 20, 2025
Term Expires: January 1, 2029
Reappointment

About the State Guardian Ad Litem Board:
The State Guardian Ad Litem Board creates and administers a statewide independent guardian ad litem program to advocate for the best interests of children, minor parents, and incompetent adults in juvenile and family court cases; approves and recommends to the legislature a budget for the board and the guardian ad litem program; and establishes guardian ad litem program standards, administrative policies, procedures, and rules.

Additional information about the State Guardian Ad Litem Board can be found on the? Secretary of State’s website.

The Governor and Lieutenant Governor are seeking qualified and diverse individuals who are passionate about using their knowledge, skills, and lived experiences to serve the state of Minnesota. A list of boards and commissions, including open positions, can be found on the? Minnesota Secretary of State’s website.