Tag: Tim Walz

Governor Walz Rounds Out His Administration, Part II

Last week we looked at the first batch of commissioners that then Governor-elect Walz appointed to his administration. This week, we’ll look at the rest of Governor Walz’s administration choices. 

Steve Grove as Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development

“When looking for a Commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development, I was mindful of finding a leader who understands the values of investing in talent from rural towns to urban neighborhoods, who has experience with the business community, and who is an innovative leader who can guide our state into the economy of the future. Steve Grove is that leader,” said Walz. “I look forward to working with Steve to address our looming workforce shortage and engage all talent available to us by investing in our workforce in communities of color and Greater Minnesota.”
About Steve Grove

Steve Grove, 41, is the founding director of Google’s News Lab, a global division of the company that partners with media companies and startups to drive innovation in the news industry. In that role, he led the development of the Google News Initiative, a $300M commitment from the company to help journalism thrive in the digital age. He has built teams in over a dozen countries and launched partnerships in over 50 countries, including a global technology training effort that trains over 500,000 journalists in person and online every year. Steve also leads Google’s civic engagement work, including the company’s non-partisan voter information and get-out-the-vote outreach efforts. He previously led YouTube’s first news and politics team, building a global partnership effort for political candidates, news organizations, nonprofits, and citizen journalists. Steve wrote for The Boston Globe and ABC News prior to joining Google. He has served as an advisor to the White House and State Department on countering violent extremism, and serves on the advisory boards of Witness, a video human rights nonprofit; and Report for America, a nationwide service organization to improve local news. Steve and his wife Mary founded a nonprofit called Silicon North Stars, which helps youth from underserved communities in Minnesota pursue careers in technology.
 
A native of Northfield, Minnesota, Steve received his Bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College and a Master’s in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. In 2018, the Grove moved from Silicon Valley to Minneapolis, Minnesota with their two-year-old twins.

Continue reading “Governor Walz Rounds Out His Administration, Part II”

Governor-elect Tim Walz rounds out his administration

As he neared Inauguration Day, Governor-elect Tim Walz has been hard at work rounding out his administration with new Commissioners. Despite receiving nearly 500 applications to serve as Commissioner, the Walz-Flanagan transition team successfully narrowed down the field and, this week, announced their appointments.

January 3rd’s appointments: 

Thom Petersen as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Agriculture

“Minnesota’s farmers and agriculture are vital to our economy and our way of life. With more than a decade of experience at the Minnesota Farmers Union, Thom Petersen understands how policy directly affects farmers’ daily lives,” said Walz. “We’re looking forward to working with him as our incoming Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture to ensure our farmers can compete in the global marketplace.”  Continue reading “Governor-elect Tim Walz rounds out his administration”

Gov.-elect Tim Walz picks first five state agency commissioners

The five named Tuesday, from left: Jennifer Ho, Housing Finance Agency; Margaret Anderson Kelliher, MnDOT; Alice Roberts-Davis, Department of Administration; Nora Slawik, Metropolitan Council, and Myron Frans, MMB.

Gov.-elect will select 18 more commissioners in coming weeks

The five cabinet members Gov.-elect Tim Walz announced Tuesday in his first round of hires bring experience with state agencies, the previous administration, the Legislature and local government.

Former state House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher will lead the Department of Transportation, Maplewood Mayor Nora Slawik will become the Metropolitan Council chairwoman and Jennifer Ho, a former senior adviser at the U.S. Department for Housing and Urban Development, is taking over the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency.

Minnesota Management and Budget Commissioner Myron Frans, who has been the state’s top financial and human resources official for the past four years under Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, will remain in place. Alice Roberts-Davis, an assistant commissioner at the Department of Administration, will shift into the top job at that department.

View the complete December 18 article by Jessie Van Berkel on the StarTribune.com website here.

Tim Walz, a uniter, for governor

Minnesota needs a uniter in the governor’s office over the next four years. This state’s success was built on its people’s capacity to come together to solve problems and seize opportunities. That capacity has eroded, in part because two decades of divide-and-conquer politics have pitted regions, races, genders and generations against one other.

Rebuilding a “One Minnesota” ethos in this state’s politics and government is crucial to sustaining prosperity and quality of life. DFLer Tim Walz’s aptitude and enthusiasm for that work make him better-suited than Republican Jeff Johnson to be Minnesota’s next governor. We recommend Walz’s election on Nov. 6.

“One Minnesota” is more than a slogan for Walz. His personal story, public record, policy positions and campaign performance all buttress his promise to bring bridge-building leadership to the governor’s office.

View the complete October 26 editorial by the Star Tribune Editorial Board on their website here.

Suburban mayors support Walz, Flanagan

To the editor:

As mayors, we work every day with our residents to solve problems, and we do so in a nonpartisan way. We recognize that our communities do best when everyone works together to find solutions to our everyday challenges.

Minnesota also does best when all of us work together to make our state the finest it can be. Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, that guiding principal has become lost. Issues like transportation funding, job creation, education, health care and housing have become partisan and regionalized. As a result, we all lose because of it and our state does not reach its full potential.

A divided Minnesota serves no one. For that reason and others, as mayors of Minnesota’s suburban communities, we are announcing our support for Tim Walz for Governor and Peggy Flanagan for Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. Tim Walz has a long history of working with Republicans, independents and others for the common good.   Those who have worked with Tim describe him with words like unifier, consensus builder and leader. Continue reading “Suburban mayors support Walz, Flanagan”

Will Violent Criminals Be Released If Minnesota Becomes A Sanctuary State?

Minneapolis (WCCO) — Three weeks before the election, Minnesota Republicans are warning that dangerous criminals will come to the state if Democrats win the election.

It is part of a TV ad campaign from an outside group called Freedom Club, linking Democrats to illegal immigration and sanctuary cites.

In one ad, a woman in her kitchen shows frustration and trepidation about the Democrats running for governor and attorney general.

View the complete article by Pat Kessler on the WCCO website here.

Report by Minnesota groups condemns anti-Muslim rhetoric

Surrounded by supporters, Jaylani Hussein, executive director of CAIR-MN announced a Minnesota-based report which he said detailed an anti-Muslim propaganda network. Credit: Glen Stubbe, StarTribune

The anti-Muslim movement in Minnesota is growing this year, especially during the midterm election, leaders from the Center for American Islamic Relations Minnesota (CAIR-MN) and Isaiah, a coalition of faith communities, said Tuesday.

The two groups released a report, “Minnesota’s Anti-Muslim Propaganda Mill,” identifying who they think is financing and producing anti-Muslim rhetoric in the state.

“The focus is now shifting toward [anti-Muslim]. It started to shift in 2016 elections, and now it’s doubling down in 2018 elections,” said Jaylani Hussein, the executive director of CAIR-MN. “That’s why the topic of refugee resettlement is a huge topic, but it’s really just a Minnesota Nice way of saying ‘We don’t want Muslims here.’ ”

View the complete October 16 article by Kelly Smith on the StarTribune website here.

As Students Start School, Walz-Flanagan Highlight Education Plan for Minnesota

Teacher-candidate emphasizes significant investments, reform, and progress for Minnesota students

As students head back to school this week, DFL Gubernatorial Candidate Tim Walz, an award-winning teacher, and Peggy Flanagan, a former school board member and children’s advocate, are highlighting their 21st Century Education Plan. The plan includes major reforms in state education funding, innovations for schools and students, and a strong focus on educational equity.

“As my two kids and kids across Minnesota start school this week, it is a time for us to reflect on what we want from our education system,” said Walz. “I believe in a bold vision for education in this state-one where we invest in our classrooms, think beyond test scores, and where every student receives a quality education no matter where they live. As governor, I will be an educator-in-chief who fights tirelessly every day to make this vision a reality.”

Walz, who has over 20 years of teaching experience, based the plan on conversations with educators across Minnesota as well as his own experiences in the classroom. Continue reading “As Students Start School, Walz-Flanagan Highlight Education Plan for Minnesota”

DFL Chairman statement on Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan receiving the endorsement for Governor and Lieutenant Governor

Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party Chairman Ken Martin released the following statement today congratulating Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan on the State Central Committee’s endorsement for Governor and Lieutenant Governor following their primary win:

“The Minnesota DFL Party congratulates Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan on their endorsement following their primary win on Tuesday. As a teacher, veteran and football coach, Tim Walz has dedicated his life to service and fighting for Minnesota families. Peggy Flanagan, a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe and suburban legislator, working to improve the lives of children across the state.

“Together, Tim and Peggy will build a state where everyone has an opportunity to succeed. They believe in One Minnesota where Minnesotans in every corner of our state share in prosperity – but only do it if we come together to get things done. Continue reading “DFL Chairman statement on Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan receiving the endorsement for Governor and Lieutenant Governor”