Debbie Goettel, District 5

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This office is here to serve you.

Casey and Michael specialize in separate areas, and both cover for each other depending on our capacity needs each week. If you know who you need to be in touch with, you can reach out to them directly.

For all other inquiries, scheduling, questions, and comments, please call the main office line at 612-348-7885.

Casey Krolczyk

Principal aide
casey.krolczyk@hennepin.us
Phone: 612-596-7078

Specialties: health, human services, public safety and judiciary, libraries and technology, arts and culture, senior services, constituent services

We are here to be an advocate on your behalf at the county. If you have questions or need assistance navigating county services, please contact Casey.

Michael Ohama

Policy director
michael.ohama@hennepin.us
Phone: 612-348-7885

Specialties: transit and infrastructure, housing, business development, public works, budget and capital investment, Youth Coordinating Board

Leadership positions

Hennepin County

Administration, Libraries and Budget Committee, chair
Child Wellbeing Taskforce, member
Heading Home Hennepin, member
Health and Human Services Committee, vice-chair
Hennepin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HCHRA), member
Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority (HCRRA), member
Hennepin Health, member
Transportation Advisory Board, member

Other positions

Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) voting delegate
AMC District X, member
AMC Environment, member
Hennepin History Museum, member
Light Rail Transit Executive Change Control Board, alternate
Metro GIS Policy Board, member
Metropolitan Energy Policy Coalition, member
Partnership on Solid Waste and Energy Issues, member
Regional Solid Waste Hauler Licensing Board, member
SWLRT Community Works Steering Committee, member

Biography

When Debbie Goettel (pronounced “Go Tell”) took office in January 2017, she came prepared with the experience needed to be a strong advocate for her suburban district. Before joining the county board, she served 10 years as Richfield’s mayor. During that time, she spurred significant redevelopment in the downtown area and south side of the city. Her collaboration with the city council and staff also led to the city’s first comprehensive five-year plan to repave all city streets.

In addition to her brick-and-mortar contributions to the city, Debbie is proud of her human rights initiatives. In 2011, she and the city passed an ordinance for partnership agreements, providing same-sex couples with the same rights as married couples. The success in Richfield paved the way for collaboration with other city mayors to pass similar partnership agreements. Debbie and her mayoral colleagues were proud to support the efforts that led to statewide equality in 2013.

Outside of her service in public office, Debbie has been an active participant in local and regional civics. Her passion for creating a brighter future led to service on the Richfield Foundation board, the Minnesota Environmental Initiatives Task Force, the Richfield 4th of July Committee, the Metropolitan Housing Policy Board, the League of Minnesota Cities, the Urban Land Institute's Regional Council of Mayors, and the Governor's 2013 Local Government Aid task force.

Debbie has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities) and completed graduate studies on environmental sustainability at Harvard and University of Minnesota. In her professional career, she worked for international companies in the area of Sustainability, Environment, Health, and Safety. Debbie is married with three children and five grandchildren.

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Road construction

Flying Cloud Drive reconstruction (County Road 61) in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen

About District 5

This district includes the cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie and Richfield.

5th district map