Minnesota State Legislators Make a Lot More Money Working for Counties

Legislators are swapping Capitol careers for lucrative county paychecks.

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If Republicans were to gain the Minnesota state House majority in November, Rep. Mary Liz Holberg was poised to become one of the Capitol’s most powerful players. Instead, she’s trading in 16 years of legislative influence to run for a seat on the Dakota County Board, which offers a lower profile but a fatter paycheck.

“Let’s say we’re back in the majority,” said Holberg, of Lake­ville, reflecting on a top goal of the state GOP in 2014. “I painted the most perfect picture of what that could mean for me, and I still couldn’t get excited about coming back. It became really clear to me it was time to leave.” It’s the Minnesota Legislature’s version of brain drain. A number of high-profile and influential legislators are trading the lofty policy debates, high-stakes budgeting, demanding schedule and chaotic politics of the Legislature for the comparatively staid and decidedly unglamorous world of county government.

In addition to Holberg, Rep. Mike Beard, R-Shakopee, will run for a commissioner’s seat in Scott County. Five former legislators also are running for county board posts — four DFLers and one Republican in both the metro area and greater Minnesota. Former legislators fill seats on a number of other county boards including in Ramsey, Carver and Olmsted counties.

“The county board pays about twice as much but it’s about half as much work,” said Beard, a 12-year House veteran from Shakopee. He quickly added: “That’s tongue firmly in cheek.”

The county jobs might look less powerful and prestigious, more low profile. But a handful of boards governing the state’s largest counties dangle paychecks that dwarf those of the average legislator.

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Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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