Goettel announces run for third term on county board

Debbie Goettel announced Tuesday her bid for a third term in November as Hennepin County Board commissioner for District 5, which encompasses Bloomington, Richfield, southern Eden Prairie, and parts of Minneapolis.

Goettel, who has been on the county board since 2017, stated in her candidacy announcement that she is committed to “supporting and uniting our diverse communities in achieving greater health and shared prosperity across all Hennepin County.”

In a letter to constituents, she emphasized her commitment to continue collaborative work on the County Board. The candidate filing period for offices with a potential primary is from May 21 to June 4.

“I am extremely fortunate to serve with colleagues that get the business of the day done,” Goettel wrote. “In the Hennepin County boardroom, there is no partisan bickering, and compromise is not a dirty word.”

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Highlighting her background as a civil engineer and her 10 years as mayor in Richfield, Goettel emphasized her contributions to “deep infrastructure and transit investments,” climate action policies, and advocacy for marginalized communities.

Reflecting on the challenges posed by the pandemic, Goettel noted, “It has fundamentally changed how we support each other as neighbors.”

She pointed out the local government’s swift response in supporting vulnerable groups, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), low-income residents, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.

However, she added that challenges such as rising inflation, increased homelessness, substance use, and mental health issues, all worsened by COVID-19, remain pressing concerns.

“These issues are now top of mind as we move into an extremely important election year — and we have much work left to do to address them,” she stated in the letter. “I commit to supporting and uniting our diverse communities in achieving greater health and shared prosperity across all of Hennepin County.”