Nora Slawik

Nora Bayly Slawik (born November 23, 1962) is a Minnesota politician, previously serving as Chairwoman of the Metropolitan Council, Maplewood Mayor and Minnesota State Representative. From 1997-98 and 2001-2012, she represented District 57A, and from 2003-2012, she represented District 55B, which includes portions of Ramsey and Washington counties and the cities of Maplewood and Oakdale in the eastern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. As Mayor of Maplewood, first elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2018, she oversaw economic redevelopment, increased public safety, and expansion of Maplewood’s public outdoor spaces. In 2018, she was appointed by Governor Tim Walz to serve as head of the Metropolitan Council, where she worked until stepping down in November of 2019. She also has a history of community service before her time in office, including her development of Juniper as their Project Manager for the Metropolitan Area Agency on Aging from 2016-17.[1][2]

Nora Slawik
Chairwoman of the Metropolitan Council
In office
January 9, 2019 – November 15, 2019
Preceded byAlene Tchourumoff
Succeeded byMolly Cummings
Mayor of Maplewood, Minnesota
In office
January 7, 2014 – January 9, 2019
Preceded byWill Rossbach
Succeeded byMarylee Abrams
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
In office
1997 – 1998; 2000 – 2012
Preceded byWalt Perlt
Succeeded byJoAnn Ward
Personal details
Born (1962-11-23) November 23, 1962
Political partyDemocratic-Farmer-Labor
Spouse(s)Mark Buckwheat
Children2 Adult children
ResidenceMaplewood, Minnesota, U.S.
Alma materArizona State University (B.A.)
University of Minnesota (M.P.A.)

Legislative service

Slawik was first elected in 1996 and served one term. She ran again in 2000, was elected for six more consecutive terms as a Democrat. Prior to the 2002 legislative redistricting, she represented the old District 57A. She served on a variety of committees including as Chair of the Early Learning Finance Division for two terms, Health Care and Human Services Finance Division. State Government Finance Division and Ways and Means.[3] She served as an assistant minority leader during the 2003-2004 biennium.[1] In 2012, she announced that she was stepping down.[4]

Maplewood Mayor

In 2013, Slawik announced that she would seek election as Mayor of Maplewood[5] and won the DFL endorsement.[6] In the primary, she received 60% of the vote,[7] and faced former Mayor Diana Longrie in the November election. Slawik won the Mayor election in November with 67 percent of the vote.[8] She serves as the Chair of the Rush Line Policy Advisory Committee; alternate on the Gateway Corridor Commission, and as Fourth Vice President of the Minnesota Mayors Association.

In 2018, Slawik was successfully re-elected to a second term for Mayor of Maplewood. She faced opponent Margaret Behrens and won with 63% of the vote.[9] Following her appointment to chair the Metropolitan Council, City Councilwoman Marylee Abrams was appointed to fill the soon-to-be-vacant Mayor seat.[10]

Metropolitan Council

In December 2018, Governor Tim Walz announced that he would appoint Nora Slawik as Chairwoman of the Metropolitan Council to join his incoming cabinet.[11] Nora was officially sworn in as chair on January 9th, 2019. As chair of the council, she oversees policymaking, planning, and services in the areas of water, transportation, parks, and housing for the Twin Cities metropolitan region. The Council’s work is performed by three primary organizational divisions: community development, environmental services, and the transportation division that includes Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Transportation Services. On October 31st, 2019 she submitted her letter of resignation to Governor Walz citing health issues, stepping down on November 15th.[12]

Education

Slawik graduated from the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, earning her M.P.A. from the Humphrey School, where she has since served as Adjunct Professor and Mentor.[1][2] and attended Arizona State University, where she received her B.S. in Recreation Administration.

Community service

Slawik has been active in her local community through the years. She is on the North Star Scouting Museum Board, the Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative Board and is a past President of the local League of Women Voters and a past board member of the Autism Society of Minnesota.

References
  1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Slawik, Nora". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  2. "Project Vote Smart - Representative Nora Slawik - Biography". Votesmart.org. 1962-11-23. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  3. "Nora Slawik (DFL) 55B - Minnesota House of Representatives". House.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved 2010-07-20.
  4. http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_20248199/at-capitol-dfl-rep-nora-slawik-step-down
  5. http://www.saintpaulchamber.com/CWT/EXTERNAL/WCPAGES/PUBLIC/2013%20CIVIC%20ENGAGEMENT%20GUIDE/slawik.html
  6. http://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2013/05/former-state-rep-nora-slawik-gets-dfl-nod-maplewood-mayoral-election
  7. http://www.twincities.com/breakingnews/ci_23853854/maplewood-voting-today-mayor-council-primary
  8. http://www.twincities.com/elections/ci_24463063/maplewood-elects-nora-slawik-over-past-mayor-diana
  9. https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/MunicipalRaces/115?districtid=40382
  10. https://kstp.com/politics/maplewood-city-council-appoints-new-mayor/5211022/
  11. https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/18/next-met-council-chair-maplewood-mayor-nora-slawik-is-pick-of-gov-elect-tim-walz-other-appointments-also-named/
  12. "Resignation Letter".
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