Toni Carter elected Chair of Ramsey County Board of Commissioners
Commissioner Toni Carter
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners elected Toni Carter as Chair of the Board for 2020 during their Jan. 7 meeting.
Since 2005, Commissioner Carter has represented Ramsey County District 4 made up of the Saint Paul neighborhoods of Crocus Hill, Desnoyer Park, Lexington-Hamline, Merriam Park, Snelling-Hamline, Summit Hill, St. Anthony Park, Summit-University and parts of Hamline-Midway, Highland Park and Macalester-Groveland.
“It is a deep honor and privilege to serve the people of Ramsey County in this role. This is a pivotal time in our organization as we advance our Residents First approach to improving service delivery, reducing disparities and deepening engagement with our communities,” said Carter. “I’d like to thank Commissioner McDonough for his service as Chair for the past two years and look forward to continuing working together with my colleagues on the board to move our county forward.”
Commissioner Carter has led several Ramsey County systems change efforts during her tenure, including the nationally recognized Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) that has reduced the number of youth held in detention and increased system and community alternatives for low-risk youth. She serves as the chief local elected official on the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County. Carter is also active in the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC) - previously serving as president - and a member of the board of directors of the National Association of Counties (NACo). Carter was the first African American to be elected as county commissioner in Minnesota and is now the first African American in state history to serve as a county board chair.
Other appointments
Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire (District 2) was elected to serve as vice chair.
Commissioner Rafael Ortega (District 5) was elected to continue serving as chair of the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority. Commissioner Trista MatasCastillo (District 3) was elected to serve as chair of the Ramsey County Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
The seven-member board voted unanimously for each of the appointments.
Watch video of the Jan. 7 board meeting