It’s expected Governor-elect Tim Walz will announce more state agency heads for his administration shortly after the first of the year. Walz has made eight appointments so far — including MN-DOT, education and management/budget — and 15 remain. “We’re asking these commissioners to provide the flexibility, with their experience that they’ve already had, about how we’re going to create something new here,” he says.
Walz indicates the top quality he’s looking for is commitment to servant-leadership: “that idea that we are all here to find out better ways we can serve the public; how committed are we to getting out there.” Among key agencies where Walz has not yet named commissioners: Human Services, Health, D-N-R and Public Safety. He’s sworn in as governor January 7th.
The Republican-controlled Minnesota Senate has the option to veto any of Walz’s choices, but the timing of votes to either confirm or reject any appointee depends on a complex interplay of policy and politics.
Excerpt from a recent news conference: