Metropolitan Council Chair Nora Slawik is resigning after 10 months on the job — the second member of Governor Tim Walz’s cabinet to step down during his first year in office. Slawik, a former state representative and former mayor of Maplewood, writes in her resignation letter that “the demands of the job are creating health issues for me.” Slawik has been at the center of a dispute with Republican lawmakers over expansion of light rail in the Twin Cities. Her resignation is effective November 15th and Vice Chair Molly Cummings will serve as interim chair until the governor appoints a permanent replacement. In July, Tony Lourey resigned as Human Services Commissioner amid management upheaval in that department.