Elected Officials
GOVERNOR |
Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty was elected Governor of Minnesota in 2002, with the state facing an historic $4.5 billion budget deficit. Just months later, the Legislature adopted Pawlenty's plan to eliminate the deficit without raising taxes or cutting funding for K-12 classrooms. In addition to balancing the budget, Governor Pawlenty fought for and passed a dramatic overhaul of the state's education standards, significant welfare reform, lawsuit reform, a range of new government efficiency initiatives, and passed the largest transportation package in modern history.
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LT. GOVERNOR | 
Carol Molnau
Entrusted with more responsibility than any Lieutenant Governor in modern times, Carol Molnau serves Minnesota both as the state's number two executive and also as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Molnau, 55, was born and raised on a farm in Carver County. She attended Waconia public schools and the University of Minnesota.
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Representative House District A | 
Bud Nornes
Nornes make notes about progress as of May 27, 2008: A lot of legislative wrangling took place the last week of session and when all was said and done, the final product turned out pretty well.
A provision I crafted to help re-use the soon-to-be vacant Regional Treatment Center in Fergus Falls passed as part of the Tax Bill; this provision is critical for the preservation of this historic campus. The plan is to convert the RTC into a cross-cultural college campus focusing on international business. Hunan Normal University in China will act as a sister campus to Fergus Falls.
It was crucial that we eliminated our $935 million budget deficit and improved the health care market for our small business owners this session. We made progress on both accounts when the House, the Senate and Gov. Pawlenty found common ground.
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Representative House District B | 
Mark Murdock
Mark and his wife, Pat, have successfully run the Ace Hardware store in Perham for the past 12 years.
In addition to his 25 years of retail experience, Murdock cites his marriage as an example of his dedication and character. "This October, we'll have been married for 34 years," he says with a smile.
Together, the couple has two children, sons Adam and Nicholas. They live on Round Lake, near Ottertail city.
Although Murdock hasn't been involved in the political arena up until this point, he has held leadership positions in several community organizations. Prior to moving to the Perham area, he was parish council president in Dodge Center, Minn.
Murdock is the first one to admit that he might not fit the typical politician stereotype. "I don't want to be a politician," he comments. "I want to be a representative."
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