STATE OF MINNESOTA Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty 130 State Capitol ♦ 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. ♦ Saint Paul, MN 55155 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Leslie Kupchella January 6, 2004 651-296-0001 GOVERNOR PAWLENTY APPOINTS FIVE TO THE COUNCIL ON DISABILITY Saint Paul – Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Sylvia Carty, Sister Baptiste Fish, Joanne Olson, Barbara Stensland, and Sheila Wieser to the Council on Disability. Sylvia Carty, of St. Paul, retired in 1989 after serving 24 years as the Director of the Child Development Center at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center in St. Paul. Since retirement, she has been an active volunteer, including work at the Resource Center at State Services for the Blind, the Living at Home Senior Program at Family Service, Inc., and the Quality Design Committee at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Carty is appointed as the Council member representing Region 11. She will serve a term ending January 1, 2007. Carty will fill the Council seat formerly held by Joan Willshire. Sister M. Baptiste Fish, OSF, of Rochester, is a retired member of the Sisters of St Francis. Her lengthy career included work as a parish and school accountant, business office manager at a nursing home, director of finance at a visiting nursing service, accounting manager at a medical center, and vice president of financial affairs at a college. Fish currently volunteers as accountant for Integrative Therapies Foundation at Assisi Heights in Rochester. She is appointed as an at-large Council member for a term ending January 1, 2007. Fish will fill the Council seat formerly held by Julianne Degenhardt. Joanne Olson, of Duluth, works as a massage therapist at Eagle’s Nest Massage Therapy in Duluth. She also holds a license as a Registered Nurse. Throughout her career, she has exhibited a strong interest in rehabilitation. Olson’s nursing career has included work in Duluth area hospitals and as an educational director in a nursing home. Additionally, Olson has also served as an instructor in the nursing program at Lake Superior College in Duluth. Olson is appointed as an at-large Council member for a term ending January 1, 2007. She will fill the Council seat formerly held by John Schatzlein. Barbara Stensland, of Bemidji, is an Area Director for Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. Previously she was Co-owner and Director of an intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled in Bemidji. Stensland has also been a foster parent and substitute teacher. Stensland previously served on a Department of Human Services Advisory Committee for Home and Community Based Waiver Programs. She is appointed as the Council member representing Region 2. Stensland will serve a term ending January 1, 2007. She will fill the Council seat formerly held by Carson Stensland. -- more -- Voice: (651) 296-3391 or (800) 657-3717 ♦ Fax: (651) 296-0056 ♦ TDD: (651) 296-0075 or (800) 657-3598 Web site: An Equal Opportunity Employer Sheila Wieser, of La Crescent, is Co-owner and Manager of La Crosse Memorials. Her career also included 20 years as a Registered Nurse at St. Francis Medical Center in La Crosse, WI. Wieser serves on the Board of Directors of Riverfront, Inc., an agency serving persons with disabilities. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club Foundation of the Downtown La Crosse Rotary Club. Wieser is appointed as an at-large Council member for a term ending January 1, 2007. She will fill the Council seat formerly held by Geraldine (Gerry) Drewy. The Council on Disability advises the Governor and Legislature on issues, policies, and programs related to persons with disabilities. The Council also promotes coordinated interagency efforts and provides information and referrals to persons with disabilities. The Council is made up of 21 public members appointed by the Governor as well as additional members from various state agencies. -- 30 -- Voice: (651) 296-3391 or (800) 657-3717 ♦ Fax: (651) 296-0056 ♦ TDD: (651) 296-0075 or (800) 657-3598 Web site: An Equal Opportunity Employer STATE OF MINNESOTA Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty Commission on Judicial Selection 130 State Capitol ♦ 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. ♦ Saint Paul, MN 55155 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Leslie Kupchella January 14, 2004 (651) 296-0001 COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL SELECTION ANNOUNCES FINALISTS FOR FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT VACANCIES Saint Paul – The Commission on Judicial Selection today announced five finalists for two First Judicial District trial court bench vacancies. The first vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable Thomas R. Howe on December 2, 2003. The Supreme Court certified the continuation of this judgeship for Scott County. The second vacancy occurred with the retirement of the Honorable Thomas M. Murphy on January 3, 2004. The Supreme Court certified the continuation of this judgeship for Dakota County. The finalists are Michael A. Fahey, Diane M. Hanson, Kathryn M. Keena, Michael J. Mayer and Kathryn Davis Messerich. Fahey, of Carver, is the Carver County Attorney in Chaska, a position he has held since 1987. He was an associate attorney and partner with the Chaska law firm of Nicklaus, Monroe and Fahey from 1978 through 1986. Fahey earned his juris doctorate degree cum laude from St. Louis University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri in 1978 and his bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from St. John’s University in Collegeville in 1975. Hanson, of Shakopee, has been an assistant Scott County Attorney in Shakopee since 1996. She was an assistant Morrison County Attorney from 1992 to 1996, a volunteer attorney for the city of St. Paul from 1991 to 1992 and a flight attendant with Northwest Airlines from 1977 to 1992. Hanson earned her juris doctorate degree cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1991 and her bachelor of arts degree from Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1973. Keena, of Hastings, has been an assistant Dakota County Attorney since 2000. She was an associate attorney with the Bellingham, Washington law firm of Zender and Thurston from 1997 to 2000, the Lyon County Attorney in Marshall from 1992 to 1997, an assistant Lyon County attorney from 1990 to 1992 and a public defender with the Velde Law Firm in Alexandira from 1989 to 1990. Keena earned her juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1989 and her bachelor of arts degree magna cum laude from Minnesota State University, Moorhead, in 1986. Mayer, of Eagan, is a partner with the Eagan law firm of Grannis and Hauge. He has been an attorney with the firm since 1989. He was an associate attorney with the South St. Paul law firm - more - Voice: (651) 296-3391 or (800) 657-3717 ♦ Fax: (651) 296-0056 ♦ TDD: (651) 296-0075 or (800) 657-3598 Web site: An Equal Opportunity Employer of Grannis, Grannis, Farrell and Knutson from 1986 to 1989 and an associate attorney with the Eagan law firm of Hauge, Eide and Keller from 1985 to 1986. Mayer earned his juris doctorate degree from Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul in 1985 and his bachelor or arts degree with honors from St. Mary’s University in Winona in 1981. Messerich, of Mendota Heights, is an attorney and shareholder with the Minneapolis law firm of Halleland, Lewis, Nilan, Sipkins and Johnson, a position she has held since 2000. She was an associate general counsel for Allina Health System in Minnetonka from 1997 through 1999, an associate attorney and shareholder with the Minneapolis law firm of Bassford, Lockhart, Truesdell and Briggs from 1991 to 1997, and an associate attorney with the Minneapolis law firm of Lommen, Nelson, Cole and Stageberg from 1987 to 1991. Messerich earned her juris doctorate degree from William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul in 1987, her master of science degree in maternal-child nursing in 1984 and her bachelor of science degree from Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Michigan, in 1979. The Commission on Judicial Selection screens judicial candidates and makes recommendations to the Governor for district court vacancies that occur during the term of a judge. The commission consists of 13 members: nine at-large members and four members from the judicial district. The commission members include attorneys and non-attorneys appointed by the governor and the Minnesota Supreme Court. The commission received 38 applications for these judicial vacancies. -- 30 -- Voice: (651) 296-3391 or (800) 657-3717 ♦ Fax: (651) 296-0056 ♦ TDD: (651) 296-0075 or (800) 657-3598 Web site: An Equal Opportunity Employer STATE OF MINNESOTA Office of Governor Tim Pawlenty Commission on Judicial Selection 130 State Capitol ♦ 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. ♦ Saint Paul, MN 55155 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Contact: Leslie Kupchella January 14, 2004 (651) 296-0001 COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL SELECTION ANNOUNCES FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT VACANCY (St. Paul, MN) – The Commission on Judicial Selection today announced a First Judicial District trial court bench vacancy in McLeod County. The vacancy occurred as a result of the death of the Honorable LeRoy W. Yost on December 31, 2003. The Supreme Court certified the continuation of this judgeship for the city of Glencoe in McLeod County. Anyone learned in the law who is a resident of the First Judicial District may request an application by calling John Hultquist at 651-296-0019, via E-mail at [email protected] or by writing: Eric J. Magnuson, Chair Commission on Judicial Selection 130 State Capitol 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. St. Paul, MN 55155 All candidates for this vacancy must submit an application. Applications and letters of recommendation must be submitted to the above address so they are received no later than 4:30 p.m.