About Gail

Hennepin County Commissioner

Gail Dorfman has served as the Hennepin County Commissioner for the 3rd District since March 1999. The 3rd District encompasses southwest Minneapolis and all of the City of St. Louis Park.

County commissioners, collectively, provide leadership and oversight for county government, which includes more than 8,000 dedicated employees and a $1.7 billion budget (2009) drawing from property taxes, service fees, state and federal grants.

County services encompass transportation and public works, health programs, libraries, social services, financial assistance, law enforcement, corrections, public records and environmental services.

Gail currently serves as chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and vice chair of both the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) and the Hennepin County Regional Rail Authority (HCRRA).

Prior elective offices

Gail first served the City of St. Louis Park – as mayor from 1996 to 1999 and as a city council member from 1991 to 1995. During that time, she worked to:

  • Develop the neighborhood organizational structure.
  • Promote and participate in the creation of the City's strategic plan, "Vision St. Louis Park.”
  • Establish the grass-roots planning process for Excelsior & Grand, the community's town center.
  • Encourage beautification and pedestrian friendly development through landscaping, innovative streetscape, and promotion of the arts as an important aspect of civic revitalization.

Service on government and nonprofit boards

Current:

Chair: Health & Human Services Committee, Hennepin County Board
Chair: Midtown Community Works Partnership
Chair: Heading Home Hennepin Executive Committee
Chair: Minneapolis Youth Coordinating  Board
YouthLink
Metro Alliance for Healthy Families
Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative
Heading Home Minnesota
People, Inc.
Children's Mental Health Collaborative
GEARS - Counties Transit Tax Evaluation and Ranking System
Out of Home Placement Workgroup
Minneapolis NRP (Neighborhood Revitalization Policy Board)
Past:
Chair: Southwest Corridor LRT Policy Advisory Committee
Chair: Housing and Redevelopment Agency, Hennepin County Board
Co-chair: Commission to End Homelessness
Progressive Minnesota
The Link
Minnesota Mental Health Action Group
Homeless Task Force
State Workgroup to End Homelessness
Transportation Advisory Board, Met Council
Vision St. Louis Park
Community Action for Suburban Hennepin

Previous government experience:

  • Legislative Assistant to Congressman James A. Burke, D-MA
  • Assistant Director of the Boston, MA Neighborhood Development Agency.
  • Research Director for Governor John J. Gilligan of Ohio.

Awards

Public Sector Achievement Award, National Alliance to End Homelessness (2008)
The Pursuit of Solutions Project Homeless Connect Award, White House Interagency Council on Homelessness (2007)
Chadwick/Skinner Leadership Award, MN Partners in Affordable Housing (2000)
Champion Award, Simpson Housing Services (2007)
Gloria Segal Award, 44th District DFL (1999)
Champion for the Cause Award, Perspectives Family Center (2004)
Building Community Award, Central Community Housing Trust (2003)
Chriss Renier Award of Excellence, Vail Place (2004)
Outstanding Service Award, Community Action for Suburban Hennepin (1996)
Award of Excellence, Andrew Residence (2006)

Education

  • Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Ohio State University
  • Masters in Public Administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.
  • Fellow at the Mondale Policy Forum of the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
  • Participant in the Twin West Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program.