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Aitkin County Commissioner Lori Westerland reflects on nearly two decades of service
Summary
Commissioner Lori Westerland described her path from local business owner to county official, listed the regional and local committees she serves on, and said she remains focused on constituent service, senior supports and practical county projects.
Commissioner Lori Westerland of Aitkin County’s District 2 described how she moved to the county in the mid-1990s, ran a local cafe with her family and entered public service after a longtime commissioner encouraged her to run.
Westerland said she moved to the county around 1995, married in 1996 and was first elected to the county board in 2008. “In 2008 I got voted in and I’ve been there ever since,” she said, noting she has served nearly 20 years on the board.
Westerland outlined the range of committees she now serves on, from regional bodies — including Minnesota Rural Counties and the Northern Counties Coalition, which she said work on property-tax and shoreland issues — to local groups such as the Max watershed management and fisheries groups (DNR-run) and an ATV committee responsible for a new trail segment near Malmo.
She described the day-to-day work of a rural commissioner as a mix of constituent service and intergovernmental coordination: “I will help anybody that needs help. I’ll send them to the right people,” she said, adding that many residents call with concerns about lake safety and other local issues.
Westerland said working with state and federal agencies can be frustrating at times because of process and timing, and praised the practical experience people with business backgrounds bring to getting projects done. The host and Westerland joked about the phrase “governmenty” to describe slow, multi-step public processes.
On her future, Westerland said she had not decided whether she will run again when her current term ends. The interview concluded with the host thanking Westerland for joining the podcast.
The interview focused on Westerland’s background, committee work and priorities; it did not include any formal votes or policy decisions.
