Jay Heffern, former Minneapolis city attorney and career public servant, dies at 76

Jay Heffern dedicated his career to the public good in Minnesota, where the lifelong resident helped lead some of the state's largest agencies through legal fights over issues such as public housing and environmental protection.

Heffern was a true public servant, working for the U.S. Air Force, the Minnesota Attorney General's Office, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and the Metropolitan Council before Minneapolis Mayor Sharon Sayles Belton named him city attorney, a position he held for 11 years.

He was a hardworking lawyer who approached each case with integrity and a desire to reach the best outcome for those he represented, his family and colleagues said.

"Not only was he a good public servant but he shared his talents with the community, too," Sayles Belton said, noting that Heffern became an advocate for restorative justice practices after he left City Hall.

Heffern died last month after a long battle with cancer. He was 76. Heffern was born, raised and educated in Minneapolis, graduating from DeLaSalle High School and the University of Minnesota, where he received his bachelor of arts and law degrees.

After a four-year stint in the Air Force, Heffern joined the attorney general's office practicing environmental law. He went on to become deputy director of the MPCA, where he helped negotiate dozens of out-of-court settlements with companies charged with pollution violations. Heffern was known to be a meticulous decisionmaker who never cut corners.

"He was someone who I could really trust," former MPCA executive director Lou Breimhurst said of his second-in-command.

Heffern spent the next two decades working for the Metropolitan Council and the city of Minneapolis.

As the Met Council's general counsel, Heffern helped settle the class-action Hollman lawsuit, which called for public housing to be built throughout the Twin Cities, including the suburbs, instead of being mostly clustered on Minneapolis' North Side.

He also was involved in discussions about the public takeover of the Target Center and helped win an airport noise reduction settlement. While serving as Minneapolis city attorney from 1996-2007, Heffern helped the city win more domestic violence convictions, end 30 years of federal oversight of firefighter hiring and settle a lawsuit involving a riverfront metal shredder that a company agreed to enclose.

"He was a good negotiator," said his wife, Signe Heffern. They were married 50 years and had two daughters.

"He tried to do the right thing, whether it was for the city or for his family," she added.

Heffern was recognized by the Minnesota State Bar Association, which awarded him its public attorney of excellence award in 2012. He was also inducted into DeLaSalle High School's Hall of Fame. Of all his accomplishments, Heffern took the most pride in his two daughters, his wife said.

"He was very formative in their lives, and they've both turned out to be successful women with good values," Signe Heffern said.

Heffern is survived by his wife, his daughters Alexis Ergang and Lindsey Hanson and four grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held June 1 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina. Memorial donations may be sent to DeLaSalle High School or Restorative Justice Community Action.

Ryan Faircloth • 612-673-4234