Some big shoes to fill on Hennepin County Board as Randy Johnson retires

For the first time in nearly 40 years of elections, Hennepin County voters won't be seeing Randy Johnson's name on the ballot in the fall.

The longest-serving member of the County Board is stepping down after a 38-year career, leaving two candidates to battle for his Fifth District seat following Tuesday's primary election: Richfield Mayor Debbie Goettel and Bloomington Chamber of Commerce President Maureen Scallen Failor, who topped a list of six candidates in the primary.

Their success at the polls Tuesday means that no matter who wins in November, the Hennepin board will have a majority of women for the first time ever.

"There will be changes," Johnson said. "Every new commissioner has new ideas."

Five of the seven Hennepin County Board seats are up for election this year. But only Johnson's seat drew more than two contenders, sending the race into Tuesday's primary.

The Hennepin County Board is one of the most coveted of local government positions. Commissioners typically get less scrutiny than City Council members or state policymakers, while receiving an annual paycheck of more than $108,000 for the full-time job. They oversee everything from road repairs to libraries and mental health services in Hennepin County, the state's most populous county with more than 1 million residents and a budget — $1.9 billion — second only to the state's.

"I've been told every state legislator in Hennepin County would rather be a county commissioner," Johnson said. "We actually get things done, unlike the Legislature or ­Congress. We have to get things done because we operate programs close to the people."

The county's Fifth District includes Bloomington, Richfield, south Eden Prairie and part of Chanhassen. The area has seen growing diversity over the last few years and has about 160,000 residents.

In Tuesday's primary, Goettel won 49.9 percent of the votes and Scallen Failor won 26.1 percent. They beat four candidates — Chris Howard, Andrew Moller, Lee Prinkkila and William Reichert — by a long shot, with the next top vote-getter, Reichert, at 11.2 percent.

While the position is nonpartisan, Scallen Failor has Republican Party support, while Goettel was endorsed by the Hennepin County DFL. Both candidates say they are moderates.

Johnson endorsed Scallen Failor, noting that she's on the county's comprehensive plan policy advisory committee and understands "careful spending, longterm thinking, and social responsibility."

For eight years, Scallen Failor, 56, has led the Bloomington chamber. She serves on boards for the nonprofit VEAP and Cornerstone Advocacy Service, which works with victims of domestic violence.

While this is the first time she's run for public office, she said that her business background means she would bring fiscal responsibility to the county.

Goettel, 58, has been mayor of Richfield since 2005 and is also a small-business owner. She said she'd bring to the County Board her experience of overseeing the city budget and working with other cities and counties. If elected, she said that she'd work with legislators more and advocate for more resources for child protection and mental health services.

She cited her work winning state and county funding for the 77th Street underpass, the "Do Town" initiative to improve wellness and redeveloping Richfield's downtown.

Johnson was 31 years old when he was first elected to the County Board in 1978 after practicing law. He won 11 elections, four of them unopposed, and was the first Minnesota official to serve as president of the National Association of Counties.

Now, at 69, he's the longest-serving commissioner since Hennepin County was founded in 1852.

"I thought I'd serve one or two terms," he said. "I didn't really plan on a career as county commissioner."

Over his long career, he's helped lead the county through a smoke-free ordinance for all bars and restaurants, increased recycling and composting programs, restructured the Hennepin County Medical Center's board and consolidated the suburban and Minneapolis library systems.

He's also testified frequently before Congress.

In May, Johnson announced he would retire when his term ends in January to travel and spend more time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Whoever is elected to succeed him will have a steep learning curve, Johnson said — and big shoes to fill.

"The county's a big operation," he said.

"Look at your property tax statement and then try to say what the County Board does, doesn't affect you."

Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141