Politics & Government

Dayton Names Minnetonka Woman to Met Council

Jennifer Munt plans to 'fight like mad' for the Southwest Corridor once she's on the 16-member council.

Minnetonka’s  is one of 16 Minnesotans Gov. Mark Dayton has informally appointed to the Metropolitan Council. Munt will serve District 3 on the council, representing west metro communities, including Chanhassen, Deephaven, Eden Prairie, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Wayzata.

Munt is one of four labor union members newly appointed to the council. She is President of Transit for Livable Communities and the Public Affairs Director for American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), Council 5. Munt said she is a good fit for the council because she is a strong advocate of greater public participation in government decision-making.

Established by the Minnesota Legislature in 1967, the Met Council is tasked with regional planning for the Twin Cities’ seven-county metropolitan area. Council members work with local communities on initiatives including park and trail planning, transportation services and affordable housing.

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"I live just a couple of blocks from where the Southwest Corridor will hopefully be and I will fight like mad once on the council to see that it becomes reality," the self-proclaimed advocate for mass transit told Minnetonka Patch. "Most people in the Twin cities spend more time in their cars in traffic each day than they do with their families, and we need to change that.”

In a statement, Dayton called Munt “an ardent advocate for a balanced transportation system that encourages transit ridership, walking, biking and thoughtful development.”

Find out what's happening in Minnetonkawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

More than 250 people put their names in to serve on Dayton’s Metropolitan Council. The 16 individuals chosen by the Governor will be formally appointed on March 7. 

Munt has previously worked for the Met Council on the Hiawatha Light Rail Corridor. She has also served as the Director of Development for the Guthrie Theatre and taught public involvement at the Humphrey Institute.  She received a master's degree from the Humphrey Institute, University of Minnesota, and an undergraduate degree from Carleton College. 


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