Commission Members

The HRDC is governed by a 25 member Commission, with a large majority of the members consisting of local elected officials.

6 - County Commissioners
5 - Mayors or Councilpersons from Small Cities
4 - Township Board Members
2 - School Board Members
1 - Mayor/Councilperson from Cities over 10,000
3 - American Indian Tribal Council Representatives (one each from Red Lake, White Earth, and Leech Lake Reservations)
4 - Citizens representing public interests (business, higher education, natural resources, and labor)

Executive Committee

  • Craig Gaasvig - Chair
  • Ted Van Kempen - Vice-Chair
  • Todd Turner - Treasurer
  • Max Gullette - Secretary
  • Grant Frenzel - At-Large Member
  • Brian Merschman - At-Large Member

The present membership is as follows:

Ed Arneson – Lake of the Woods County

  • Allen Bedford – Higher Education
  • Del Bellanger – White Earth Reservation
  • Peter Buesseler – Natural Resources
  • Bruce Emmel – Clearwater County
  • Grant Frenzel – Business
  • Craig Gaasvig – Beltrami County
  • Theora Goodrich – Hubbard County Townships
  • Max Gullette – Beltrami County Small Cities
  • Mike Harrom – Labor
  • Cody Hasbargen – Lake of the Woods County
  • Duane Lewis – Clearwater County Small Cities
  • Deb McArthur – Mahnomen County Small Cities
  • Brian Merschman – Beltrami County Townships
  • Michael Meuers – Red Lake Reservation
  • Cole Nelson – Lake of the Woods County Small Cities
  • Larry Olson – Mahnomen County
  • Jay Pike – School Districts
  • Audrey Thayer – City of Bemidji
  • Todd Turner – Mahnomen County Townships
  • Ted Van Kempen – Hubbard County
  • Vacant – Hubbard County Small Cities
  • Vacant – School Districts
  • Vacant – Clearwater County Townships
  • Vacant – Leech Lake Reservation