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Hennepin County Board Chairman Mike Opat will leave the post he's held for nine years next month.

Opat told his colleagues in a memo sent Thursday that it's time someone else take over the chairmanship.

"It's a very rewarding job but it's also a demanding job, and it's taken time away from other things that I'd like to pursue in terms of county policies and also on the home front. It just seems like a good time to step away and give my colleagues a chance."

He says his legislative priorities include the Bottineau light rail project, working on programing for the developmentally disabled and exploring the possibility of Major League Soccer coming to the county. 

For 21 years, Opat has represented part of northern Hennepin county. His district now includes Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, New Hope, Osseo and Robbinsdale.

The board will elect a new chair in January.

Politics and Government News

Minnesota News

Twin Cities News

Peter Cox

Author

Mike Opat told his colleagues that while it's been a "very rewarding job," it's time someone else take over the chairmanship.

Opat won't run again for Hennepin County Board chairmanship

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