Profiles in Service - Jan. 23, 2017

Linda Higgins  

Health Steering Committee
Commissioner, Hennepin County, Minn.

Number of years active in NACo: 4

Years in Public Service: 20 years. 16 years as Minnesota state senator and four years as county commissioner

Occupation: County commissioner

Education: Mankato (Minnesota) State College, bachelor’s degree in education, 1972

The hardest thing I’ve ever done: First campaign for state senate, 1996. Walked about six hours a day, wore out three pairs of shoes, lost 30 pounds.

Three people (living or dead) I’d invite to dinner: Reporter-columnist Molly Ivins, Texas Gov. Ann Richards, Former First Lady Michelle Obama

The most adventurous thing I’ve ever done is: Backpacked and trekked in Peru for two months in 1977.

 

You’d be surprised to learn that I: Rode my bicycle 100 miles in one day. Once.

My favorite way to relax is to: Read murder mysteries or political thrillers. Hang out at our cabin in Northern Minnesota.

Every morning I read: Minneapolis Star Tribune, MinnPost, Facebook, Twitter and email. My pet peeve is: Bad grammar, punctuation and spelling.

My motto is: Don’t do anything that would embarrass your parents.

The last book I read was: I’m ALWAYS reading a book.

My favorite music is Motown.

My favorite U.S. president is: Barack Obama.

My county is a NACo member because: Hennepin County understands the interactions of counties and state and federal governments and appreciates the work NACo does to ensure counties are heard and appreciated.