ST. PAUL, MN – Today, Governor Mark Dayton named Kathleen Blatz the Interim Chair of the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority (MSFA). Blatz, the former Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, was appointed to the Board of the MSFA by Governor Dayton
in January of this year.
“Through her decades of service as Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court and in the Minnesota Legislature, Kathleen Blatz has demonstrated her exceptional commitment to advancing the public interest,” said Governor Dayton. “Already, her work on the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority Board has helped to inspire trust in the people of Minnesota, that the MSFA will continue to provide excellent public service to the people of Minnesota. I am grateful to Ms. Blatz for agreeing to take on this important role.”
Kathleen Blatz will assume the position of Interim Chair when the current Chair, Michele Kelm-Helgen, formally concludes her service on March 8, 2017. Ms. Blatz’s appointment as Interim Chair will create a new vacancy on the MSFA Board, which will be filled at a later date. Kathleen Blatz will serve as Interim Chair until a permanent Chair is chosen.
“I am honored to continue my service to the MSFA and the people of Minnesota as Interim Chair,” said Blatz. “The MSFA plays an important role in the operation and oversight of U.S. Bank Stadium, and I look forward to continuing to work for our citizens and with MSFA Board members, to ensure the excellent functioning of this important public facility.”
Former Chief Justice Blatz was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court by Governor Carlson in 1996, and became Chief Justice in 1998, making her the first woman in Minnesota’s history to serve in the position. Prior to her appointment to the Minnesota Supreme Court, she was a Hennepin County District court Judge and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1979-1994. She was also an Assistant Hennepin County Attorney and an associate attorney at Popham, Haik, Schnobrich & Kaufman, Ltd. Chief Justice Blatz earned her B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and her M.S.W and J.D. from the University of Minnesota.
Throughout her career, Chief Justice Blatz has been a tireless advocate for abused and neglected children. During her time as Chief Justice, she led the overhaul of Minnesota’s child protection system and spearheaded the Children’s Justice Initiative. In 2014, she was appointed by Governor Dayton to the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children, which later recommended 93 reforms to the child protection system.
The MSFA was established by the Minnesota Legislature in 2012 and charged with the design, construction, and operation of a new multi-purpose stadium in downtown Minneapolis, now known as U.S. Bank Stadium. The MSFA consists of five members: three, including the Chair, are appointed by the Governor, with the two additional members appointed by the City of Minneapolis.
