When Becky Felling retired as McLeod County public health director in April, she didn’t know her name would turn up on election ballots this September.

Felling considered running for County Board at least a couple years ago, but retirement finally allowed her the time to do it. Board Chair Grant Knutson’s announcement that he would step down after his term expired this year also opened the door.

“I figured Knutson would run again,” she said. “He’s a sharp man.”

Felling and Knutson didn’t always agree, especially as she championed the passage of a countywide workplace smoking ban. The ban passed in August 2006, and was superseded in September 2007 by a statewide ban.

Felling said the process taught her the importance of public policy. She believes sound public policy can be a foundation for improving the lives of future generations.

Leadership goals
Some of Felling’s past leadership experience includes helping to found PrimeWest, a nonprofit Medicaid-managed health plan that serves 13 rural Western Minnesota counties, including McLeod. PrimeWest was started in 1998 and evolved into a fiscally healthy joint venture.

“I feel that I am a good communicator and a good collaborator,” she said. “I like to get things done, but I like to get things done in a cooperative manner. No one knows it all. Everyone has things to learn. We can learn from each other.”

For more on this story, which is part of a series of profiles on this year’s County Board candidates, see the Leader’s July 22 print edition.

(Jorge Sosa is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. He can be reached at sosa@hutchinsonleader.com [2])