Prettner Solon tops list of 2014 LIPP honorees

This week Politics in Minnesota/Capitol Report announced the winners of the publication group’s fifth annual Leaders in Public Policy awards.

The 2014 honorees include

winner Yvonne Prettner Solon. Prettner Solon, who is retiring at the conclusion of her current term as Minnesota’s lieutenant governor, served in the state Senate for nine years previously. Before that, she was a member of the Duluth City Council for 12 years.

The Leaders in Public Policy awards ceremony will take place at the St. Paul Hotel on Thursday, July 17. Registration and cocktail hour will begin at 4, with the ceremony scheduled to begin at 5:30. For more information, and to register online, visit politicsinmn.com and click on the Events tab.

Here is the full list of 2014 award winners:

JIM RAMSTAD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT:

• Lieutenant Governor Yvonne Prettner Solon

BUSINESS:

• United for Jobs Coalition

LABOR:

• Working America

LOBBYIST:

• Messerli & Kramer, Government Relations
• Beth Kadoun, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
• Jill Larson, Minnesota Business Partnership
• Lloyd Grooms, LWG Group

LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

• City of Mankato, City of St. Cloud, City of Rochester
• Kent Sulem, Minnesota Association of Townships
• Keith Carlson, Minnesota Inter-county Association

ONE TO WATCH:

• Elizabeth Emerson, Goff Public
• Representative Carly Melin, DFL-Hibbing
• Commissioner Chris Dahlberg, St. Louis County
• Jason George, Natural Resource Group

PUBLIC AFFAIRS CAMPAIGN:

• Raise the Wage Minnesota Campaign
• The 5% Campaign

PUBLIC POLICY ACHIEVEMENT:

• ThaoMee Xiong, Minnesota Housing Partnership (Housing)
• Sarah Walker and Sarah Erickson, Hill Capitol Strategies and United Strategies (Gun Violence Prevention)

TOP LEGISLATIVE STAFFER:

• Chris Kwapick, Minnesota House Committee Administrator
• Joel Michael, Minnesota House Research Department
• Tom Kukielka, Minnesota Senate Rules and Administration Committee

UNSUNG HERO:

• John Kingrey, Minnesota County Attorneys Association
• Charlene Briner, Minnesota Department of Education
• Stacy Doepner-Hove, League of Women Voters Minnesota
• Mary Liz Holberg, Minnesota House of Representatives