Saint Paul -- The Metropolitan Council Nominating Committee has recommended four finalists for two vacant positions on the Metropolitan Council to Governor Tim Pawlenty. The vacancies occurred as a result of the redrawing of the Metropolitan Council Districts by the 2003 Legislature. The new districts include 14 districts in which Governor Pawlenty-appointed incumbents reside and two new districts with no incumbents.

The finalists in Metropolitan Council District 11, which includes much of northern Ramsey County, eastern portions of Anoka County and western portions of Washington County, are Paul Gaston and Georgeanne Hilker.

Gaston, of Vadnais Heights, is a partner and manager of E.D.S., Inc. and a member of the Vadnais Heights City Council where he serves as liaison to its Transportation Commission. He was a member and chair of the Vadnais Heights Planning Commission, served on the city's Land-Use Advisory Council, and was a member of the Metropolitan Council Minority Issues Advisory Council.

Hilker, of White Bear Lake, is the administrative assistant to the Minnesota House of Representatives Majority Leader and a member of the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Community Foundation. She is also a past member of the White Bear Lakes Parks Advisory Commission.

The finalists in Metropolitan Council District 16, which includes southern Dakota County, are Brian McDaniel and Christopher Nelson.

McDaniel, of Apple Valley, is the director of fiscal policy for the Minnesota Business Partnership. He is past president of the Optimist Club of Apple Valley, a board member of the Wyndemere Homeowner's Association, and has been an assistant basketball coach with Minnesota Special Olympics.

Nelson, of Eagan, is a managing director of Northland Insurance Companies in St. Paul. He is a member, and former chair, of the Minnesota Higher Education Facilities Authority, was a member of the St. Louis Park City Council, and was vice president of the St. Louis Park Economic Development Authority.

The seven-member Metropolitan Council Nominating Committee, which recommended these candidates to the Governor, conducted a public hearing on August 11 to accept statements from, or on behalf of, applicants for the two open districts. Eleven people applied for the District 11 position and 10 people applied for the District 16 position. Governor Pawlenty was not required to use the Metropolitan Council Nominating Committee process for the districts to which he made appointments earlier this year.

The Metropolitan Council Nominating Committee members who made these recommendations were William Pulkrabek, Chair, Sherry Broecker, Mike Burton, Dave Clark, Cyndee Fields, John Pacheco, and Mark Schiffman.

The Metropolitan Council coordinates planning and development in the seven county metropolitan area and directly operates several regional services. The Metropolitan Council consists of 16 metropolitan citizens appointed from geographically defined districts in the seven county metropolitan area and a chair. All 17 members are appointed by the Governor to four-year terms that are co-terminus with the governor.