Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Sharyl Downwind, Rollie Morud, and Sarah Thorson to the Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. Governor Pawlenty also named Shamus O'Meara as the Chairperson of the Council.

Shamus O'Meara, of St. Paul, is an attorney and shareholder at the Minneapolis law firm of Johnson & Condon, P.A. He was first appointed to the Council in February 2004 to a position for a parent of a child with developmental disabilities. O'Meara is now appointed as the Council's Chairperson. He will serve a term ending January 2, 2006. O'Meara replaces Jackie Mlynarczyk as the Council's Chair.

Sharyl Downwind, of Callaway, is Program Manager of the Native American Women's Inpatient Chemical Dependency Treatment Center in Mahnomen. She previously served as a Prevention Specialist for the White Earth Chemical Dependency Department. Downwind is appointed to a position for an immediate relative of an adult with developmental disabilities and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. She fills the Council seat formerly held by Ella Gross.

Rollie Morud, of Bemidji, is an Assistant Commissioner at the Minnesota Department of Education. In this position, he is responsible for special education policy, career and technical education, and adult education. Morud previously served as Superintendent of Schools for the Bemidji Area School District. He is appointed to a position for a representative of the Department of Education and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. Morud fills the seat formerly held by Emily Knight.

Sarah Thorson, of Minneapolis, is Administrative Program Director for Research and Policy for Minnesota Children with Special Health Needs at the Minnesota Department of Health. She previously served as Senior Planner for the SAFE at Home Project at the Department of Health. Thorson is appointed to a position for a representative of the Department of Health and will serve a term which ends January 7, 2008. She was first appointed to the Council in February 2002.

The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities (MGCDD) assists persons with developmental disabilities to achieve increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion into the community. The MGCDD is made up of 25 members appointed by the Governor.