Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Sen. Leo Foley, Debra Appleby, Mona Carter, Theresa Carufel, William Conley, Kristin Flaten, Harriett Haynes, Kate Onyeneho, Wendy Rea, Patricia Siebert, Linda Skime, Eileen Stack, Paula Swanson, Lyle Torguson, and Ericka Tyler-Benson to the State Advisory Council on Mental Health.

Sen. Leo Foley, DFL, of Coon Rapids, represents all of Champlin and portions of Brooklyn Park and Coon Rapids in the Minnesota State Senate. He also serves as an Assistant Anoka County Attorney. Foley is appointed to the Council position for a State Senator and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. He is a current member of the Council.

Debra Appleby, of Center City, is Admissions Social Worker at the Margaret Parmly Residence, a long-term care facility. She is a licensed social worker. Appleby is appointed to a Council position for a family member of a person with mental illness. She will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Appleby replaces Frank Schiefelbein on the Council.

Mona Carter, of Bemidji, is a Real Estate Sales Agent for WHY USA Northern Exposure Realty. She also serves as a member of the Bemidji School Board. Carter is appointed to a Council position for a parent of a child with mental illness. She will serve a four-year term which ends January 1, 2007. Carter replaces Lisa Lopez on the Council.

Theresa Carufel, of Minneapolis, serves as Community Coordinator for Tasks Unlimited. She also serves as is a Docent at the Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. Carufel is appointed to a Council position for a family member of a person with mental illness. She will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Carufel replaces Cynthia Hart on the Council.

William Conley, of St. Paul, is a public policy consultant and lobbyist for the Mental Health Association of Minnesota. He is appointed to the Council position for a representative of the Mental Health Association of Minnesota. Conley will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. He is a current member of the Council.

Kristin Flaten, of St. Paul, is an advocate for persons with mental illness. She also serves as a member of the State Rehabilitation Council. Flaten is appointed to a Council position for a consumer member and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. She is a current member of the Council and currently serves as the Council's Chair.

Harriett Haynes, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist. She currently serves as Director of University Counseling & Consulting Services, which is located at the University of Minnesota. Haynes is appointed to the Council position for a psychologist and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. She replaces Joseph Lee on the Council.

Kate Onyeneho, Ph.D., of Burnsville, is Parent-To-Parent Coordinator at African Immigrant Families, Inc. She also works as a special education consultant. Onyeneho is appointed to the Council position for a parent of a child with mental illness. She will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Onyeneho replaces Sandy Holmstoen on the Council.

Wendy Rea, of Foley, is a Coordinator at the St. Cloud Area Resource Center of the Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network of Minnesota. She is appointed to a Council position for a consumer member and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. Rea replaces Thomas Segal on the Council.

Patricia Siebert, of Minneapolis, is Staff Attorney and Managing Attorney for the Minnesota Disability Law Center. She is appointed to the Council position for a representative of the Minnesota Disability Law Center. Siebert will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. She replaces Kathy Kosnoff on the Council.

Linda Skime, of International Falls, is Volunteer Coordinator and President of the Hardwig House. She is a former Teachers Aid for International Falls Public Schools. Skime is appointed to a Council position for a consumer member and will serve a four-year term which ends January 1, 2007. She replaces Virgil Kluesner on the Council.

Eileen Stack, of St. Paul, is a registered nurse. She currently serves as First Vice President of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill—Minnesota (NAMI-MN). Stack is appointed to the Council position for a representative of NAMI-MN and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. She replaces Marilyn Carver on the Council.

Paula Swanson, of Marshall, is active in the Mental Health Consumer/Survivor Network. She previously served as an elementary teacher for Marshall Public Schools. Swanson is appointed to a Council position for a consumer member and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. She replaces Laurie Lillion on the Council.

Lyle Torguson, M.D., of Winona, practices family practice medicine at Winona Clinic Physicians. He is a board certified family practice physician. Torguson is appointed to the Council position for a family practice physician and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. He is a current member of the Council.

Ericka Tyler-Benson, of Gully, is a registered nurse in the emergency room at North Country Regional Hospital in Bemidji. She also coordinates suicide prevention awareness for the People Connection, Inc. Tyler-Benson is appointed to the Council position for a nurse and will serve a four-year term which ends January 7, 2008. She replaces Susan Swendsen.

The State Advisory Council on Mental Health advises the Governor, the Legislature, and state agency heads about policy, programs and services affecting people with mental illness. The Council also educates the public about mental illness. The Council is made up of 30 members appointed by the Governor.