Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, a Republican legislator from Lakeville, announced Thursday that she will run for the Dakota County Board in the fall.

She would challenge longtime Commissioner Paul Krause of Lakeville. Krause has not yet announced if he will seek re-election. He has served on the board since 1995.

"I still want to remain involved in the community," Holberg said. "Being at the Legislature, you get drawn to St. Paul so much," and that has forced her to give up volunteer activities she enjoyed, she said.

Holberg, a conservative leader on privacy, budget and other issues, announced last month that she would not run for a ninth term.

She's the second ex-legislator to seek a Dakota County Board seat in recent years. Former Rep. Chris Gerlach, a Republican from Apple Valley, was elected to the County Board in 2012.

Holberg is critical of the County Board's recent use of eminent domain to acquire land for a trail and a park near Hastings. "I was for property rights before it was cool," she said. "Eminent domain should be used only in very rare instances."

Laurie Blake