In a war of words that has exploded beyond the confines of the Anoka County boardroom, longtime Commissioner Dan Erhart calls new board chairwoman Rhonda Sivarajah "vindictive, controlling, without concern of what's good for the county."

"This is a new day," Sivarajah said from her office. "We're going to strive for transparency in government."

To one first-time commissioner, that transparency translates into "revenge" stemming from a long-time feud between Erhart, a former board chairman who pushed for the Northstar commuter line and a Vikings stadium in the county, and Sivarajah, a fiscal conservative who for years was the board's lone dissenting vote but now heads a new majority.

Erhart, bristling after being replaced as chairman of the influential Anoka County Regional Rail Authority by newcomer Matt Look, questioned the selection of the same four board members to four key committees (finance and capital improvements; management; public works; and intergovernmental and community relations).

Sivarajah, Robyn West and two rookie commissioners -- Look and Andy Westerberg, a former legislator -- are on all four committees. Erhart and Jim Kordiak, the county's longest-tenured commissioners, are on none.

"I'm very disappointed; we're called to a higher standard than revenge," said Carol LeDoux, a third newcomer, who was excluded from the four committees as well, and was named to fewer committees overall than either Look or Westerberg.

"I'm hearing from constituents who feel like their voices have been excluded by the county because no opposing views are being represented on some committees," said LeDoux, who was elected in November to a seat vacated by her husband, Scott, for health reasons. "I had asked Rhonda for fairness for everyone, even though I knew she had animosity -- and some of it may be justified, to a degree. But we were called to be better than that."

Wants 'welcoming attitude'

Sivarajah said she wants "to foster a welcoming attitude" of ideas from all county employees. She approved the selection of West, Look, Westerberg and herself to key positions because, in part, of their "connections" with the Legislature.

When reminded that Erhart met with many legislators while pushing for Northstar and a Vikings stadium in Blaine, Sivarajah said, "Maybe those aren't the kinds of connections we're looking for."

The two commissioners' rivalry, which percolated for several years, became public in 2008 when Erhart learned that a campaign opponent was encouraged by Sivarajah to run against him.

While Erhart has never forgotten that, Sivarajah has a long memory of her own. She recently talked of how Scott LeDoux was selected to key committees when he first won election, in 2004, while she was shunned. Erhart was chairman of the board at the time.

"Would anyone dare cross Dan?" Sivarajah asked last week.

Sivarajah said that she discussed committee assignments with each commissioner before they were made, then later acknowledged that she hadn't talked to Erhart.

"There's been no transparency at all," Erhart said. "People with no experience or background are being appointed."

"It's certainly their attempt to kill the projects" that include the proposed Northern Lights Express passenger-rail line from Minneapolis to Duluth and extending Northstar to St. Cloud, Erhart said.

West, who for years was Sivarajah's only ally on the board, says "you set up committees to meet your agenda."

When Sivarajah was asked if constituents in districts represented by LeDoux, Erhart or Kordiak might feel slighted, she noted that any commissioner can attend any committee meeting.

"We all hold the same election certificate," Sivarajah said. "Nobody's vote holds more than another's."

Paul Levy • 612-673-4419