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Carol Molnau
Carol Molnau
LT. GOVERNOR
Carol Molnau is a plain-spoken Minnesota farmer whose no-nonsense style and consistently conservative positions on transportation, taxes and most everything else drew attention during a decade's tenure in the Minnesota House. Pawlenty made her the first lieutenant governor to hold down a commissioner's post when he named her to head the crucial transportation department, a position she held until February 2008.
Molnau represents the kind of geographical, cultural and personality contrast to Pawlenty that running mates often provide. But increasingly, she has also differed with him on such policy issues as rail transit and gas taxes -- issues on which he has moved and she has not.
Not well regarded by DFLers, even before the collapse of the I-35W bridge last summer, Molnau was removed from her commissioner job in February, when the DFL-controlled Senate voted not to confirm her.
Age: 57; born Sept. 17, 1949
Home: Farm near Lafayette
Family: Husband Steve; three daughters
Elected: 2002 and 2006. Also serves as Department of Transportation Commissioner. Employment history: farmer
Chaska City Council, 1989 - 1992
Minnesota House of Representatives, 1993 - 2003
Education: University of Minnesota (attended)
Website: www.dot.state.mn.us
Phone: (651) 366-4800, (800) 657-3774
Email: commissioner@dot.state.mn.us