First, Jill Davis was headed out of politics with a near-certain decision not to run again for the Board of Education.
But her retirement plans appear to be premature. She's one of a growing number of candidates for the Hennepin County Board seat that Commisisoner Mark Stenglein plans to vacate.
That switch has left some politicos scratching their heads.
But keep in mind that Davis cited personal reasons for not running again for the school board. She was caring for her dying father, but he died in late January. Moreover, holding down a supervisory job for Anoka County and handling a demanding part time job on the school board posed time conflicts, Davis said. Nothing cures that like a $100,000 a year job as a full-time county commissioner. Davis confirmed late Wednesday that she's running. .
Davis joins a growing list of candidates for the seat representing a district that currently stretches from St. Anthony to Plymouth, but has its greatest population density in north and northeast Minneapolis. The latter is Davis's home turf. Also running so far are City Council Member Don Samuels, state Sen. Linda Higgins, former Stenglein aide Tonia Johnson and Paula Pentel..
The district's only suburban representative in the last 30 years was Judy Makowske of St. Anthony, who lives just a mile from Davis. Other former commissioners in recent years include Sam Sivanich of northeast Minneapolis and Sandra Hillary of north Minneapolis.
