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District 4 Commissioner, Karla Bigham
About Commissioner Bigham
Commissioner Karla Bigham was elected to the Washington County Board of Commissioners in 2022. This is her second tenure on the County Board. She previously served on the Washington County Board of Commissioners from 2015 to 2018.
Commissioner Bigham served five years in the Minnesota State Senate after being elected in February 2018 in a special election and re-elected in 2020. Commissioner Bigham served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007 until 2011. From 2005 until 2007, Commissioner Bigham served on the Cottage Grove City Council. Prior to serving on the city council, she chaired the Cottage Grove Public Safety, Health, and Welfare Commission. Additionally, Commissioner Bigham was chair of the Cottage Grove Charter Commission and was a member of the Cottage Grove Environmental Commission. She is a member of the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.
Commissioner Bigham obtained a Master of Public Affairs degree from the University of Minnesota. She received her bachelor's degree as a paralegal, with minors in sociology and political science from Winona State University. She is a graduate of Park High School in Cottage Grove.
Commissioner Bigham enjoys golf, spends time in her garden, and plays with her two rescue dogs. She is a huge football fan and officiates high school football through the Minnesota State High School League. She and her husband, John, are residents of Cottage Grove.
Commissioner Bigham serves on several boards and committees.
Washington County committees:
- Audit Advisory Committee
- Finance Committee
- Law Library Board
- Library Board
- Planning Advisory Commission (Alternate)
- Plat Commission (Alternate)
- Regional Railroad Authority (Vice Chair)
- University of Minnesota Extension Advisory Committee
Regional committees:
- Association of Minnesota Counties - Board of Directors as District X Representative
- Association of Minnesota Counties - Public Safety Policy Committee
- Gold Line Executive Change Control Board (Alternate)
- Gold Line Joint Powers Board (Alternate)
- Great River Rail Commission
- Metropolitan Transportation Advisory Board(Alternate)
- Minnesota Inter-County Association (MICA) (Alternate)
- Ramsey / Washington Recycling & Energy Board
- Ramsey / Washington Recycling & Energy Board - Regional Hauler Licensing Board
- Ramsey / Washington Recycling & Energy Board - Finance and Facility Committee
- Red Rock Corridor Commission - Chair
National committees:
- National Association of Counties (NACo) - Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee
- National Association of Counties (NACo) - Justice and Public Safety Steering Committee - Law Enforcement Subcommittee (Vice Chair)
- National Association of Counties (NACo) - Arts and Culture Commission
- National Association of Counties (NACo) - The Resilient Counties Advisory Board
- National Association of Counties (NACo) - The Rural Action Caucus
- National Association of Counties (NACo) - Women of NACo Leadership Network
District 4 serves the cities of Cottage Grove, Denmark Township, Grey Cloud Island Township, Newport, St. Paul Park, as well as the portion of the city of Hastings that is within Washington County and Precinct 14 of Woodbury.