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Richard Aguilar
Metropolitan Council Member, District 13

Richard Aguilar was appointed to the Metropolitan Council by Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2003 and reappointed in 2007. Aguilar represents District 13, which includes the eastern half of St. Paul, Lilydale, Mendota Heights, Sunfish Lake and West St. Paul.
 
Aguilar is president of Aguilar Productions, which produces conferences and events focused on multicultural markets. He is a former commissioner of the St. Paul RiverCentre Authority; a founder of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and former chair of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.  
 
Aguilar serves on the Council’s Transportation and Community Development Committees. He also serves on the Urban Initiatives Board.  
 
“The Council plays an important role in the region by assisting communities with their planning and helping to shape the growth of the region,” Aguilar said. “Many regions in the U.S. wish they had a similar entity.”
 
“Our region is experiencing historically high growth in the population of Latinos, Asian Americans and African Americans. These populations represent a growing market,” he added. “The Council needs to understand this growing customer base and include them in our planning, especially in areas like transit and housing.”
 
Aguilar lives in West St. Paul. His wife, Concepcion, is in the Mexican diplomatic corps and currently works at the Mexican Embassy in Santa Ana, Calif., so Aguilar is a regular commuter to California. The couple has two grown daughters and one grown son. When Aguilar isn’t working or traveling, he is a jazz aficionado and jazz singer. He also enjoys tennis and golf.   
 
To contact Aguilar, you may call 651-665-0633 or e-mail: rick.aguilar@metc.state.mn.us