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Roger Scherer
Metropolitan Council Member, District 1

Roger Scherer was appointed to the Metropolitan Council by Governor Tim Pawlenty in 2003 and reappointed in 2007. This is Scherer’s third stint on the Council representing District 1, which covers northwestern Hennepin County.

Scherer is currently chairman of the board of Scherer Bros. Lumber Co., where he was president and CEO from 1978 to 1995. The family-owned building material supplier is located in Minneapolis and employs approximately 650 people.

Scherer has a long career in public service. He served in the Minnesota House from 1966 to 1972. He was first appointed to the Metropolitan Council in 1978 by Governor Al Quie, and served a four-year term. He chaired the Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee from 1984-86, and chaired the Chamber Board of Directors in 1990. He served on the Board of Regents of St. John’s University from 1988 to 1997.

Scherer served on the Planning Commission of the City of Plymouth in 1992 until he was again appointed to the Metropolitan Council in 1993 by Governor Arne Carlson. He was named vice chair in 1995, and served until his term expired in January 1999. He said he sought another term on the Council because he believes his experience and historical perspective are valuable for the Council.

“We’ve got to work with communities to achieve regional objectives, not expect communities to work for us,” said Scherer. He credits the staff sector representatives with building good relationships with local communities, and the Livable Communities program with providing critical resources to leverage private funding for development and redevelopment projects.

“Cooperation is achieved through persuasion and incentives, not by telling people what they have to do,” Scherer said. Scherer now chairs the Council’s Management Committee, and is also a member of the Environment and Transportation Committees. He is the Council treasurer and is a member of the Litigation Review Special Committee.

Scherer is a graduate of St. John’s University, the William Mitchell College of Law, and the Harvard Business School. He and his wife, Irma, have six children and 10 grandchildren. They live in Plymouth. He enjoys golf, gardening, skiing and sometimes, fishing.

To contact Scherer, you may call 763-557-9749 or e-mail: roger.scherer@metc.state.mn.us