Honoring Commissioner Kiscaden as she retires from county service

  • News
  • Dec 16, 2024

After serving as an Olmsted County commissioner for the past 12 years, Sheila Kiscaden is retiring from public office. Commissioner Kiscaden spent her life in public service, including 26 years as an elected official. From 1993 to 2007, Kiscaden served as a Minnesota State Senator, and in 2012, she was elected to the Olmsted County Board of Commissioners.  

Commissioner Kiscaden not only has experience as an elected official in Olmsted County, she also previously worked for Olmsted County as a staff member. In the 1980s she was deeply involved in the acquisition of the former Rochester State Hospital and its subsequent use as a federal medical prison and campus for county buildings.

Improving health, housing, and human services was a mainstay of Commissioner Kiscaden’s career. She was part of Governor Walz’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Health and Human Services, served as vice chair of AMC’s Health & Human Services Policy Committee, and served as chair of the Minnesota Department of Health’s State Community Health Services Advisory Committee (SCHSAC). She continues to serve on the Minnesota Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee.

In 2018, Commissioner Kiscaden joined the Governor’s Housing Task Force to help find solutions to Minnesota’s housing issues and participated in a White House panel about affordable housing. She also served on the Coalition for Rochester Area Housing and chairs the local Alliance for Housing. 

In 2022, Commissioner Kiscaden received the prestigious President’s Award from the Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC). In 2020, she received the AMC Outstanding Service Award for exhibiting exceptional leadership, participation, and service to Minnesota counties and AMC. 

Commissioner Kiscaden shared some thoughts with the Policy, Analysis, and Communications team about her time in office.

  • What achievements are you most proud of? I am pleased Olmsted County is actively engaged with a variety of community organizations to address our serious shortage of homes that can meet the wide variety of needs of our residents. 
  • What did you enjoy most about being a commissioner? Olmsted County is able to partner with others to respond to community needs and focus on the common good without the rancor of political partisanship.
  • What are your hopes for the future of Olmsted County? I hope Olmsted County continues to seek opportunities to have its staff and services be innovative, flexible, and responsive to community needs.
  • How are you planning to spend your retirement? I see this transition as stepping off the county board and into the community where I intend to continue to be active in promoting housing and regional collaboration, and advocating for policies and services that enable people to be healthy, self-sufficient, and thriving.

Thank you, Commissioner Kiscaden, for your dedication and service to Olmsted County!