Experienced Leadership. Responsible Government. Results for Dakota County.

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Mary Liz Holberg has spent decades serving Lakeville and Dakota County with a focus on responsible budgeting, strong public safety, safe transportation, and effective local government.

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As Dakota County Commissioner for District 6 since 2015, Mary Liz brings experience from every level of local government—from the Lakeville Planning Commission and City Council to the Minnesota Legislature and Dakota County Board.

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Her approach is straightforward: protect taxpayers, focus county resources on essential services, build partnerships that save money, and make sure Lakeville has a strong voice in county government.

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Fiscal Responsibility & Keeping Property Taxes Low

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Every tax dollar comes from a resident or business that worked hard to earn it. Mary Liz believes county government has an obligation to spend those dollars carefully.

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With state and federal mandates placing increasing pressure on Dakota County's budget, Mary Liz is focused on restoring fiscal stability, rebuilding county reserves, identifying efficiencies, and seeking full reimbursement for services required by state and federal governments.

She opposed the proposed 2027 levy increase because she believes the burden on families, seniors, and businesses is too great.

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Her priorities include:

• Protecting essential county services while controlling spending

• Examining vacancies, administrative costs, and opportunities for greater efficiency

• Rebuilding county reserves with unspent and recovered funds

• Fighting unfunded state and federal mandates

• Expanding the tax base through responsible economic growth

• Maintaining Dakota County's tradition of comparatively low property taxes

For Mary Liz, affordability matters. Government must recognize that families are facing the same rising costs as everyone else.

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Transportation & Infrastructure

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A growing community needs transportation infrastructure that is safe, efficient, and built for the future.

Mary Liz has made transportation one of her priorities throughout her public service. As Commissioner, she helped secure funding for improvements at the I-35/County Road 50 interchange and has worked to reduce Lakeville's share of county road project costs, saving the city millions of dollars.

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She has also served on the regional Transportation Advisory Board and previously chaired the Transportation Finance Committee in the Minnesota House.

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Mary Liz will continue advocating for:

• Safer intersections and county roads

• Increased transportation capacity in growing communities

• Improvements to the I-35 corridor

• Dodd Boulevard safety improvements

• Fair cost-sharing between Dakota County and its cities

• Long-term infrastructure planning that supports residents and businesses

Transportation investments should improve safety, support economic development, and keep pace with Lakeville's continued growth.

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Strong Public Safety

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Safe communities require strong partnerships between law enforcement, emergency responders, courts, prosecutors, and local service providers.

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Mary Liz has served on the Dakota County 911 Center Board and Metropolitan Emergency Services Board and supports ensuring the Dakota County Sheriff, County Attorney, courts, and emergency services have the resources necessary to protect residents.

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She also helped establish the embedded social worker partnership with the Lakeville Police Department—connecting residents experiencing difficult circumstances with services while allowing law enforcement officers to focus their resources where they are most needed.

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Mary Liz will continue supporting a strong, coordinated public safety system focused on keeping Dakota County one of Minnesota's safest places to live, work, and raise a family.

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Mental Health & Supporting Vulnerable Residents

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Dakota County is responsible for critical human services that affect children, seniors, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and residents experiencing mental health or housing challenges.

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Mary Liz believes the county must protect these core services even during difficult budget years.

She has co-chaired Dakota County's Shelter Working Group and supports preventive approaches that can improve people's lives while reducing larger long-term costs to taxpayers.

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Her priorities include strengthening mental health services, supporting vulnerable residents, helping families move quickly from shelter into stable housing, and pursuing partnerships with cities, nonprofits, and service providers.

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The goal is not simply to spend more. It is to find approaches that work.

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Housing That Meets Community Needs

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Dakota County and the Dakota County Community Development Agency play important roles in housing throughout the county.

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The county supports senior, workforce, and veterans housing; administers housing assistance programs; provides home-improvement and weatherization assistance; and works with cities on redevelopment opportunities.

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Mary Liz supports working collaboratively with cities so housing investments reflect local priorities.

In Lakeville, that includes working toward additional senior housing near the new fire station and continuing to help the city prepare sites for housing and economic redevelopment.

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Mary Liz believes housing policy works best when county resources complement—not replace—local decision-making.

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Partnerships That Save Taxpayer Dollars

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Some of Dakota County's strongest programs have been created by working across city and county boundaries.

Mary Liz helped establish the Recycling Zone through a partnership with Scott County, expanding services through regional cooperation rather than duplicating facilities and expenses.

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That same philosophy guides her approach throughout county government: collaborate where it makes sense, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and find practical solutions that produce better results for taxpayers.

Dakota County should continue looking for innovative partnerships with cities, neighboring counties, nonprofit organizations, and service providers whenever cooperation can improve services or reduce costs.

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Parks, Greenways & Quality of Life

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Dakota County's parks, trails, libraries, natural resources, and recreational amenities are important parts of what makes the county a great place to live.

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Mary Liz has served on the Vermillion River Watershed Board and supports continued expansion of Dakota County's greenway system while balancing these investments with the county's other responsibilities.

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She believes thoughtful investments in parks, libraries, natural resources, and community amenities can strengthen neighborhoods and quality of life while preserving important resources for future generations.

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Local Control

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Local elected officials are closest to the residents they represent.

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Mary Liz believes decisions affecting Dakota County taxpayers should be made locally whenever possible and that state and federal governments should not impose programs on counties without providing the funding necessary to carry them out.

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She has a long record of working on local-government issues, including chairing the Governor's Metropolitan Council Governance Reform Blue Ribbon Committee in 2020.

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As Commissioner, she will continue advocating for local control and opposing policies that simply shift state or federal costs onto county property taxpayers.

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About Mary Liz

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Mary Liz Holberg
Dakota County Commissioner — District 6

Family: Two children and one grandson
Education: Lakeville High School and St. Cloud State University
Occupation: Dakota County Commissioner and former small business owner

Mary Liz has served as Dakota County Commissioner since 2015 and chaired the County Board in 2021.

Her public service includes the Transportation Advisory Board, Shelter Working Group, Vermillion River Watershed Board, Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, Metropolitan Emergency Services Board, and Dakota County 911 Center Board.

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Before joining the County Board, Mary Liz represented the Lakeville area in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1999 through 2014, where she chaired the Ways and Means, Transportation Finance, and Civil Law committees.

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Her roots in Lakeville government go back even further. She served on the Lakeville City Council from 1996–1998 and Lakeville Planning Commission from 1989–1995.

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Mary Liz has been a member of the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce since 1995 and has volunteered with organizations including Friends of the Lakeville Arts Center, Friends of the Heritage Library, and the Land of Amazement Community Playground.

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After decades of service, her focus remains the same: responsible government, strong communities, and practical solutions that deliver results for Lakeville and Dakota County.