State Sen. Carrie Ruud was chosen as a recipient of the Legislator of Distinction Award from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities for her positive impact on environmental issues in Greater Minnesota.
Ruud, a Republican from Breezy Point, is serving her third term in the Minnesota Senate. The Legislator of Distinction Award is given to legislators who played key roles in advancing the coalition’s policy during the preceding legislative session.
As chair of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Policy and Legacy Finance Committee, Ruud is often a key ally when it comes to municipal concerns related to wastewater and drinking water. This year, she sponsored legislation to create the PFAS Source Reduction Initiative, a strategy aimed at keeping per-and-polyflurorylalkyl substances out of the municipal wastewater stream by identifying the primary sources, developing strategies responding to the sources, and helping educate city officials and the public about reducing these chemicals.
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Although the pandemic prevented the proposal from advancing, Ruud continues to work hard to develop and pursue solutions to complex water quality concerns facing the state.
“Sen. Ruud has long been a friend to our organization and a strong voice for Greater Minnesota,” said Greg Zylka, mayor of Little Falls and president of the CGMC. “She is extremely knowledgeable about environmental issues and is committed to working with city officials to make sure local government concerns are addressed at the Legislature.”
The coalition is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy organization representing more than 100 cities outside of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The coalition educates legislators about issues important to Greater Minnesota.
