Ken Peterson

VICE-CHAIRPERSON

Ken Peterson is an attorney in St. Paul. He joined the District Energy Board in 2015 as a City of Saint Paul appointee and previously served a term representing District Energy’s large customers. From 2011-2019 and 1988-91, he served as Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. While Commissioner he led efforts to increase on the job training opportunities; improve workplace safety; and reduced workers compensation costs while increasing injured workers benefits. Among his other government leadership roles have been stints as director of Saint Paul’s Planning and Economic Development Department, chief of staff for the mayor and Deputy Minnesota Attorney General. In addition to government service and practicing law, he’s been a college teacher and journalist. Ken serves on the boards of the History Theater and the Workers Compensation Reinsurance Association. He previously was President of the National Association of Government Labor Officials, President of the West Seventh/Fort Road Federation, chaired the Anishinabe Legal Services Board and was a member of the Ramsey County Charter Commission. Ken is a graduate of Hamline University, George Washington University Law School, and Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.