Rita is a lifelong resident of Northern Minnesota. Specifically, she grew up in Big Falls where she attended the Little-fork-Big Falls K-12 school, where her dad was the elementary school principal. As for Rita’s mom, she worked for Boise Cascade. Attending college at Bemidji State University, Rita earned degrees in Geography and Education. Having grown to love the area, Rita decided to remain in Bemidji. Later, she and her husband began the journey of parenthood, raising two children together. Both of them also decided to take a hand in business, owning an A&W Restaurant for a number of years. Following her graduation in 2001, Rita pursued a career as a community planner. Later, she became the Northwest Regional Director with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, where she eventually retired in 2019.

Prior to serving as the Mayor of Bemidji for eight years, from 2012 to 2020, Rita was elected to the Bemidji city council in 2010. As Mayor of Bemidji for eight years, she learned that getting things done means working together. Currently, Rita serves as a citizen member of the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. Previously having run for Senate, Rita received this appointment in 2021 by Governor Tim Walz. Together with 16 other members, she will serve a four-year term, ending on December 31, 2024.

About the Network

Our Civic Mentorship Network is a network comprised of rural civic leaders who serve as mentors for new women who are pursuing public service. This network provides a coordinated method for aspiring leaders to make the person-to-person connections that give access to resources that are valuable to enduring success. At 100 Rural Women, we find that success in recruiting more rural women to serve in public service leadership roles is essential to keeping our democracy strong.