Kim Norton
Mayor @ City of Rochester
Short CV
Kim Norton became the first woman Mayor of Rochester, Minnesota, taking office on January 8, 2019. She was selected for the Harvard-Bloomberg City Leadership Institute and previously received a Bush Fellowship, enabling her to complete a master’s degree and a Certificate in Leadership in Public Policy at the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs, with a focus on leadership and energy policy and experiential learning.
She served for 10 years in the Minnesota House of Representatives, where she helped pass major legislation, including the Destination Medical Center (DMC) project, Primary Seat Belt law, and other health-related bills to strengthen Rochester and Minnesota as leading healthcare locations. Before that, she spent eight years on the Rochester Public School Board, including one year as chair.
Kim has a strong record of public service, volunteerism, and leadership, known for engaging with diverse perspectives and building community-based solutions. Her career includes self-employment, retail, and non-profit work. She earned an Executive Leadership in Public Policy certificate at Harvard Kennedy School and serves on the National League of Cities Board of Directors, the NLC University Communities Council, and the Board of the Mayors Innovation Project.
