District 3 - Garrison McMurtrey
About Garrison McMurtrey
Garrison McMurtrey is the first Black man elected to a county board in the state of Minnesota. Originally from Mississippi, McMurtrey moved to Minnesota to pursue a career in public policy and community engagement.
Prior to being elected, McMurtrey served as the district director for the office of U.S. Congresswoman Angie Craig. Before joining the Congresswoman’s office, he worked on the public affairs team at Target Corporation. He was previously an outreach director to U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, where he led community engagement in the areas of business, workforce development, communities of color, and consumer protection.
Outside of work, McMurtrey has previously served as Chair of the St. Paul DFL and commissioner on the St. Paul Planning and Charter Commissions. He has a B.A. in political science and communication from Ripon College and a M.A. in public policy from the Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Garrison lives in St. Paul’s Como Park neighborhood with his wife, Clare, and their goldendoodle, Honey. He looks forward to centering economic justice at the work in the county and ensuring we are building a community for future generations. He plans to prioritize creating more deeply affordable housing, investing in economic development, and ensuring county services are responsive to the needs of residents.
McMurtrey began his term in February 2025.