Gov. Tim Walz announced his appointment of John Pacheco Jr. to serve as the Metropolitan Council member for District 6, effective March 1.
Pacheco is the president of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota, which he helped found, and a principal with Pacheco & Associates. He has extensive experience with the business community and the district, including recent work with nonprofits to develop workforce initiatives that help close employment and training gaps for communities of color and Indigenous communities.
He has also served as a director for the U.S. Bank Foundation and the Xcel Energy Foundation, as well as a manager for Northern States Power Company.
Pacheco was also a Council member previously — he served during the Perpich Administration from 1990 to 1992. At the time, he was the first person of Latino heritage appointed to the Metropolitan Council. He lives in Minneapolis.
District 6 includes portions of Minneapolis, and the Hennepin County cities of Crystal, Golden Valley, New Hope, and St. Louis Park. Pacheco will fill the term vacated when former Council Member Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson resigned in late 2021. The term continues through Jan. 2, 2023.