Data released by the Minnesota DFL Party on Sunday showed Boelter voted in last year’s presidential primary election, but not as a Democrat. The Republican Party of Minnesota declined to share its presidential primary election voter data on Boelter, with a spokesman saying the party considers that data to be private under current law.
The workforce board has about 60 members, many of whom are not politically connected or would have meaningful access to the governor or interactions with him. The workforce board is tasked with recommending policies to Walz and the Legislature.
Hundreds, if not thousands, of people apply to serve on these state boards, task forces, advisory councils and commissions each year. There are more than 130 in total, including high-paying jobs on powerful councils, but they mainly are volunteer positions.
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said on Saturday that there is “certainly some overlap with some public meetings” between Hoffman and Boelter, but that law enforcement didn’t know anything about their relationship or if they knew each other.
Steve Kalina owns a small manufacturing business and has been on the governor’s workforce board since 2019 and said he’s on the opposite end of the political spectrum from Walz.
Kalina said the governor appoints people to represent the views of industry, and not to represent Walz’s political views. Kalina said the board does not interact with the governor on a regular basis. Boelter is listed in a 2020 state report for the board as having no party preference.