Toni Carter

Elected by the voters of District 4 on March 15, 2005, Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter is committed to efficient and effective county services, eliminating disparities in outcomes for diverse populations, and raising grassroots awareness of county decision-making processes and systems. The first African American ever elected as a County commissioner in the state of Minnesota, Commissioner Carter has also served as President of the Association of Minnesota Counties, Co-chair of the MN Human Services Performance Council and the Governor’s Task Force on the Protection of Children, and Chair of the National Association of Counties (NACo) Human Services and Education Committee. She also co-chairs Ramsey County’s Juvenile Detention Alternatives Stakeholders’ Committee, and serves on the leadership teams of the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board, the Saint Paul Children’s Collaborative, and the Saint Paul Promise Neighborhood. Before becoming a commissioner, Commissioner Carter worked as a school teacher, marketing/communications and arts consultant, systems engineer, performing artist, and as founding director of the non-profit ARTS-Us. She has received numerous awards for her work in the community, the arts and education, including an Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Concordia University – Saint Paul. She is married to retired police professional Melvin Carter Jr., and has 3 children and 8 grandchildren.