Distinguished Public Leadership Award

The Distinguished Public Leadership Award was established to recognize public leaders who—through their vision, leadership, and knowledge—have influenced traffic safety policy directions that benefit society. Recipients are selected by Minnesota TZD; external nominations are not solicited for this award.

2023 Recipients

Minnesota State Senator Jim Carlson, Minnesota State Senator D. Scott Dibble, Minnesota State Representative Frank Hornstein, and Minnesota State Representative Lucy Rehm

This award was given to four individuals this year in recognition of their commitment and leadership to improve traffic safety through community policing and engagement.

Representative Frank Hornstein and Senator D. Scott Dibble, transportation committee chairs in the Minnesota Legislature, initiated traffic safety discussions in October 2022 that led to the formation of the Safe Roads Act, which was chiefly authored by Representative Lucy Rehm and Senator Jim Carlson. This legislation included many TZD 2.0 components in the final omnibus transportation bill, among them: $12 million for rural high-risk roadways; $2 million for grants to local law enforcement for speed, seat belt, distraction, and impairment activities; $10 million to MnDOT targeted toward improving high-risk roadways and intersections; and $4 million for creating the Advisory Council for Traffic Safety. Representatives Hornstein and Rehm and Senators Dibble and Carlson all actively supported and participated in traffic safety issues while collaborating with TZD and administration leadership. They championed traffic safety throughout the legislative debate to ensure a benchmark step forward for traffic safety funding and policy.