Photo: Keri Heintzeman

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - April 30, 2025


On Wednesday, April 30, the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) Board announced Senator-elect Keri Heintzeman as a new board member. Heitzeman won a special election on April 29, held to fill the vacant Minnesota Senate seat in District 6 after then-Senator Justin Eichorn's resignation when he was charged with soliciting a minor in a sting operation.

Eichorn also served as the board chair for the IRRR, but upon his resignation, a special meeting was called to reorganize the board and elect a new chair. Since then, Senator Robert Farnsworth (Hibbing, District 7) has been elected chair. 

According to a release from the IRRR, Commissioner Ida Rukavina said, "I am pleased to welcome Senator-elect Heintzeman to the board as we work together to build a more resilient and diverse regional economy."

Heintzeman will serve with the following board members: 

• Sen. Grant Hauschild, District 3. 
• Vice Chair: Rep. Roger Skraba, District 3A.
• Rep. Ben Davis, District 6A. 
• Chair: Sen. Robert Farnsworth, District 7.
• Rep. Spencer Igo, District 7A.
• Rep. Cal Warwas, District 7B.  
• Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, District 59

For more information about IRRR, visit mn.gov/irrrb.