Peter Bell
October 4, 2019
Peter Bell is the former Chair of the Metropolitan Council, which is a cabinet-level position appointed by the Governor. Prior to his position at the Metropolitan Council, Peter was executive vice president of Publishing & Educational Services (PES) at the Hazelden Foundation in Center City, Minnesota. Before joining Hazelden, Peter was the cofounder and, for 15 years, executive director of the Institute on Black Chemical Abuse. He was appointed to serve on a commission to the White House Conference on a Drug-Free America. He has written numerous books on chemical dependence, and for his pioneering effort, was named ABC Evening News Person of the Week in 1989. In addition to his work in chemical dependence, Peter served for five years as executive vice president of corporate community relations of TCF Financial Corporation. Peter has or currently serves on the board of directors of numerous local and national social, civic and business organizations, including TCF Bank, The Citizens League, Center of the American Experiment, CommonBond, TCRISE!, and was a founding member and chair of the Center for New Black Leadership, based in Washington, D.C. Peter was appointed to the Board of Regents for the University of Minnesota in the fall of 2002. He was also appointed to the transition teams for both Governor Ventura, Governor Pawlenty and Mayor Hodges. Peter appears frequently on the editorial pages of the Star Tribune, provides commentary for Almanac, a statewide public affairs television program and often provides political and social commentary for MPR.