{{Short description|American public servant and politician}} {{Infobox person | image = Rita Albrecht 2016 (cropped).png | caption = Albrecht in 2016 | birth_date = {{circa|1955}} | education = Bemidji State University | political_party = Democratic }}
'''Rita Albrecht''' (born {{Circa|1955}}) is an American public servant and former politician who was the mayor of Bemidji, Minnesota from 2012 to 2020. She was appointed to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources by governor Tim Walz in 2021.
== Life == Albrecht was born {{Circa|1955}} and was raised in Big Falls, Minnesota.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-08-18 |title=Civic Mentorship Network: Rita Albrecht- City Council and Mayor |url=https://100ruralwomen.org/civic-mentorship-network-rita-albrecht/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=100 Rural Women |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Liedke |first=Matthew J. |date=2020-11-04 |title=Eichorn wins reelection bid for Senate over Albrecht |url=https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/eichorn-wins-reelection-bid-for-senate-over-albrecht |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Bemidji Pioneer |language=en}}</ref> She attended Little-fork-Big Falls K-12 school where her father was the elementary school principal.<ref name=":3" /> Her mother worked for Boise Cascade.<ref name=":3" /> Albrecht earned degrees in geography and education from Bemidji State University in 2001.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=December 1, 2019 |title=Bemidji Mayor Rita Albrecht Announces Run for State Senate |url=https://lptv.org/bemidji-mayor-rita-albrecht-announces-run-for-state-senate/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Lakeland PBS |language=en-US}}</ref>
Albrecht worked as a community planner before working as the northwest regional director in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources until 2019.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2021-04-01 |title=Rita Albrecht appointed to Minnesota resources commission |url=https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/news/rita-albrecht-appointed-to-minnesota-resources-commission |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Bemidji Pioneer |language=en}}</ref> In 2010, she was elected to the city council of Bemidji, Minnesota.<ref>{{Cite web |title=LCCMR |url=https://www.lccmr.mn.gov/about/members/albrecht.html |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=www.lccmr.mn.gov}}</ref> She served as its mayor from 2012 to 2020.<ref name=":2" /> In 2021, Albrecht was received the Jack Murray Award from Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities for her service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melin |first=Betsy |date=December 21, 2020 |title=Bemidji Mayor Rita Albrecht Awarded by Coalition of Greater MN Cities |url=https://lptv.org/bemidji-mayor-rita-albrecht-awarded-by-coalition-of-greater-mn-cities/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Lakeland PBS |language=en-US}}</ref>
During the 2020 Minnesota Senate election, Albrecht was the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party's nominee for the fifth district.<ref name=":0" /> Her campaign emphasized addressing local issues like education and enhancing the quality of life in the district through effective policy-making and community engagement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=P. |date=2020-09-23 |title=Meet Mayor Rita Albrecht - DFL Candidate for Senate 5 in Beltrami, Cass & Itasca Counties |url=https://www.kaxe.org/vote-2020/2020-09-23/meet-mayor-rita-albrecht-dfl-candidate-for-senate-5-in-beltrami-cass-itasca-counties |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=KAXE |language=en}}</ref> She lost in the general election to incumbent Republican Justin Eichorn.<ref name=":1" /> On April 5, 2021, Albrecht joined the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, having been appointed by governor Tim Walz.<ref name=":2" /> Her term expires December 31, 2024.<ref name=":2" /> In 2022, Albrecht replaced C.T. Marhula on the Bemidji Charter Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Kev |date=2022-05-19 |title=Former Mayor Rita Albrecht appointed to Bemidji Charter Commission |url=https://bemidjinow.com/former-mayor-rita-albrecht-appointed-to-bemidji-charter-commission/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Bemidji Now |language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Albrecht, Rita}} Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:1950s births Category:Bemidji State University alumni Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:21st-century mayors of places in Minnesota Category:Women mayors of places in Minnesota Category:Minnesota Democrats Category:People from Koochiching County, Minnesota Category:People from Bemidji, Minnesota