16-Year Prosecutor Announces Run For Dakota County Attorney

DAKOTA COUNTY, MN — Elizabeth Lamin announced Tuesday that she is running for Dakota County Attorney in the 2022 election.

Lamin said in a news release that she has 16 years of experience as a frontline prosecutor. As Dakota County Attorney, she said she will focus on violent crime while also working with criminal justice partners to hold lower-level offenders accountable.

"I believe in our system," Lamin said. "As Dakota County Attorney, I will continue to prove my tireless commitment to public service as I am tasked with the significant work of administering the law and relentlessly promoting justice. I will bring optimism, experience, a strong work ethic, and an ability to work with people from all walks of life to this role."

According to her news release, Lamin will bring a "smart on crime" approach to Dakota County, which has had the same administration from 1987-2021. Lamin said she will prioritize treatment courts for those who could benefit from help for substance abuse and mental health issues while also keeping violent offenders off the street. These programs are proven to increase accountability while also lowering the likelihood to re-offend, Lamin said.

"Elizabeth is a proven prosecutor and leader, who will bring a fresh perspective and an innovative approach to public service," Ramsey County Attorney John Choi said. "She has taken serious and violent offenders off the streets and made our community a safer place. She has also partnered with the mothers of murder victims to organize their pain and loss into preventing further violence and supporting families impacted by gun violence. Her focus will always be on supporting victims and listening and responding to her community's needs."

Lamin has a B.A. in History from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a law degree from University of Minnesota magna cum laude, the news release said. She began her career in Stearns County, where she handled all types of criminal cases, working in both rural and urban settings, she said.

"Elizabeth Lamin is an accomplished prosecutor who has handled hundreds of criminal cases, including complex homicides, shootings, assaults, and other serious felonies," Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher said. "She has earned a reputation as a fierce advocate for victims and is a strong relationship builder with criminal justice partners and community members. In fact, right now, Elizabeth is working alongside law enforcement and community partners to organize a strategic response to auto thefts and carjackings plaguing our communities."

Lamin lives in Eagan with her partner and two children, the news release said. She was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and immigrated to the United States with her family as a child, she said.