Candidate profile: Polly Glynn, for county commissioner

A former Grand Meadow school board member is hoping to take her experience to the next level now that she has more time on her hands.

Polly Glynn had toyed with running for District 2 commissioner in past elections, but waited until after she retired as president of First State Bank of Minnesota in LeRoy to finally file.

The 65-year-old Glynn said she’s not running on a key issue. She said she’s running because she’s interested in boards and government, especially after her 15-year run as a Grand Meadow school board member.

“I’m not coming in with an agenda at all,” she said.

While she said it may be time for new blood in District 2, Glynn had good things to say about incumbent and opponent Ray Tucker.

“I know Ray Tucker and he’s done a fine job,” she said.

Bryan Robert Young is also running in District 2.

With her school board experience, Glynn is no stranger to working on boards. She served when the Grand Meadow board was seeking approval to construct it’s dome school. Glynn said it was challenging to work on a new, controversial method, and she said she and other members took their case to the state capitol.

“Something like that has always interested me,” she said.

Working on a board, she said members have to respect others’ opinions and work together.

“You have to be flexible, and you have to be willing to listen to people because not everybody’s going to agree,” she said.

Glynn started at First State Bank in 1989 as an agriculture loan officer, progressed to vice-president and became president in July of 2007.

Before that, she worked at Farm Credit Services in Austin for 15 years.

She said she knows how to run a business, oversee finances and manage employees. She said one of her top qualifications is that she’s a strong, fair leader.

She also said she’s volunteered with many local groups.

Along with her experience, Glynn pointed out she’d add a little diversity to a board that’s historically been predominantly male.

“They don’t have a female amongst their group,” she said.

Glynn is married with three sons and nine grandchildren.