(Gene Janikula – image: Wright County Facebook)
The Wright County Board of Commissioners this week honored longtime Woodland Township elected official Gene Janikula for his many decades of service. The board unanimously passed a resolution that proclaimed March 17th, 2026 as Gene Janikula Day in Wright County.
County Board Chair Darek Vetsch gave some background to begin the tribute…
“Gene Janikula has served the citizens of Wright County and Woodland Township for more decades than I can count. What is the count on that Commissioner Moynagh? (Moynagh)…61 years of elected office in Woodland Township.”
Janikula is retiring from elected office in Woodland Township after more than six decades of service. He first was elected as constable of the Woodland Township Board in 1965. He then was appointed as township treasurer in 1970 to fill a vacancy. He was then elected as township treasurer for the next 32 years, and spent the last 18 years as a township supervisor. His service to his township and the Wright County community is unprecedented at the county and state level in Minnesota.
Commissioner Vetsch said staff were hard-pressed to find anyone in the country with a longer term of public service…
“I can’t officially say it, but to my knowledge and all the research we’ve done, we have yet to find anyone who has sat in an elected office for 61 years. Hats off to you. You have an unofficial record that you can hold on to.”
Also in attendance for the tribute was former Wright County Commissioner and Woodland Township Supervisor Charlie Borrell, who said that Janikula was always someone whose opinions were valued and was admired for the calm wisdom he was able to provide…
“I just wanted to thank Gene for serving Woodland Township, where I’ve been a lifetime member. “I got on the Woodland Town Board early in the ’80s and Gene was the treasurer. Even though he was the treasurer and there were two other supervisors besides me, a lot of times when there was a decision to make, we would turn and say, ‘Gene, what do you think?’ He just always had a knack. Financially, Woodland Township has just been fantastic under his leadership.”
Janikula received multiple standing ovations from the appreciative audience, then he took time at the microphone to thank all of his colleagues in township government, and the many County Boards he worked with through the years…
“I want to take this opportunity to thank the Wright County Board of Commissioners – not only this board, but the previous boards. Through the years, they have given me the opportunity to work with them on different projects, they’ve always been cooperative and listened to our little Woodland Township requests. This group (of commissioners) is really doing a great job for Wright County and I want to thank them for that.”
Commissioner Kirby Moynagh added that Janikula will receive special recognition from Congressman Tom Emmer on the floor of the U-S House of Representatives and from Representative Joe McDonald on the floor of the Minnesota State Legislature.
(content: in part, courtesy Wright County)
