Gov. Tim Pawlenty is considering Christy Jo Fogarty, Mary Riley and Wendy Wulff as the three finalists for the open Metropolitan Council seat in Dakota County.

The District 16 seat is open after the resignation of Brian McDaniel. Sixteen people had initially applied for the open seat. All 17 members of the regional government board are appointed by the governor.

The three finalists, the governor’s office said, are:

• Fogarty, of Farmington, who has been a member of the Farmington City Council since 2003 and serves on several government committees, including the Metropolitan Urban Services Area Committee, the Housing and Redevelopment and Economic Development authorities, and the  Vermillion River Watershed Planning Commission. She is a dental hygienist with New Art Dentistry in Hastings.

• Riley, of Rosemount, who chairs the Rosemount Port Authority, is treasurer of the SKB Community Trust Board and is a member of the Regional Dakota County Chamber of Commerce. She served on the Rosemount City Council from 2000 to 2004. Riley is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Burnet.

• Wulff, of Lakeville, who has been a member of the Lakeville City Council since 2003 and serves on the boards of such groups as the League of Minnesota Cities, Minnesota Women in City Government and the Metropolitan Legislative Commission. She is a self-employed web designer.