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    Kelliher, Margaret Anderson

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1999-2010 (District 60A)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/11/1968
    Birth Place: Mankato, Minnesota
    Birth County: Blue Earth
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    Former Name: Anderson
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Community Organizer/Writer

    EDUCATION

    Mankato West High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1986
    Gustavus Adolphus College; B.A.; History and Political Science, 1990
    Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government; M.P.A.; Public Administration, Bush Leadership Fellow, 2006

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (Legislative Staff Member for Rep. Bob Vanasek); 19?? to 19??
    State Legislative Staff: Minnesota Senate (Assistant to Senate President Allan Spear); 199? to ?
    State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (Constituent Liaison); 1991 to 1995
    State Legislative Staff: Minnesota House of Representatives (Constituent Liaison); 1998 to 1998
    State Agency: Minnesota Department of Transportation (Commissioner, Appointed by Governor Tim Walz); 01/07/2019 to 03/01/2022 [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Environmental Quality Board (Appointed by Governor Tim Walz; Chair); 09/01/2021 to 08/04/2022 [Appointed]
    Municipal Government: Minneapolis, Minnesota (Public Works Director); 03/2022 to 01/02/2024
    Municipal Government: Minneapolis, Minnesota (City Operations Officer; 01/03/2024 to ?

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: David
    Children: Two children: Patrick (son) and Francis (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Marty Seifert  - Other - See Notes

    GENERAL NOTES

    Her middle name is also listed as Elaine.

    She grew up on a dairy farm in Blue Earth County, Minnesota.

    She ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party endorsed candidate for Minnesota Governor in the 2010 primary election. She lost the primary election to Mark Dayton.

    She ran for the 5th Congressional District in the 2018 election but did not win the primary.

    Her third cousin is married to Rep. Marty Seifert's first cousin.

    She was President of the Minnesota state 4-H.

    She was a Dairy Princess in the Midwest Dairy Association's Minnesota Dairy Princess Program.

    Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1999-2000.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4382

    SESSIONS SERVED

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60A
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60A
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Consultant
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2007 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60A
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Community Organizer/Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Deputy Minority Leader
    Leadership Notes: In January 2006 the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) caucus selected her to become Deputy Minority Leader.
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    Leadership Notes: She officially became Minority Leader on June 20, 2006; after Matt Entenza secured the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsement for Minnesota Attorney General.
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60A
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Community Organizer/Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60A
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Community Organizer/Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2001 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 60A
    Elected: 11/3/1998
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/5/1999 to 1/2/2001
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Community Organizer/Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2005 House Interview


    Video
    Women Making Change (Documentary). Minnesota: Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) and American Association of University Women, Red Wing Branch, Original Broadcast Date: September 25, 2011. (Video) 2011 - "Stories of vision and courage from women in Minnesota politics over the past century, leading and inspiring others." Includes former legislators Coya Knutson, Joan Growe, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Sandy Wollschlager, and Laura Brod (mentions Mee Moua).

    House Floor Retirement Speech, May 16, 2010 (Video) 2010


    Articles & Books About
    Radomski, Lauren. "Fulfilling Her 'Deal': Kelliher Leaving House After a Dozen Years, Maybe Not the Capitol." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, June 1, 2010, p. 41.

    Ostberg, Patty. "A New Leader for a New Majority: Kelliher Pledges Bipartisanship as She Takes Over as House Speaker." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 5, 2007, p. 6.

    Janovec, Patty. "House Floor Quarterbacks: Caucus Whips Kelliher and Seifert Wrangle Votes During House Debates." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 31, 2003, p. 15.

    Martin, Grant. "Kelliher Brings Unusual Mix of Rural, Urban Experience." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, March 5, 1999, p. 19.


    District Files

    District File - 2000 District 60A
    District File - 2002 District 60A
    District File - 2003 District 60A
    District File - 2004 District 60A
    District File - 2005 District 60A
    District File - 2006 District 60A
    District File - 2007 District 60A
    District File - 2008 District 60A
    District File - 2009 District 60A
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

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