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Kelley, Steve P.

House 1993-96 (District 44A); Senate 1997-2006 (District 44)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Hennepin

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 1/8/1953
Birth Place: Minnetonka, Minnesota
Birth County: Hennepin
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death:
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Hopkins
Occupation (when first elected): Lawyer

EDUCATION

Blake High School; Secondary;
Williams College, Massachusetts; B.A.; Political Economy
Columbia University Law School; J.D.; 1978

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Board of Medical Practice (Public Member); [Dates Unknown]
Judicial Administration: U.S. Court of Appeals (Clerk to Judge Leonard P. Moore); 1978 to 1979
State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Commerce Department (Commissioner, Appointed by Governor Tim Walz); 01/07/2019 to ? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Sophie Bell Kelley
Children: Two children: Paul and Eleanor
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: property taxes, education, telecommunications and technology, health care licensing, health care, tax policy.

He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota House of Representatives in the 1984 election.

He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for the U.S. Senate in the 2000 election. He dropped out during the convention balloting process.

He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for Governor of Minnesota in 2006. The endorsement for the primary was given to Mike Hatch.

He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor primary endorsement for Minnesota Attorney General in 2006 after Matt Entenza dropped out of the race. He lost the primary endorsement to Lori Swanson.

He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for Minnesota Governor in the 2010 election. He dropped out of the race in February 2010, shortly after the party precinct caucuses were held.

Total Days Served: 5111

SESSIONS SERVED

84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 44
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Education (Chair)
  • Finance: K-12 Education Budget Division
  • Health and Family Security
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Energy
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Housing
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Telecommunications and Technology (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration: Technology
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 44
Elected: 11/5/2002
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004 [He was a member in 2003 only.]
  • Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004: Liquor
  • Commerce and Utilities-2003/Commerce-2004: Telecommunications and Technology (Chair)
  • Education (Chair)
  • Finance: Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Budget Division-2003/K-12 Education Budget Division-2004
  • Health and Family Security
  • Jobs, Housing and Community Development-2003/Jobs, Energy and Community Development-2004 [He was a member in 2004 only.]
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 44
Elected: 11/7/2000
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Special Session Bills Authored:  2002 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2002 1st Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Higher Education Budget Division
  • Education: Technology
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Property Tax Budget Division
  • Telecommunications, Energy and Utilities
Leadership Position: Majority Whip

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 44
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Children, Families and Learning
  • Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Electric Energy Deregulation
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Telecommunications and Technology (Chair)
  • Local and Metropolitan Government
  • Taxes
  • Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 44
Elected: 11/5/1996
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Attorney
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Children, Families and Learning
  • Children, Families and Learning/Education Finance: Higher Education Budget Division
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Electric Energy Deregulation
  • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Telecommunications and Technology (Chair)
  • Local and Metropolitan Government
  • Taxes
  • Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 44A
Elected: 11/8/1994
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/3/1995 to 1/6/1997
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: University of Minnesota Finance Division
  • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
  • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Metropolitan Government (Chair)
  • Regulated Industries and Energy
  • Taxes
  • Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division

78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

  Session Details
Body: House
District: 44A
Elected: 11/3/1992
Residence: Hopkins
Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/2/1995
Counties Represented: Hennepin
Occupation: Lawyer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Education
  • Education: Higher Education Finance Division
  • Education: Higher Education Policy
  • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
  • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Metropolitan Government
  • Regulated Industries and Energy
Articles & Books About
Samaha, Adam. "Kelley to Focus on Improved Governmental Services." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 29, 1993, p. 18.


District Files

District File - 2000 District 44
District File - 2002 District 44
District File - 2001 District 44
District File - 2003 District 44
District File - 2004 District 44
District File - 2005 District 44
District File - 2006 District 44
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.