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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.

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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

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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:

Ways and Means Minutes

Leadership Position: Speaker of the House

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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:

Capital Investment Minutes
Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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.

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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:

Capital Investment Minutes
Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
Transportation Policy Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

Leadership Position: Minority Whip

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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

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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:

Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
Transportation Policy Minutes
Ways and Means Minutes

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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