Zellers, Kurt
House 2003-2012 (District 32B); House 2013-2014 (District 34B)
Party when first elected: Republican
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
10/16/1969
Birth Place:
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Birth County:
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Lutheran
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Maple Grove
Occupation (when first elected):
Communications Consultant, Minnesota House of Representatives GOP Caucus
EDUCATION
Devil's Lake High School, North Dakota; Secondary;
University of North Dakota; B.S.; Political Science
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States Senate (Communications Director for United States Senator Rod Grams);
1994 to 2000
State Legislative Staff:
Minnesota House of Representatives (Republican Caucus, Communications Director/Direcotr of Public Affairs for Representative Steve Sviggum);
200? to 2003
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Kimberly "Kim" (married in December 2002)
Children:
Two children: Reagan Hope (daughter), William "Will" (son), Bennett (son)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He had some German ancestry.
He was raised on a farm in Devil's Lake, North Dakota. He moved to Minnesota in 1993.
He was on the football team at the University of North Dakota.
Religion provided by the 2006 WCCO TV Voters' Election Guide.
He unsuccessfully sought the Republican Party endorsement to run for Minnesota Governor in the 2014 election. He lost the endorsement to Jeff Johnson, ran in the primary without endorsement, and lost the primary election.
Body:
House
District:
34B
Elected:
11/6/2012
Residence:
Maple Grove
Term of Office:
1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
None Listed
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy
Minutes
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Minutes
-
Taxes
Minutes
Body:
House
District:
32B
Elected:
11/2/2010
Residence:
Maple Grove
Term of Office:
1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
None Listed
Party:
Republican
Committees:
Leadership Position:
Speaker of the House
Body:
House
District:
32B
Elected:
11/4/2008
Residence:
Maple Grove
Term of Office:
1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Senior Account Executive, Minneapolis Public Relations Firm
Party:
Republican
Special Session Bills Authored: 2010 2nd Sp.S. - Author
Committees:
-
Commerce and Labor
Minutes
-
Commerce and Labor: Labor and Consumer Protection Division
Minutes
-
Finance: Transportation Finance and Policy Division: Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division
Minutes
[He was a member in 2009 only.]
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Minutes
[He was a member in 2010 only.]
-
Taxes
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Minority Leader
Leadership Notes: He was elected by the Republican caucus to be Minority Leader on June 23, 2009.
Body:
House
District:
32B
Elected:
11/7/2006
Residence:
Maple Grove
Term of Office:
1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Senior Account Executive
Party:
Republican
Leadership Position:
Assistant Minority Leader
Body:
House
District:
32B
Elected:
11/2/2004
Residence:
Maple Grove
Term of Office:
1/3/2005 to 12/31/2006
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Communications Consultant
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce and Financial Institutions
Minutes
-
Commerce and Financial Institutions: Technology, Bioscience and Medical Products Division
Minutes
-
Regulated Industries
Minutes
-
Regulated Industries: Gaming Division
Minutes
-
Taxes
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Body:
House
District:
32B
Elected:
2/25/2003
Residence:
Maple Grove
Term of Office:
3/3/2003 to 1/2/2005
(Special Election)
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Communications Consultant, Minnesota House of Representatives GOP Caucus
Party:
Republican
Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
Leadership Position:
Assistant Majority Leader
Session Notes:
He won the special election held due to the appointment of Rich Stanek as the commissioner of Public Safety. He was sworn in prior to March 3, 2003 according to the House Journal.
Articles & Books About
-
Kliewer, Laura. "Speaker Kurt Zellers. 'Farm Kid' from North Dakota Now Leading Efforts in Adopted Home State of Minnesota to Reform, Modernize Government." Stateline Midwest, November 2011, p. 8.
-
Janovec, Patty. "Out Front, As Newest Member of the House, Zellers Moves From Behind the Scenes Advisor to Role as Decision Maker." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 4, 2003, p. 30.
-
Busse, Nick. "Big Plans, Short Session/Zellers and Thissen Preview the 2012 Session." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 27, 2012, p. 3-5
District Files
2003 (32B)
2004 (32B)
2005 (32B)
2007 (32B)
2008 (32B)
2009 (32B)
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
Video
The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.