Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links
  • LRL Home
    • >
  • Legislators Past & Present
    • >
  • Member Record
    • Legislators Past & Present Home

    McNamara, Denny

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2003-2012 (District 57B); House 2013-2016 (District 54B)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Dakota, Washington

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 9/29/1952
    Birth Place: Hastings, Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Hastings
    Occupation (when first elected): Co-Owner, Nursery and Landscape Business; Landscape Contractor, Hoffman and McNamara Nursery and Landscape

    EDUCATION

    Archbishop Brady High School; Secondary;
    University of Minnesota, Duluth; Attended College; 2 years
    University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Business; B.S.; Business Administration, 1976

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Hastings, Minnesota (City Council's Natural Resources Board, 12 years); 19?? to ?

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Lynne
    Children: Two children: Mike and Brian (sons)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5110

    SESSIONS SERVED

    89th Legislative Session (2015-2016)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 54B
    Elected: 11/4/2014
    Residence: Hastings
    Term of Office: 1/6/2015 to 1/2/2017
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Small-Business Owner
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2015 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2015 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment & Natural Resources Policy & Finance (Chair) Minutes
    • Mining & Outdoor Recreation Policy Minutes
    • Transportation Policy & Finance Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 54B
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Hastings
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
    • Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Hastings
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance (Chair) Minutes
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Energy Minutes [The Energy Subcommittee was created in 2012.]
    • Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Policy and Finance: Legacy Funding Division Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Hastings
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner, Hoffman and McNamara Nursery and Landscaping
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Environment Policy and Oversight Minutes
    • Environment Policy and Oversight: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
    • Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Housing Finance and Policy and Public Health Finance Division Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Hastings
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner, Hoffman and McNamara Nursery and Landscape
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Game, Fish and Forestry Division Minutes
    • Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Environment and Natural Resources Finance Division: Drinking Water Source Protection Minutes
    • Finance: Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    Leadership Position: Minority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Hastings
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Small Business Owner, Hoffman and McNamara Nursery and Landscape
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Minutes
    • Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Minutes
    • Ways and Means Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57B
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Hastings
    Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/3/2005
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Co-Owner, Nursery and Landscape Business; Landscape Contractor, Hoffman and McNamara Nursery and Landscape
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Environment and Natural Resources Finance Minutes
    • Environment and Natural Resources Policy Minutes
    • Higher Education Finance Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Session Interviews
    Session Interview (Video) 2016 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2014 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2010 House Interview

    Session Interview (Video) 2006 House Interview


    Articles & Books About
    Cook, Mike. "Prepared for Work: Scars from the Campaign Trail Have Not Dampened McNamara's Desire to Deliver What Minnesotans Expect of Their Legislators." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 7, 2003



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

    Legislators Past & Present Home