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    Zellers, Kurt

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    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.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4327

    SESSIONS SERVED

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 34B
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Maple Grove
    Term of Office: 1/8/2013 to 1/5/2015
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2013 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection Finance and Policy Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    • Taxes Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Maple Grove
    Term of Office: 1/4/2011 to 1/7/2013
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: None Listed
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Maple Grove
    Term of Office: 1/6/2009 to 1/3/2011
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Senior Account Executive, Minneapolis Public Relations Firm
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    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.
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Maple Grove
    Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/5/2009
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Senior Account Executive
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Labor Minutes
    • Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: State Government Finance Division Minutes
    • Taxes Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    84th Legislative Session (2005-2006)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 11/2/2004
    Residence: Maple Grove
    Term of Office: 1/4/2005 to 1/2/2007
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Communications Consultant
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2005 1st Sp.S. - Author
    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
    term photo
    Click to view

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 32B
    Elected: 2/25/2003
    Residence: Maple Grove
    Term of Office: 3/3/2003 to 1/3/2005 (Special Election)
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Communications Consultant, Minnesota House of Representatives GOP Caucus
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    Session Notes: He won the seat vacated by Rich Stanek.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Video
    Departing Member Interview (Video) 2014


    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

    District File - 2003 District 32B
    District File - 2004 District 32B
    District File - 2005 District 32B
    District File - 2006 District 32B
    District File - 2007 District 32B
    District File - 2008 District 32B
    District File - 2009 District 32B
    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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