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    Kunesh, Mary

    Official Senate Web Page Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2017-2020 (District 41B); Senate 2021-Present (District 41)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 11/20/1960
    Birth Place: ,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: American Indian
    Other Names:
    Former Name: Kunesh-Podein
    City of Residence (when first elected): New Brighton
    Occupation (when first elected): Library Media Specialist

    EDUCATION

    St. Catherine's University, St. Paul; B.A.; Elementary Education
    St. Cloud State University; M.A.; Information Media

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Board/Commission: New Brighton (Parks, Recreation and Environment); 2010 to 2016

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Tim
    Children: Three children: Elianne, Louisa, Elie
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special legislative concerns: Education, civil justice, environment, American Indian issues.

    During her State Representative tenure her name was Mary Kunesh-Podein.

    She is the first indigenous woman to serve in the Minnesota Senate.

    Her "mother and grandfather [were] enrolled members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe." (Minnesota Lawyer, April 27, 2017)

    She is a descendant of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. (MinnPost, March 23, 2017)

    She was a founding member of the Native American and People of Color & Indigenous (POCI) caucuses.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 1515

    SESSIONS SERVED

    92nd Legislative Session (2021-2022)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 41
    Elected: 11/3/2020
    Residence: New Brighton
    Term of Office: 1/5/2021 to 1/2/2023
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey
    Occupation: Library media specialist/legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Finance and Policy
    • Mining and Forestry Policy
    • Redistricting
    term photo
    Click to view

    91st Legislative Session (2019-2020)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 41B
    Elected: 11/6/2018
    Residence: New Brighton
    Term of Office: 1/8/2019 to 1/4/2021
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey
    Occupation: Educator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2020 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 1st Sp.S. - Author
    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 2nd Sp.S. - Author
    2020 4th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 4th Sp.S. - Author
    2020 5th Sp.S. - Chief Author    2020 5th Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Education Policy Minutes
    • Ethics Minutes
    • Ways & Means: Education Finance Division Minutes
    • Ways & Means: Health and Human Services Finance Division Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 41B
    Elected: 11/8/2016
    Residence: New Brighton
    Term of Office: 1/3/2017 to 1/7/2019
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey
    Occupation: Library Media Specialist
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Video
    2020 Departing House Member Speeches (Video) 2020



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

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