Henry Kalis
Encyclopedia
Henry J. Kalis was a Minnesota
politician
and is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from southern Minnesota. First elected in 1974, Kalis was re-elected every two years until he opted not to seek re-election in 2002. A Democrat
, he represented the old Districts 30A and 29B and, later, 26B, which included all or portions of Blue Earth
, Faribault
, Freeborn
, Martin
and Waseca
counties, changing somewhat through redistricting
in 1980 and 1990. He was, along with senators Dennis Frederickson
, Earl Renneke
and Jim Vickerman
, and representatives Gilbert Esau
and Wendell Erickson
, one of the longest-serving legislators from southern Minnesota in the state's history.
, Kalis was a farmer
by profession. He served in the United States Army
and in the Minnesota National Guard
(Company A, 147th Division) before becoming active locally as a town treasurer and a township board member. He later served as a commissioner on the Faribault County Board before opting to run for the Minnesota House in 1974.
, and was a champion for farmers and agricultural issues
, and for transportation issues. He served on the House Agriculture, Appropriations, Capital Investment, Economic Development, Education, Environment & Natural Resources, Financial Institutions & Insurance, Health & Human Services, Judiciary, Local & Urban Affairs, Regulated Industries, Transportation, and Ways & Means committees, and on various other committee incarnations and subcommittees.
Kalis was chair of the House Transportation Committee from 1987–1992, and of the House Capital Investment Committee from 1993-1998. He also served as chair of numerous subcommittees through the years (Agriculture Subcommittee: Soil and Water Resources ; Appropriations Subcommittee: Agriculture, Transportation & Semi-State Division; Appropriations Subcommittee: Joint Claims; Local and Urban Affairs Subcommittee: Governmental Administration; and Transportation Subcommittee: Trunk Highways).
Kalis earned the distinction of being the first legislative candidate to file for office each year that he ran, often arriving at the Minnesota Secretary of State
’s Office in Saint Paul
early the morning of or even later in the day before the opening date for filing. His reason for doing this was, simply: “I enjoy this job and I think when you like something you should show people you like it.”
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
from southern Minnesota. First elected in 1974, Kalis was re-elected every two years until he opted not to seek re-election in 2002. A Democrat
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
, he represented the old Districts 30A and 29B and, later, 26B, which included all or portions of Blue Earth
Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Blue Earth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 64,013. Its county seat is Mankato.Blue Earth County is part of the Mankato–North Mankato Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, Faribault
Faribault County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,181 people, 6,652 households, and 4,476 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile . There were 7,247 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
, Freeborn
Freeborn County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,584 people, 13,356 households, and 9,015 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile . There were 13,996 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile...
, Martin
Martin County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 21,802 people, 9,067 households, and 6,047 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 9,800 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
and Waseca
Waseca County, Minnesota
-External links:**...
counties, changing somewhat through redistricting
Redistricting
Redistricting is the process of drawing United States electoral district boundaries, often in response to population changes determined by the results of the decennial census. In 36 states, the state legislature has primary responsibility for creating a redistricting plan, in many cases subject to...
in 1980 and 1990. He was, along with senators Dennis Frederickson
Dennis Frederickson
Dennis R. Frederickson is a Republican politician from Minnesota and a former Minnesota State Senator. He was first elected in 1980 when he ran for the seat being vacated by Senator Carl Jensen, who was appointed to the Minnesota Tax Court and did not seek re-election...
, Earl Renneke
Earl Renneke
Earl W. Renneke is a former Minnesota politician and a former member of the Minnesota Senate from southern Minnesota. He was first elected in a March 25, 1969, special election to fill the vacancy that arose due to the unexpected death of Senator Harold Popp in a traffic accident on February 21,...
and Jim Vickerman
Jim Vickerman
James Murray "Jim" Vickerman is a politician from Minnesota and a former Minnesota State Senator, first elected in 1986 in the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party's "firestorm" that swept southwestern Minnesota during the height of the 1980s Midwestern farm crisis. In that election, he...
, and representatives Gilbert Esau
Gilbert Esau
Gilbert D. Esau was a Minnesota politician and is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1962, Esau was re-elected in 1964, 1966 and 1968...
and Wendell Erickson
Wendell Erickson
Wendell O. Erickson was a Minnesota politician and is a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota.-Service in the Minnesota House:...
, one of the longest-serving legislators from southern Minnesota in the state's history.
Background
From the town of WaltersWalters, Minnesota
Walters is a city in Faribault County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 73 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
, Kalis was a farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
by profession. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and in the Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
(Company A, 147th Division) before becoming active locally as a town treasurer and a township board member. He later served as a commissioner on the Faribault County Board before opting to run for the Minnesota House in 1974.
Legislative experience and leadership
While in the legislature, Kalis earned a reputation as a conservative DemocratConservative Democrat
In American politics, a conservative Democrat is a Democratic Party member with conservative political views, or with views relatively conservative with respect to those of the national party...
, and was a champion for farmers and agricultural issues
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and for transportation issues. He served on the House Agriculture, Appropriations, Capital Investment, Economic Development, Education, Environment & Natural Resources, Financial Institutions & Insurance, Health & Human Services, Judiciary, Local & Urban Affairs, Regulated Industries, Transportation, and Ways & Means committees, and on various other committee incarnations and subcommittees.
Kalis was chair of the House Transportation Committee from 1987–1992, and of the House Capital Investment Committee from 1993-1998. He also served as chair of numerous subcommittees through the years (Agriculture Subcommittee: Soil and Water Resources ; Appropriations Subcommittee: Agriculture, Transportation & Semi-State Division; Appropriations Subcommittee: Joint Claims; Local and Urban Affairs Subcommittee: Governmental Administration; and Transportation Subcommittee: Trunk Highways).
Kalis earned the distinction of being the first legislative candidate to file for office each year that he ran, often arriving at the Minnesota Secretary of State
Minnesota Secretary of State
The Minnesota Secretary of State is the state secretary of state of the state of Minnesota.The Secretary of State is the keeper of the Great Seal of the State of Minnesota and files and certifies the authenticity of a wide variety of official documents...
’s Office in Saint Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
early the morning of or even later in the day before the opening date for filing. His reason for doing this was, simply: “I enjoy this job and I think when you like something you should show people you like it.”