Kurt Zellers
Encyclopedia
Kurt Zellers is the current Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives
. A Republican
, he served as Minority Leader
of the House from June 23, 2009, until becoming Speaker on January 4, 2011. He represents District 32B, which includes portions of Hennepin County
in the northwestern Twin Cities
metropolitan area. He was first elected in a special election held on February 25, 2003. The seat became vacant when Rep. Rich Stanek resigned after being appointed Minnesota's Commissioner of Public Safety by Governor Tim Pawlenty
. He was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Zellers was born and raised on a farm in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He received his B.S.
degree in political science
from the University of North Dakota
, where he had also been a member of the football team. He worked as communications director for U.S. Senator Rod Grams
from 1994-2000, and as Communications Director for the Minnesota House Republican Caucus from 2000-2003 prior to being elected to the House himself. After his election, he took a position as a senior account executive
with a Minneapolis
public relations
firm.
Zellers became an assistant majority leader
in 2003 and, after House control was won by the Democrats
in the 2006 elections, continued as an assistant minority leader. During the 2009-2010 biennium, he was a member of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and the Taxes Committee. He also served on the Commerce and Labor Subcommittee for the Labor and Consumer Protection Division, and on the Finance Subcommittee for the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division.
On June 23, 2009, Zellers was elected by the House Republican Caucus to succeed Rep. Marty Seifert
as minority leader. Seifert had stepped down to focus on a potential race for governor. On November 6, 2010, Zellers was selected by his caucus to serve as Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives for the 2011-2012 session.
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...
. A Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
, he served as Minority Leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
of the House from June 23, 2009, until becoming Speaker on January 4, 2011. He represents District 32B, which includes portions of Hennepin County
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
in the northwestern Twin Cities
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
metropolitan area. He was first elected in a special election held on February 25, 2003. The seat became vacant when Rep. Rich Stanek resigned after being appointed Minnesota's Commissioner of Public Safety by Governor Tim Pawlenty
Tim Pawlenty
Timothy James "Tim" Pawlenty , also known affectionately among supporters as T-Paw, is an American politician who served as the 39th Governor of Minnesota . He was a Republican candidate for President of the United States in the 2012 election from May to August 2011...
. He was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Zellers was born and raised on a farm in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He received his B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from the University of North Dakota
University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public university in Grand Forks, North Dakota, USA. Established by the Dakota Territorial Assembly in 1883, six years before the establishment of the state of North Dakota, UND is the oldest and largest university in the state and enrolls over 14,000 students. ...
, where he had also been a member of the football team. He worked as communications director for U.S. Senator Rod Grams
Rod Grams
Rodney Dwight "Rod" Grams served the state of Minnesota in both the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.- Early life :...
from 1994-2000, and as Communications Director for the Minnesota House Republican Caucus from 2000-2003 prior to being elected to the House himself. After his election, he took a position as a senior account executive
Account executive
The job role executive admin. covers various descriptions depending on the specific industry covering mainly marketing role.In IT organizations, an account executives is a senior management role, responsible for executing large contracts. Control of the Profit & Loss is one of the main...
with a Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
firm.
Zellers became an assistant majority leader
Majority leader
In U.S. politics, the majority floor leader is a partisan position in a legislative body.In the federal Congress, the role differs slightly in the two houses. In the House of Representatives, which chooses its own presiding officer, the leader of the majority party is elected the Speaker of the...
in 2003 and, after House control was won by the Democrats
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...
in the 2006 elections, continued as an assistant minority leader. During the 2009-2010 biennium, he was a member of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and the Taxes Committee. He also served on the Commerce and Labor Subcommittee for the Labor and Consumer Protection Division, and on the Finance Subcommittee for the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division.
On June 23, 2009, Zellers was elected by the House Republican Caucus to succeed Rep. Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert
Marty Seifert is a former Republican Minority Leader and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. He represented District 21A, a predominantly rural district in southwestern Minnesota that includes portions of Lyon, Redwood and Yellow Medicine counties, and the cities of Marshall...
as minority leader. Seifert had stepped down to focus on a potential race for governor. On November 6, 2010, Zellers was selected by his caucus to serve as Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives for the 2011-2012 session.