Mike Menning
Encyclopedia
Marion “Mike” Menning is a former politician
and a former member of the Minnesota Senate
and the Minnesota House of Representatives
from southwestern Minnesota
. He was first elected to the House as a representative of District 26A in 1974, served one term, and then ran successfully for the District 26 senate seat in 1976. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1980. Because of the 1980 redistricting
, that term was two years in duration. He represented all or portions of Murray
, Nobles
, Pipestone
and Rock
counties.
, Menning, a local businessman, made energy, agriculture, education and transportation his special concerns during his time in the legislature. While in the House, he served on the Agriculture, Commerce & Economic Development, and Transportation committees. In the Senate, he served on the Energy & Housing, Finance, Local Government, and Transportation committees, and on various sub-committees relevant to each area. During the 1981-83 session, he chaired the Finance Committee’s sub-committee on Semi-States/DOT (Minnesota Dept. of Transportation).
Menning’s brother-in-law, Gaylin Den Ouden, also served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1977 to 1987. From Prinsburg
, Den Ouden represented District 21B.
in 1983 to become a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota
. In 1986, he campaigned for the Republican endorsement for governor. However, the party’s endorsement eventually went to fellow southwest Minnesota resident Cal Ludeman
of Tracy
. Menning subsequently threw his support to Ludeman, who lost the November general election
to popular incumbent governor Rudy Perpich
.
. The book documented his family’s struggle to get help for their son, who was born with microcephaly
. During this time, he also became active in Friendship Ministries, a Christian
organization that works on behalf of children with special needs and their parents. He helped start groups or chapters of the organization in his home town of Edgerton, and also in Willmar
.
Putting politics aside, Menning eventually left Minnesota, moving to Salt Lake City, Utah
with his family, where he served as pastor of the Mountain Springs Community Church for five years, also continuing his work with Friendship Ministries. He also heads Global Partners, Inc., an area charitable organization.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and a former member of the Minnesota Senate
Minnesota Senate
The Minnesota Senate is the upper house in the Minnesota Legislature. There are 67 members, half as many as are in the Minnesota House of Representatives. In terms of membership, it is the largest upper house of any state legislature. Each Senate district in the state includes an A and B House...
and 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 southwestern Minnesota
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...
. He was first elected to the House as a representative of District 26A in 1974, served one term, and then ran successfully for the District 26 senate seat in 1976. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1980. Because of the 1980 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...
, that term was two years in duration. He represented all or portions of Murray
Murray County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,165 people, 3,722 households, and 2,601 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile . There were 4,357 housing units at an average density of 6 per square mile...
, Nobles
Nobles County, Minnesota
Nobles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of 2010, the population was 21,378. Its county seat is Worthington.-Geography:...
, Pipestone
Pipestone County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,895 people, 4,069 households, and 2,726 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile . There were 4,434 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile...
and Rock
Rock County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,721 people, 3,843 households, and 2,705 families residing in the county. The population density was 20 people per square mile . There were 4,137 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile...
counties.
Service in the Minnesota House and Senate
From the town of EdgertonEdgerton, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,033 people, 435 households, and 287 families residing in the city. The population density was 890.2 people per square mile . There were 477 housing units at an average density of 411.1 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.84% White, 0.29%...
, Menning, a local businessman, made energy, agriculture, education and transportation his special concerns during his time in the legislature. While in the House, he served on the Agriculture, Commerce & Economic Development, and Transportation committees. In the Senate, he served on the Energy & Housing, Finance, Local Government, and Transportation committees, and on various sub-committees relevant to each area. During the 1981-83 session, he chaired the Finance Committee’s sub-committee on Semi-States/DOT (Minnesota Dept. of Transportation).
Menning’s brother-in-law, Gaylin Den Ouden, also served in the Minnesota Legislature from 1977 to 1987. From Prinsburg
Prinsburg, Minnesota
Prinsburg is a city in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 497 at the 2010 census.-History:Prinsburg was originally platted in 1886 by Martin Prins, a partner in the Dutch real estate firm Prins and Zwanenburg...
, Den Ouden represented District 21B.
1986 gubernatorial run
After his service in the legislature concluded, Menning switched political parties, leaving the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor PartyMinnesota 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 1983 to become a member of the Republican Party of Minnesota
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:...
. In 1986, he campaigned for the Republican endorsement for governor. However, the party’s endorsement eventually went to fellow southwest Minnesota resident Cal Ludeman
Cal Ludeman
Cal R. Ludeman is a Minnesota politician, the current Secretary of the Minnesota Senate, and a former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from southwestern Minnesota. First elected in 1978, he was re-elected in 1980 and 1982...
of Tracy
Tracy, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,268 people, 922 households, and 533 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,045.2 people per square mile . There were 1,013 housing units at an average density of 466.8 per square mile...
. Menning subsequently threw his support to Ludeman, who lost the November general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
to popular incumbent governor Rudy Perpich
Rudy Perpich
Rudolph George "Rudy" Perpich, Sr. was an American politician and the longest-serving governor of Minnesota. A member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, he served as the 34th and 36th Governor of Minnesota from December 29, 1976 to January 4, 1979, and from January 3, 1983, to January 7, 1991...
.
Christian service and Friendship Ministries
In 1985, Menning co-authored the book “Us Four: A Senator, His Family, Their Brain Injured Child’’ along with Ruth Peterman of MinneapolisMinneapolis, 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...
. The book documented his family’s struggle to get help for their son, who was born with microcephaly
Microcephaly
Microcephaly is a neurodevelopmental disorder in which the circumference of the head is more than two standard deviations smaller than average for the person's age and sex. Microcephaly may be congenital or it may develop in the first few years of life...
. During this time, he also became active in Friendship Ministries, a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organization that works on behalf of children with special needs and their parents. He helped start groups or chapters of the organization in his home town of Edgerton, and also in Willmar
Willmar, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
.
Putting politics aside, Menning eventually left Minnesota, moving to Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
with his family, where he served as pastor of the Mountain Springs Community Church for five years, also continuing his work with Friendship Ministries. He also heads Global Partners, Inc., an area charitable organization.