Shelley Madore served as a Minnesota State Representative to District 37A from 2007-2009. During her tenure, she was recognized for her work in education, health care and transportation. She is a long-time community activist and volunteer in the areas of urban affairs, transportation and disability advocacy. She ran for the United States Congress in Minnesota's Second Congressional District in 2010.

Education

Madore holds a degree in business administration and has spent fifteen years working in marketing and business management. For two school years, Madore worked at a Minneapolis charter school and took public transportation to work. She is a graduate of Partners in Policymaking through the Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.

Madore and her two children have lived in Apple Valley for 19 years. Madore and her young family moved to Apple Valley, Minnesota from Boston in 1991. Impressed with the local Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) program, she quickly became a volunteer for that and many other important community interests. When both of her children were subsequently diagnosed with disabilities, Madore began undertaking disability advocacy.

Transition

One day Madore heard a state representative on the radio, justifying his position to cut money from a program to assist children with special needs by saying their families should just budget better for uncovered expenses, like he did to cover sports participation fees for his son. She drove to the State Capitol and met wiih that legislator. The man was unmoved by her story of struggle, mentioning that she was not a constituent from his district, and returned to his seat. Madore told that man she would be back to change things, and the next year she ran for State Representative in District 37A, Apple Valley. When she won in 2006, she was the first Democrat in 30 years to be elected in that district.

House member

While a member of the Minnesota House, Madore focused on the issues of transportation, education, health care, disabilities advocacy, conservation and property tax relief. She was made Vice-Chair of the Transportation and Transit Subcommittee and the Minnesota Public Transit Association (MPTA) named Shelley a "2007 Friend of Transit" award winner. The award was established to recognize excellence in public transit services and public transit advocacy in Minnesota.

Legislative accomplishments

• Minnesota State Representative, House District 37A
• Minnesota Public Transit Association "2007 Friend of Transit"
• Madore Amendment, which passed with bipartisan support, brought more than $5 million to the Second Congressional District for road construction and maintenance.
• First legislator to convene a Disabilities Working Group, focusing on transportation, housing, educational services, jobs and protection of vulnerable adults
• Authored the first major piece of legislation to strengthen state guardian and trust regulations.
• Children's Defense Fund 2007 "Legislative Children's Champion"
• 100% Rating by Conservation Minnesota for 2007.
• Recognized by St. Paul Radiology for helping pass the Freedom to Breathe Act for smoke-free workplaces

Community service and policy advocacy

• Metropolitan Council for Independent Living (MCIL) board member
• I35W Solutions Alliance
• Independent School District 196: Special Education Advisory Council, Marketing and Promotions Committee, ECFE Advisory Council Legislative Committee
• City of Apple Valley Urban Affairs Committee
• National Night Out Neighborhood Organizer
• Arc Great Rivers, Family Facilitator and Community Activist
• Founder of America’s only Cub Scout Pack designed to meet the needs of boys with Asperger Syndrome.

External links

• Madore for Congress