Steve Kelley
Encyclopedia
Steve Kelley is a former Minnesota
state Senator
. In 2006, he received the Democratic-Farmer-Labor
endorsement for Attorney General. Kelley served in the Minnesota Senate
from 1997 to 2007; he previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives
from 1993 to 1997. He is currently a Senior Fellow the at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota
and the Director of the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy. Kelley ran for Governor of Minnesota in 2010 and is a frequent political candidate having run unsuccessfully for four political offices in four years (State Senate, Attorney General and Governor twice).
During his tenure in the senate, Kelley authored legislation to defend against identity theft, prevent companies from "phishing" for personal information online, and require hospitals to report medical errors. He was the chair of the Education Committee and a strong advocate for schools.
Kelley has been a proponent of a new stadium deal for the Minnesota Twins
, and was a principal sponsor of the controversial 0.15 percent sales tax increase in Hennepin County
, the proceeds of which will be used to fund approximately three-fourths of the projected cost of the new ballpark in addition to a number of transit projects in the metro area. This plan also required voter approval.
Kelley received his B.A.
from Williams College
and his J.D.
from the Columbia Law School
.
He practiced law for 20 years. During this time, Kelley represented clients who could not afford an attorney, public housing tenants, and plaintiffs in business disputes. He served as a consumer advocate on numerous boards in Minnesota.
In early 2007, Kelley joined the Blandin Foundation Broadband Strategy Board, which is working towards a broadband vision for Minnesota: To ensure a high quality of life and a globally competitive future for its citizens, businesses and communities, Minnesota is committed to making the necessary investment to become a world leader in the universal deployment and use of ultra high-speed next generation broadband.
He is married to Sophia Kelley and has two adult children.
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...
state Senator
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...
. In 2006, he received the Democratic-Farmer-Labor
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...
endorsement for Attorney General. Kelley served in 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...
from 1997 to 2007; he previously served in 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 1993 to 1997. He is currently a Senior Fellow the at the Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
and the Director of the Center for Science, Technology, and Public Policy. Kelley ran for Governor of Minnesota in 2010 and is a frequent political candidate having run unsuccessfully for four political offices in four years (State Senate, Attorney General and Governor twice).
During his tenure in the senate, Kelley authored legislation to defend against identity theft, prevent companies from "phishing" for personal information online, and require hospitals to report medical errors. He was the chair of the Education Committee and a strong advocate for schools.
Kelley has been a proponent of a new stadium deal for the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, and was a principal sponsor of the controversial 0.15 percent sales tax increase in 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...
, the proceeds of which will be used to fund approximately three-fourths of the projected cost of the new ballpark in addition to a number of transit projects in the metro area. This plan also required voter approval.
Kelley received his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
and his J.D.
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
from the Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School
Columbia Law School, founded in 1858, is one of the oldest and most prestigious law schools in the United States. A member of the Ivy League, Columbia Law School is one of the professional graduate schools of Columbia University in New York City. It offers the J.D., LL.M., and J.S.D. degrees in...
.
He practiced law for 20 years. During this time, Kelley represented clients who could not afford an attorney, public housing tenants, and plaintiffs in business disputes. He served as a consumer advocate on numerous boards in Minnesota.
In early 2007, Kelley joined the Blandin Foundation Broadband Strategy Board, which is working towards a broadband vision for Minnesota: To ensure a high quality of life and a globally competitive future for its citizens, businesses and communities, Minnesota is committed to making the necessary investment to become a world leader in the universal deployment and use of ultra high-speed next generation broadband.
He is married to Sophia Kelley and has two adult children.
Electoral history
- 2006 Race for state Attorney General - Democratic Primary
- Lori SwansonLori SwansonLori Swanson is the Attorney General of the US state of Minnesota. She was elected on November 7, 2006, and took office on January 2, 2007, succeeding Mike Hatch, who declined to run for re-election in order to run for governor...
(DFL), 42% - Steve Kelley (DFL), 37%
- Bill LutherBill LutherWilliam Paul "Bill" Luther is an American politician. Luther was a Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party member of the United States House of Representatives from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 2003, serving in the 104th, 105th, 106th, and 107th congresses, representing Minnesota's 6th congressional...
(DFL), 21%
- Lori Swanson
See also
- Minnesota gubernatorial election, 2010#Announced 2.