One local lawmaker on her way to becoming a force within the House DFL caucus is Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park.
by T.W. Budig
ECM capitol reporter
One local lawmaker on her way to becoming a force within the House DFL caucus is Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park.
An attorney and lifelong north metro resident whose family built one of the better known businesses in the area, John's Auto Parts in Blaine, Hortman came to the Minnesota Legislature in 2004 after two losses.
She views the election setbacks as valuable - a reminder you're not above the masses but a member.
"It (adversity) makes you more sympathetic to other people's struggles," said Hortman, 36, wife and mother of two children. Hortman diagnoses herself as possessing "an active mind." Another lawmaker simply said she's bright.
If family members were asked of what they thought of Melissa, the term "workaholic" might pop up, Hortman suspects.
Her parents were quietly remarkable - her father had a letter of thanks from Gov. Rudy Perpich on the wall and her mother was a PTA president and a Girl Scout leader.
Notion of giving back
Active parents, mass on Sunday, by the time she was in sixth grade a notion of giving back had been planted.
In her first term, Hortman did what eager young lawmakers often do, grabbed a big concept - bringing the Olympic Games to Minnesota, in her case - and made it her issue.
Perceiving a gap in the caucus in members focusing on transportation, Hortman stepped in.
She now spends time between legislative sessions studying the science of moving people from Point A to Point B - no small concern in District 47B, she points out.
She believes caucus members trust her growing experitise.
Hortman's especially keen on detailing transportation's impact on greenhouse gases, which, in Minnesota, is the No. 1 source, she explained.
Although some veteran lawmakers ho-hum being an assistant majority leader, Hortman eagerly sought the post and is now one of a set of six. "It's fair to say I'm especially interested in being a leader in the caucus, and continuing to be a leader," she said. "I think leadership is about taking the initiative and moving forward in areas where work needs to get done," said Hortman.
Honing her leadership skills
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, whose opinion in these matter is not inconsequential, called Hortman "a quality legislator who's having the opportunity to hone her leadership skills."
Hortman frequently appears at House DFL press conferences, often at the podium. She seems comfortable in the empty stare of the camera lens, a poise that might be attributed to media training in law school.
Actually, the media training was gained on the job. Hortman represented a client in a lawsuit against a landlord that drew heavy media coverage - TV, newspapers, magazine.
In terms of sheer anxiety, representing a client in court - a client whose life can be lastingly hurt or bettered by the legal outcome - is more stressful than a gaggle of reporters, she opined.
Hortman sees the country as moving away from partisanship and legislators have done the same - House DFLers are trying, she explained.
She may be something of an example.
Works across the aisle
"We each wear different jerseys," said Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, of his Democratic north metro colleague. But where their interests cross, they work together. Abeler, who is something of a risk taker, sees that quality in Hortman.
Another Republican who speaks well of Hortman, Rep. Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover, views the second-termer as fitting her district.
"I think she'll be a legislator as long as she wants to be a legislator," said Tingelstad.
That may be for some time, but perhaps not for a long time.
Hortman doesn't think much of officials who view public office as career stepping stones unless they produce at each step.
What happens then in the next few years might determine what happens beyond that for her, at least in terms of public office.
Right now, Democrats control the Legislature.
It's time to get things done, she argues.
"Where do I want to be five years from now? I want Minnesota to have a first-class transportation system - one that Chicago will look and say,
ECM capitol reporter
One local lawmaker on her way to becoming a force within the House DFL caucus is Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park.
An attorney and lifelong north metro resident whose family built one of the better known businesses in the area, John's Auto Parts in Blaine, Hortman came to the Minnesota Legislature in 2004 after two losses.
She views the election setbacks as valuable - a reminder you're not above the masses but a member.
"It (adversity) makes you more sympathetic to other people's struggles," said Hortman, 36, wife and mother of two children. Hortman diagnoses herself as possessing "an active mind." Another lawmaker simply said she's bright.
Rep. Melissa Hortman
Her parents were quietly remarkable - her father had a letter of thanks from Gov. Rudy Perpich on the wall and her mother was a PTA president and a Girl Scout leader.
Notion of giving back
Active parents, mass on Sunday, by the time she was in sixth grade a notion of giving back had been planted.
In her first term, Hortman did what eager young lawmakers often do, grabbed a big concept - bringing the Olympic Games to Minnesota, in her case - and made it her issue.
Perceiving a gap in the caucus in members focusing on transportation, Hortman stepped in.
She now spends time between legislative sessions studying the science of moving people from Point A to Point B - no small concern in District 47B, she points out.
She believes caucus members trust her growing experitise.
Hortman's especially keen on detailing transportation's impact on greenhouse gases, which, in Minnesota, is the No. 1 source, she explained.
Although some veteran lawmakers ho-hum being an assistant majority leader, Hortman eagerly sought the post and is now one of a set of six. "It's fair to say I'm especially interested in being a leader in the caucus, and continuing to be a leader," she said. "I think leadership is about taking the initiative and moving forward in areas where work needs to get done," said Hortman.
Honing her leadership skills
House Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher, DFL-Minneapolis, whose opinion in these matter is not inconsequential, called Hortman "a quality legislator who's having the opportunity to hone her leadership skills."
Hortman frequently appears at House DFL press conferences, often at the podium. She seems comfortable in the empty stare of the camera lens, a poise that might be attributed to media training in law school.
Actually, the media training was gained on the job. Hortman represented a client in a lawsuit against a landlord that drew heavy media coverage - TV, newspapers, magazine.
In terms of sheer anxiety, representing a client in court - a client whose life can be lastingly hurt or bettered by the legal outcome - is more stressful than a gaggle of reporters, she opined.
Hortman sees the country as moving away from partisanship and legislators have done the same - House DFLers are trying, she explained.
She may be something of an example.
Works across the aisle
"We each wear different jerseys," said Rep. Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, of his Democratic north metro colleague. But where their interests cross, they work together. Abeler, who is something of a risk taker, sees that quality in Hortman.
Another Republican who speaks well of Hortman, Rep. Kathy Tingelstad, R-Andover, views the second-termer as fitting her district.
"I think she'll be a legislator as long as she wants to be a legislator," said Tingelstad.
That may be for some time, but perhaps not for a long time.
Hortman doesn't think much of officials who view public office as career stepping stones unless they produce at each step.
What happens then in the next few years might determine what happens beyond that for her, at least in terms of public office.
Right now, Democrats control the Legislature.
It's time to get things done, she argues.
"Where do I want to be five years from now? I want Minnesota to have a first-class transportation system - one that Chicago will look and say,
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