Mary Kunesh-Podein
American politician
Mary Kelly Kunesh
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Member of the
Minnesota Senate
from the 39th district |
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Assumed office
January 5, 2021 |
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Preceded by | Carolyn Laine |
Member of the
Minnesota
House
of
Representatives
from the 41B district |
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In office
January 3, 2017 – January 5, 2021 |
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Preceded by | Carolyn Laine |
Succeeded by | Sandra Feist |
Personal details | |
Born |
(
1960-11-20
)
November 20, 1960
(age
62)
Saint Paul , Minnesota |
Political party | Democratic ( DFL ) |
Spouse | Timothy Podein (divorced) |
Children | 3 |
Residence | New Brighton, Minnesota |
Alma mater |
St. Catherine's University
St. Cloud State University |
Occupation |
Politician
Library media specialist |
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Mary Kelly Kunesh ( / ˈ k uː n ɛ ʃ / KOON-esh ; formerly Podein ; born November 20, 1960) is an American politician and member of the Minnesota State Senate. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 41, which includes parts of the counties of Ramsey , Hennepin , and Anoka , and the cities of Fridley, Spring Lake Park, Columbia Heights , Hilltop , New Brighton , and St. Anthony .
Early life, education, and career
Kunesh was born in Saint Paul and raised in Sartell, Minnesota . [1] [2] Her mother is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe , [3] and her father a former St. Cloud City Attorney, and later Assistant Stearns County Attorney. She graduated from Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota . [4] She attended St. Catherine University , graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in elementary education in 1995, and later St. Cloud State University , graduating with a Master of Arts in information media in 2010. [5] [6]
Kunesh was a member and chair of the New Brighton Parks, Recreation and Environmental Commission and was a candidate for the New Brighton City Council in 2013. She works as a library media specialist for Robbinsdale Area Schools , including Robbinsdale Middle School. [2]
Minnesota House of Representatives
Kunesh was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2016 , succeeding DFL incumbent Carolyn Laine . She is one out of four Native American members of the Minnesota Legislature in her first term. [7] After Laine retired from the Senate in 2020, Kunesh campaigned for the Senate seat of the district. [ citation needed ]
Minnesota State Senate
In 2020, Kunesh was elected into the Minnesota State Senate winning the general election against Lucia Vogel with over 66% of the vote. In 2023 Kunesh was elected Assistant Majority Leader of the state senate.
She is currently serving on the following committees:
- Agriculture, Broadband, & Rural Development
- Education Finance - chair
- Education Policy
- Environment, Climate, & Legacy
Personal life
Kunesh resides in New Brighton, Minnesota . She has three children. [1]
References
- 1 2 "Kunesh, Mary" . Minnesota Legislative Reference Library . Retrieved March 20, 2018 .
- 1 2 Poole, Jesse (May 18, 2016). "Kunesh endorsed by DFL for House District 41B seat" . Lillie Suburban Newspapers . Retrieved March 20, 2018 .
- ↑ Nelson, Todd (April 27, 2017). "Breaking the Ice: Daughter's activism inspired political bid" . Minnesota Lawyer . BridgeTower Media . Retrieved March 20, 2018 .
- ↑ "Class Notes" (PDF) . The Cathedral Magazine . Spring 2017. p. 22 . Retrieved March 20, 2018 .
- ↑ "Donor Tribute 2015–2016" . St. Catherine's University . Retrieved March 20, 2018 .
- ↑ "Mary Kunesh" . LinkedIn . Retrieved May 21, 2023 .
- ↑ Bierschbach, Briana (March 23, 2017). "Something new for the Minnesota Legislature: a caucus of first Minnesotans" . MinnPost . Retrieved March 20, 2018 .
External links
- Mary Kunesh-Podein at Minnesota Legislators Past & Present
- Official House of Representatives website
- Official campaign website