Mary Kelly Kunesh ( ; 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 County, Minnesota, Ramsey, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Hennepin, and Anoka County, Minnesota, Anoka, and the cities of Fridley, Spring Lake Park, Columbia Heights, Minnesota, Columbia Heights, Hilltop, Minnesota, Hilltop, New Brighton, Minnesota, New Brighton, and St. Anthony, Minnesota, St. Anthony.

Early life, education, and career

Kunesh was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Saint Paul and raised in Sartell, Minnesota. Her mother is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and her father a former St. Cloud, Minnesota, St. Cloud City Attorney, and later Assistant Stearns County, Minnesota, Stearns County Attorney. She graduated from Cathedral High School (St. Cloud, Minnesota), Cathedral High School in St. Cloud, Minnesota. 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. 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 Teacher-librarian, library media specialist for Robbinsdale Area Schools, including Robbinsdale Middle School.

Minnesota House of Representatives

Kunesh was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in Minnesota House of Representatives election, 2016, 2016, succeeding DFL incumbent Carolyn Laine. She is one out of four Native American members of the Minnesota Legislature in her first term. After Carolyn Laine retired from the Senate in 2020, Kunesh campaigned for the Senate seat of the district.

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. She is currently serving on the following committees: * Education Finance and Policy * Redistricting * Ranking Minority Chair of Mining and Forestry Policy

Personal life

Kunesh resides in New Brighton, Minnesota. She has three children.

References

External links

Official House of Representatives website

Official campaign website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunesh-Podein, Mary Kelly 1960 births Living people Native American state legislators in Minnesota Native American women in politics People from Sartell, Minnesota Politicians from St. Cloud, Minnesota Politicians from Saint Paul, Minnesota St. Catherine University alumni St. Cloud State University alumni American librarians American women librarians Women state legislators in Minnesota Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives People from New Brighton, Minnesota 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians