Jacobs, Lawrence R.2021-01-272021-01-272012-01-19https://hdl.handle.net/11299/218165The Center for the Study of Politics and Governance is hosting a series of public talks by prominent government leaders as part of our ongoing commitment to fostering informed and substantive discussion on important matters of public policy. The series kicks off on January 17 and will continue throughout the Spring semester. Connecting with Government will allow Minnesota's elected officials the opportunity to rise above the talking points and fractious back-and-forth of the legislative process to make substantive statements about issues of importance for Minnesotans. It also creates a forum for students and citizens to listen and raise questions with their elected officials. Kurt Zellers is the current Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A Republican, he served as Minority Leader of the House from June 23, 2009, until becoming Speaker on January 4, 2011. He represents District 32B. He was first elected in a special election held on February 25, 2003. He was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. Zellers was born and raised on a farm in Grand Forks, North Dakota. He received his B.S. degree in political science from the University of North Dakota, where he had also been a member of the football team. He worked as communications director for U.S. Senator Rod Grams from 1994-2000, and as Communications Director for the Minnesota House Republican Caucus from 2000-2003 prior to being elected to the House himself. After his election, he took a position as a senior account executive with a Minneapolis public relations firm. Zellers became an assistant majority leader in 2003 and, after House control was won by the Democrats in the 2006 elections, continued as an assistant minority leader. During the 2009-2010 biennium, he was a member of the House Commerce and Labor Committee and the Taxes Committee. He also served on the Commerce and Labor Subcommittee for the Labor and Consumer Protection Division, and on the Finance Subcommittee for the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division. On June 23, 2009, Zellers was elected by the House Republican Caucus to succeed Rep. Marty Seifert as minority leader. On November 6, 2010, Zellers was selected by his caucus to serve as Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives for the 2011-2012 session.enPresentation