Peggy Flanagan

Peggy Flanagan
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 46A district
Assumed office
November 9, 2015
Preceded by Ryan Winkler
Personal details
Born (1979-09-22) September 22, 1979
Political party Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party
Spouse(s) Tim Hellendrung
Children Siobhan
Residence St. Louis Park, Minnesota
Alma mater University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (B.A.)

Peggy Flanagan (born September 22, 1979, White Earth Band of Ojibwe) is a political activist and politician in Minnesota, serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2015. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), she represents District 46A in the western Twin Cities metropolitan area. She joined Susan Allen (Rosebud Sioux) as the only other Native in the Minnesota State House.

On July 28, 2016, Flanagan became the first Native American woman to address the Democratic National Convention (or any convention of a major party), from the podium.[1]

Flanagan has worked on issue of education and political organizing for urban Native Americans in Minneapolis, Minnesota, through the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. Elected to the city's School Board, she served from 2005 to 2009

Early life, education and career

Flanagan was raised by a single mother in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, just west of Minneapolis.[2] Flanagan attended local schools. She studied for college at the University of Minnesota, graduating with a bachelor's degree in child psychology in 2002.[3]

While in college, Flanagan worked for the campaign of Democratic US Senator Paul Wellstone, eventually becoming an organizer for the urban Native American community.[2] After college, she worked for the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, doing outreach work between Native American families and the Minneapolis public school system.[2]

Flanagan was elected to the Minneapolis Board of Education, serving from 2005 to 2009.[4] In 2008, she challenged state representative Joe Mullery in the Democratic primary, but dropped out of the race due to her mother's health problems.[2] After working in a handful of other jobs, Flanagan joined Wellstone Action as a trainer of activists, organizers, and candidates.[2] Flanagan also advocated for the successful 2014 effort to raise Minnesota's minimum wage.[2]

Minnesota legislature

Flanagan was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives unopposed in a special election on November 3, 2015, and was sworn-in on November 9, 2015.[5] Susan Allen (Rosebud) is the only other Native in the Minnesota State House.

According to Indian Country Today, two other Native women, Mary Kunesh-Podein (Standing Rock Lakota) and Jamie Becker Finn (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe), are running for state representative seats in November 2016. Chilah Brown (Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe) is running for the Minnesota Senate. If these candidates win, Flanagan says they can form a Native American caucus in the legislature. They will be able to represent issues of both urban and rural Native Americans and their other constituents in the legislature.[1]

2016 Democratic National Convention

Flanagan was invited to address the Democratic National Convention, speaking from the podium on July 28, 2016. She was the first Native American woman to address the DNC as an official speaker.[1]

Personal life

Flangan is a member of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe.[4] She and her husband, Tim Hellendrung, have a daughter and reside in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Suzette Brewer, "Peggy Flanagan, White Earth, Addresses DNC", Indian Country Today, 28 July 2016; accessed 31 July 2016
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bierschbach, Briana (4 November 2015). "The unopposed: Meet Minnesota's newest House member". MinnPost. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Representative Peggy Flanagan (DFL) District: 46A". Minnesota House of Representatives. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 Lopez, Ricardo (July 18, 2015). "Progressive activist Peggy Flanagan running unopposed for Minnesota House". Star Tribune. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  5. ↑ Montgomery, David H. (9 November 2015). "Flanagan sworn in as newest Minnesota lawmaker". Saint Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved 11 November 2015.


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