Tara Mack

Tara Kay Mack (née Tara Klongerbo; born June 26, 1983) is a Minnesota politician and former member of the Minnesota House of Representatives. A member of the Republican Party of Minnesota, she represented District 57A, which included portions of the cities of Apple Valley and Lakeville in Dakota County, which is in the southeastern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area.[1]

Tara Mack
Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
from the 57A district
37A (2009–2013)
In office
January 6, 2009 – January 2, 2017
Preceded byShelley Madore
Succeeded byErin Maye Quade
Personal details
Born (1983-06-26) June 26, 1983
Burnsville, Minnesota
Political partyRepublican
SpouseJustin
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Minnesota

Early life, education, and career

Mack graduated from Apple Valley High School in Apple Valley in 2002, then went on to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, earning a bachelor's degree in Political Science/Global Studies.[2][3] During college, she served as an intern for then-Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Steve Sviggum, and was also a page for the House Ways and Means Committee.[4]

Minnesota House of Representatives

Mack was first elected in 2008,[5] defeating first-term Democrat Shelly Madore. She was re-elected in 2010,[6] 2012,[7] and 2014.[8] During her first two terms, the Apple Valley-based seat was numbered Minnesota House District 37A. After redistricting in 2012, the seat was known as Minnesota House District 57A.

Minnesota House of Representatives,

District 37A General Election, 2008

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Tara Mack 52.2% 11,666
Democrat Shelly Madore 47.6% 10,633
Write-In 36
Total Votes 22,335
Minnesota House of Representatives,

District 37A General Election, 2010

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Tara Mack (inc.) 60.5% 9,675
Democrat Derrick Lindstrom 39.4% 6,301
Write-In .1% 14
Total Votes 15,990
Minnesota House of Representatives,

District 57A General Election, 2012

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Tara Mack (inc.) 53.5% 11,420
Democrat Roberta Gibbons 46.5% 9,941
Write-In .17% 36
Total Votes 21,397
Minnesota House of Representatives,

District 57A General Election, 2014

Party Candidate Vote % Votes
Republican Tara Mack (inc.) 58.4% 8,347
Democrat Bruce Folken 41.5% 5,931
Write-In .04 6
Total Votes 14,290

From 2015 to 2016, Mack served as chair of the House Health & Human Services Reform Committee.[4] As chair, she opposed the MNsure health insurance website.[9][10] Mack was a supporter of maintaining the Minnesota Sex Offender Program and opposed unconditional release of violent predatory offenders.[11][12]

She worked for the Minnesota House as a legislative assistant to Rep. Matt Dean and Rep. Joe Hoppe prior to her election.[1]

On August 25, 2015, a park ranger cited Mack for "public nuisance" for allegedly "making out" with fellow Minnesota State Representative Tim Kelly in Lebanon Hills Regional Park.[13][14][15] Mack and Kelly initially claimed the report was "completely false," and Mack continues to dispute certain "details of the park ranger's report."[16][17] On September 14, 2015, Mack apologized to law enforcement for her handling of the situation and resigned from the House Ethics Committee.[18][19][20]

In February 2016, Mack announced her retirement from the Minnesota House of Representatives.[21]

Personal life

Mack is a member of the Burnsville YMCA Board, a former member of the Apple Valley Rotary, and both the Apple Valley and Burnsville chambers of commerce.[22][23] She was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.[24] Her husband, Justin Mack, is a pastor and they have two children.[25]

References
  1. "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Mack, Tara Kay". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  2. "Mack, Tara Kay". www.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  3. "APPLE VALLEY: Tara Mack seeks endorsement for House 37A seat". archives.ecmpublishers.info. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  4. "Mack, Tara Kay - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  5. "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  6. "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  7. "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  8. "MN Election Results". electionresults.sos.state.mn.us. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  9. Richert, Catharine. "Legislators move MNsure changes". Capitol View. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  10. "Counterpoint: MNsure is hurting folks, not helping them". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  11. "Federal judge orders changes to Minnesota Sex Offender Program". Twin Cities. October 28, 2015. Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  12. Pope, Jason. "First sex offender to be freed unconditionally from program". Retrieved April 25, 2018.
  13. Tad Johnson (September 11, 2015). "Emails, deputy's full report released in Mack-Kelly case". Sun This Week. ECM Publishers. New information in the public nuisance case involving state Reps. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley...
  14. "Caught with pants down, lawmakers deny everything, blame park ranger". Detroit Lakes Online. Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. September 2, 2015. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  15. "Lawmakers accused of 'making out' in Eagan park, strongly deny accusations". TwinCities.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  16. "Citation: two lawmakers caught 'making out' in park; lawmakers: 'completely false' and a 'lie' - The Political Animal". TwinCities.com. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
  17. Pugmire, Tim. "Rep. Mack moves on, disputes 'making out' allegations". Capitol View. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  18. Pugmire, Tim (September 14, 2015). "'Making out' lawmakers apologize, quit ethics panel". Minnesota Public Radio News. Retrieved September 14, 2015.
  19. FOX. "Indirect apology from Minnesota reps who accused ranger of lying". KMSP. Retrieved July 1, 2018.
  20. Jacobson, Anne (September 17, 2015). "Lawmakers apologize, leave ethics panel". Red Wing Republican Eagle. Red Wing, Minnesota. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  21. Mongtomery, Dacid (April 2, 2016). "Minnesota legislative leader Rep. Tara Mack won't seek re-election". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
  22. "Project Vote Smart - Representative Tara Mack - Biography". Votesmart.org. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  23. "Minnesota State representative |". Tara Mack. Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  24. "Hodges begins national leadership program in Colorado". MinnPost. January 30, 2015. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  25. Mack, Tara. Speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, DC, March 7, 2014.
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