Leon Michael Lillie (born June 1961) is an American politician serving in the Minnesota House of Representatives since 2005. A member of the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL), Lillie represents District 44B in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which includes the cities of Oakdale, North St. Paul, and Maplewood and parts of Ramsey and Washington Counties.[1][2]
Leon Lillie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from the 44B district | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Scott Wasiluk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 1961 (age 63) |
| Political party | Democratic (DFL) |
| Spouse | Missy |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | North St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Education | University of Nottingham Luther College (B.A.) |
| Occupation |
|
| Website | Government website |
Early life, education and career
editLillie graduated from North High School in North Saint Paul, then attended the University of Nottingham in Nottingham, England, and Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, earning his B.S. in political science.[1]
Lillie served on the North Saint Paul City Council from 1995 to 2004, and unsuccessfully ran for Ramsey County Commissioner. When elected, he worked as a baggage handler and ramp agent for Northwest Airlines.[1]
Minnesota House of Representatives
editLillie was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2004 and has been reelected every two years since. He defeated two-term DFL incumbent Scott Wasiluk in a DFL primary after Wasiluk was caught on video drinking alcohol in his Capitol office.[1]
Since 2019, Lillie has chaired the Legacy Finance Division, which oversees the allocation of proceeds from a state sales tax increase passed in 2008. Those funds are designated to protect drinking water and wildlife habitat and to preserve arts and cultural heritage.[3] Lillie also sits on the Capital Investment, Rules and Legislative Administration, and Ways and Means Committees. He served as vice chair of the Commerce and Labor Committee from 2009 to 2010 and as an assistant majority leader for the House DFL caucus from 2013 to 2014.[1]
Legacy amendment funds
editLillie has served on the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which makes recommendations to the legislature on how Legacy Funds should be spent.[4][5] In 2022, he authored legislation to spend $159 million from the Legacy Fund to restore and enhance natural areas. Lillie called the bill, which was the result of negotiations with the Republican Senate, "a little bit disappointing" and called for further investments in subsequent years.[6]
Labor and union contracts
editLillie was a member of the Subcommittee on Employee Relations. In 2012, he criticized Republican members who voted to reject contracts for state employees containing a two percent pay raise.[7] In 2017, he voted to accept union contracts with MAPE and AFSCME, but was outvoted by Republicans.[8] Lillie spoke out against Republican plans to cut legislative staff in 2015, calling it "really not Minnesotan", and has opposed efforts to make union dues voluntary.[9][10] In 2020, he supported state workers' union contracts that included what he called "reasonable" salary increases.[11]
Other political positions
editLillie co-authored legislation to build a new Minnesota Vikings stadium, to be paid for in part by a local sales tax.[12] He voted for the final bill authorizing construction of the stadium.[13]
Electoral history
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie | 10,849 | 54.79 | |
| Republican | Jan Steiner | 7,673 | 38.75 | |
| Independence | Brian D. Balfanz | 1,250 | 6.31 | |
| Write-in | 28 | 0.14 | ||
| Total votes | 19,800 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 10,123 | 66.58 | |
| Republican | Tim Kinley | 5,059 | 33.27 | |
| Write-in | 23 | 0.15 | ||
| Total votes | 15,205 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 11,749 | 59.96 | |
| Republican | Christine Jacobson | 5,961 | 30.42 | |
| Independence | Bob Zick | 1,862 | 9.50 | |
| Write-in | 23 | 0.12 | ||
| Total votes | 19,595 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 7,810 | 56.24 | |
| Republican | Nathan M. Hansen | 5,136 | 36.98 | |
| Independence | Joseph Polencheck | 930 | 6.70 | |
| Write-in | 12 | 0.09 | ||
| Total votes | 13,888 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 12,445 | 60.42 | |
| Republican | Kevin J. Klein | 8,111 | 39.38 | |
| Write-in | 40 | 0.19 | ||
| Total votes | 20,596 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 7,891 | 58.08 | |
| Republican | Justice B. Whitethorn | 5,672 | 41.75 | |
| Write-in | 23 | 0.17 | ||
| Total votes | 13,586 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 12,017 | 59.52 | |
| Republican | Nathan Hansen | 8,123 | 40.23 | |
| Write-in | 49 | 0.24 | ||
| Total votes | 20,189 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 11,253 | 62.31 | |
| Republican | Rachael Bucholz | 6,788 | 37.59 | |
| Write-in | 19 | 0.11 | ||
| Total votes | 18,060 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 12,651 | 56.70 | |
| Republican | Jordan Herzog | 8,330 | 37.33 | |
| Veterans Party - Minnesota | Antonio Nerios | 1,309 | 5.87 | |
| Write-in | 22 | 0.10 | ||
| Total votes | 22,312 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic (DFL) | Leon Lillie (incumbent) | 9,197 | 56.60 | |
| Republican | William Johnston | 6,260 | 38.52 | |
| Libertarian | TJ Hawthorne | 785 | 4.83 | |
| Write-in | 8 | 0.05 | ||
| Total votes | 16,250 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic (DFL) hold | ||||
Personal life
editLillie is married and has three children. His brother, Ted Lillie, a Republican, was a member of the Minnesota Senate from 2011 to 2012.[1] He is Lutheran.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Legislator Record – Lillie, Leon M". Leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
- ^ "Rep. Leon Lillie (44B) - Minnesota House of Representatives". www.house.mn.gov. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "About the Funds". Minnesota's Legacy. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- ^ Dunbar, Elizabeth (February 10, 2017). "Retired from House, McNamara still has hand on Legacy". MPR News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Dennie (January 17, 2019). "Habitat funding amendment was a bet that paid". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Van Berkel, Jessie (May 28, 2022). "Minnesota legislators dedicate $159M to outdoor areas". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Aslanian, Sasha (August 30, 2012). "GOP-led panel rejects contracts for 27K Minn. public workers". MPR News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Pheifer, Pat (October 6, 2017). "Party-line vote recommends Minnesota Legislature rejects union contracts with 30,000 state workers". Star Tribune. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Pugmire, Tim (April 15, 2015). "House Republicans want to slash state govt. spending". MPR News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Bakst, Brian (February 22, 2018). "MN Legislature closes book on Dayton veto fight, approves funds". MPR News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Pugmire, Tim (May 12, 2020). "State workers may lose pay raise as economy tanks". MPR News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Nelson, Tim (April 8, 2011). "Lawmakers submit bill for new Vikings stadium". MPR News. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ Nehil, Tom; Palazzolo, Alan (May 8, 2012). "House Stadium bill: How they voted". MinnPost. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- ^ "2004 Results for State Representative District 55A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2006 Results for State Representative District 55A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2004 Results for State Representative District 55A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2010 Results for State Representative District 55A". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2012 Results for State Representative District 43B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2014 Results for State Representative District 43B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2016 Results for State Representative District 43B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2018 Results for State Representative District 43B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2020 Results for State Representative District 43B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.
- ^ "2022 Results for State Representative District 44B". Minnesota Secretary of State. Retrieved February 22, 2023.