When Sen. Kari Dziedzic sits at her desk in a corner office in the Minnesota Senate Building, the dome of the Capitol building looms through the window behind her.
Dziedzic, DFL-Minneapolis, who grew up in Northeast Minneapolis, has taken on the job of Majority Leader in the Minnesota Senate, a job some people consider the second most important in state government.
“My job is to work with the caucus. The Democrats have 34 of the 67 seats in the Senate, and we will be working toward bills that can help Minnesotans. We do a lot of scheduling and coordinating.”
Much of her work is talking to elected officials on both sides of the aisle, “or to get talked at,” she said with a smile.
“What we heard on the campaign trial this past fall was that people are tired of gridlock. They want to get things done.”
She noted that one-third of the Senate is new this year, and she said that group in particular is eager to get moving. “They’re ready to get to work.”
Asked what her leadership style is, she said “collaborative.”
“I do a lot of listening. I’ve worked for Hennepin County, for the U.S. Senate and other places. A lot of the job is listening. You have to know what others have to say – it’s the only way to agreement.”
Dziedzic was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2012, winning a special election for the seat held by Sen. Larry Pogemiller, who also was Senate Majority Leader. Pogemiller had resigned to take a position in Gov. Mark Dayton’s administration.
She has been re-elected from her Northeast Minneapolis district four times.
She is the daughter of legendary Minneapolis City Council member and Park Board member Walt Dziedzic, and she is the sister of Joe Dziedzic, who played in the National Hockey League for the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Phoenix Coyotes. The family lived at 28th and Randolph and then later moved to 27th and Cleveland. She attended St. Charles Borromeo Elementary School.
Dziedzic is a graduate of Edison High School and the University of Minnesota, where her degree is in mechanical engineering. She got into politics as an aide to U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone and then worked as communications director for the Hennepin County Attorney, and then as a policy aide for County Commissioner Mark Stenglein.
She said growing up in Northeast was important to her and her growth. “Northeast is a very small community. I think people are civic minded. I think people have a lot of camaraderie and pride. Community spirit is still alive.”
She said when her parents were growing up, Northeast had a wave of immigration. “And now there’s another wave of immigrants, but, you know what, the spirit is the same.”
She said Gov. Tim Walz’s legislative agenda is similar to the Senate’s, focusing on children and education. “We align with a lot with the governor. Basically on the big picture we all agree.”
As the session goes on, she said she has promised her colleagues on both ends of the political spectrum that there will be many hearings. “We need to bring all of Minnesota to the table.”
“You’ve got to talk to all sides if you want to find the solution and to limit the unintended consequences of a bill. You need to find a solution that works for everyone.”
Asked how the legislature might deal with a projected half a billion shortfall in the Minneapolis School District by 2028, she said every district in the state is unique and has special needs. “I’m aware that kids in the Minneapolis and St. Paul districts have unique challenges.”
And Dziedzic said she has a long list of her own projects that are important to Northeast. She has worked for improvements on the Stone Arch Bridge, and she has endorsed a bill that would help students at the University of Minnesota, part of which is in her district, have greater rights with landlords.
“I have a long list of special projects. Park funding is very important for Northeast, and we’ve found out that the Grand Rounds in Minneapolis isn’t exactly round. There are some major gaps in Northeast.”
The session began on Jan. 3 and is expected to adjourn on May 22.
Kari Dziedzic’s tenure in the Legislature has given her the credibility to lead the Senate. (Provided by Minnesota Senate staff)
