Shot in the Dark

Business Before Pleasure

Former Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Kari Dziedzic passed away last Friday after a protracted battle with cancer.  She was 62.

“Senator Kari Dziedzic was a passionate legislator, a respected leader, and a trusted colleague and friend. She will be remembered for her integrity and her compassion for Minnesotans, something that we all saw as she continued to serve even as she battled cancer,” said Senate Minority Leader Mark Johnson, an East Grand Forks Republican. “I’m deeply saddened at her passing and am praying for her family and friends as we all mourn this loss.”

She was the daughter of former City Councilmember Walt Dziedzic, who may have been the last genuine union moderate in Minneapolis politics.

Prayers and condolences to the Senator’s family. 

Her passing, along with other recent events, put the DFL in a bit of a bind – but I won’t pollute an obit with that. 

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Mitch Berg

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One response to “Business Before Pleasure”

  1. passout76 Avatar
    passout76

    Mitch, I first met Kari in the summer of 1984 when she had summer employment at Abbott-NW hospital where I was employed. Her dad, Walt, was buddies with the CFO at Abbott-NW. They were both proud Polish-Americans which no doubt helped her get the summer job. She impressed me a bit as she actually worked hard at her summer job.

    Several years ago I met her as she was working on some legislation on which Hennepin County had an interest (like everything). We chatted about her time at the hospital and she put me on her email list. There were very few things we agreed about politically but she at least presented issues honestly.

    I like to think her integrity came from her upbringing and father’s influence. Walt was a moderate, very interested in the common working man. Don Samuels might still hold the place of the last union “moderate” to have served on the Mpls city council.

    May God bring peace to Kari’s loved ones as they mourn her way too early death.

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