Mark Andrew (politician)

Mark Charles Andrew (born July 15, 1950) is an American businessman and politician from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party and has served as Hennepin County Commissioner, representing the western portion of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park, as well as chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. He also served as chair of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party in 1995–1996. In 2007, Andrew founded GreenMark, an environmental marketing firm. In February 2013, Andrew announced his candidacy for mayor in the 2013 Minneapolis mayoral election.[7]

Mark Andrew
Andrew at the 2013 DFL Convention
Hennepin County Commissioner, 3rd District[1]
In office 1983–1999
Preceded by	Nancy Olkon[2]
Succeeded by	Gail Dorfman[1]
Constituency	Western portion of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park
Chair of Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party[3]
In office 1995–1997
Preceded by	Rick Stafford [4]
Succeeded by	Dick Senese[5]
Personal details
Born	Mark Charles Andrew July 15, 1950
Political party	Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Spouse(s)	Connie[6]
Children	Samantha and John[6]
Residence	Lynnhurst, Minneapolis[6]
Alma mater	University of Minnesota (B.A.)[6]
Occupation	Businessperson and politician
Website	www.markforminneapolis.com

Early life

Andrew grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Washburn High School in 1968.[6] As a student at the University of Minnesota, Andrew co-founded and served as the first president of the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group, a collective action student organization dedicated to public interest advocacy.[6][8][9] After graduating, Andrew worked in State Senator Roger Moe's office as an aide.[8] Following his work with Moe, Andrew worked as a consultant for state public television stations.[10]

Career

At age 32 in 1982, Andrew was elected Hennepin County Commissioner after receiving the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement over incumbent Nancy Olkon.[2][11] Andrew went on to win reelection in 1986, 1990, and 1994, serving as commissioner until he eventually resigned from the post in 1999.[12]

Andrew was part of the liberal wing of the Hennepin County Board during his time as a commissioner.[13] An environmental proponent, he sponsored a 1986 resolution establishing a program that required every city in the county to provide curbside recycling.[14] In 1990, he worked to expand the program by requiring recycling for rental apartments. Andrew pushed a statewide law aimed at recycling batteries in order to prevent leakage of toxic chemicals.[15]

Andrew introduced the original resolution at the county level for the Midtown Greenway, a bicycle path that runs through central Minneapolis, before the Hennepin County Regional Railroad Authority to purchase the 29th Street Rail corridor upon which the Greenway would eventually be built.[16] The Midtown Greenway Coalition referred to Andrew as "a hero in the history of the Midtown Greenway", noting that "he steered Hennepin County so that the Midtown Greenway was near the center of its radar screen, rather than a blip on the edge."[16]

In favor of pay equity, Andrew supported a plan for a "comparable worth" pay system aimed at equalizing pay between job classifications that are similar in difficulty and responsibility.[17] He also supported an expansion of Hennepin County's affirmative action policy, arguing access to equal employment opportunities is a basic civil right.[18]

Andrew quadrupled funding for childcare support services while in office.[19] He supported better wages for child care providers as a method for attracting well trained individuals.[20]

Andrew supported a resolution to allow reproductive health services and training at the Hennepin County Medical Center.[21] He also supported a successful initiative to provide funding for family planning services for lower-income women.[22] He led an effort in 1994 to provide health benefits for domestic partners of Hennepin County employees.[23] A resolution to provide benefits was passed but was later struck down judicially.[24]

In 1987, Andrew supported the building of a downtown trash incinerator, drawing protests from environmentalists.[25]

Andrew was elected to chair of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners in 1992 and served until 1995. He served as chair of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor party from 1995 to 1997.[3][5]

Mark Andrew was alleged to have been investigated by federal authorities regarding his role in a 2002 corruption and bribery incident.[26] Andrew was never indicted and the US Attorney's office refused to confirm Andrew was a target of investigation.[27][28]

Andrew founded GreenMark, an environmental marketing firm, in 2007.[6] The company has advised the Minnesota Twins on environmental issues related to their stadium. Andrew assisted Target Field, the Twins stadium located in Minneapolis, in obtaining the highest LEED rating of any ballpark in America as well as forging a partnership with Pentair to install a rainwater recycling system.[6][29] In July 2013, Andrew said that a public vote on municipalization of utilities would be "reckless."[30] Andrew's corporate website lists Xcel Energy as a client.[31]

Personal life

Since he was in college, Andrew has owned two different stands at the Minnesota State Fair: World's Greatest French Fries and Real S'mores.[6] He lives in the Lynnhurst neighborhood with his wife Connie and their two children.[6]

In December 2013, Andrew's smartphone was stolen at the Mall of America. When he tried to recover it, he was beaten with a nightstick.[32] Two of the three suspects were arrested.[33] After their guilty pleas, Andrew worked with a judge to prevent his attackers from going to prison; they were instead sentenced to counseling, mandatory high school graduation, and participation in the arts program of their choice.[34]

References

1. Editorial staff (March 23, 1999). "Gail Dorfman; She should win Hennepin board seat". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
2. Parsons, Jim (June 23, 1982). "Okun loses bid for DFL endorsement on first ballot". Minneapolis Star and Tribune.
3. Brunswick, Mark (March 1, 1995). "Hennepin board head to leave the post". Star Tribune. ProQuest 418748186. (subscription required)
4. Zeilen, L (January 6, 1997). "Richard Stafford, former DFL chair". Minnesota Public Radio. Archived from the original on October 17, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013.
5. Smith, Dane (January 6, 1997). "Dick Senese chosen as DFL party chair". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2013. (subscription required)
6. McKenzie, Sarah (April 4, 2013). "Mark Andrew prides himself on ability to bring people together". Southwest Journal. Archived from the original on October 22, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
7. Gilbert, Curtis (February 9, 2013). "Mark Andrew joins crowded mayoral field". Minnesota Public Radio News. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
8. Kimball, Joe (October 23, 1986). "DFL control at stake in County Board contests". Minneapolis Star and Tribune. ProQuest 417716700. (subscription required)
9. "History and Successes: Over Four Decades of Accomplishments". Minnesota Public Interest Research Group. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
10. Dullum, Gregory (October 6, 1986). "Resident challenges incumbent for county board". St. Louis Park Sun Sailor.
11. Benidt, Bruce (August 1985). "Mark Andrew's Radical Changes: A liberal measure of power politics". Twin Cities Reader.
12. Editorial staff (November 15, 1998). "Mark Andrew: He took county mission to heart". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 5, 2013. Retrieved May 29, 2013. (subscription required)
13. Brandt, Steve (November 9, 1990). "New faces on board in Hennepin County, but not much change". Star Tribune. ProQuest 418171417. (subscription required)
14. Parsons, Jim (March 16, 1988). "Hennepin County mandates recycling". Star Tribune. ProQuest 417896831. (subscription required)
15. Brandt, Steve (April 5, 1990). "Battery law sets rules for makers, users". Star Tribune. ProQuest 418131948. (subscription required)
16. Midtown Greenway Coalition (Winter 1991). "Salute to Mark Andrew". Thin Green Line. p. 1.
17. Kimball, Joe (August 29, 1984). "County votes job evaluation study". Star Tribune.
18. Champions of affirmative action. Minnesota Women's Press. January 1992.
19. Boros, Karen (March 25, 2013). "Minneapolis mayoral candidate Mark Andrew Q-A: 'I have the skill set and the relationships to succeed'". MinnPost. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
20. "Better child care wages supported by Mark Andrew". St. Louis Park Sun Sailor. May 18, 1983.
21. Aase, Sara (February 16, 1994). "Hennepin board OKs abortions at county hospital". Star Tribune. ProQuest 418590549. (subscription required)
22. Brandt, Steve (April 1, 1992). "Hennepin County moves toward releasing money for family planning". Star Tribune. ProQuest 418389547. (subscription required)
23. Brandt, Steve (April 27, 1994). "County may offer domestic partners health coverage in '95". Star Tribune. ProQuest 418455899. (subscription required)
24. "Minnesota county rejects same-sex partner benefits". American Association for Single People. October 11, 2000. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
25. Brandt, Steve (November 15, 1987). "Commissioner Andrew takes the heat for incinerator." Star Tribune.
26. Olson, Rochelle (November 27, 2002) "Plumbing work at Andrew home investigated". Star Tribune.
27. Olson, Rochelle (May 17, 2003). "Andrew won't be charged in probe". Star Tribune.
28. Olson, Rochelle, Paul McEnroe (May 17, 2003) "Andrew won't be charged in probe; Plumbing work was questioned" Star Tribune
29. "Twins' Target Field gets highest LEED rating of any ballpark in America". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media, L.P. Retrieved May 29, 2013.
30. Roper, Eric (July 29, 2013). "Mpls. mayoral candidate Mark Andrew slams vote on city-owned utility". Star Tribune.
31. GreenMark Sports. "GreenMark Sports - Our Clients Archived 2013-10-17 at the Wayback Machine". 3 Sep 2013.
32. Hanners, David (December 27, 2013). "Minneapolis mayoral candidate mugged for iPhone at Mall of America, charges say". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
33. Rao, Maya (December 27, 2013). "Police: iPhone thieves had cased MOA Starbucks before beating Mark Andrew". Star Tribune. Retrieved December 28, 2013.
34. MPR News Staff (November 25, 2014). "Young woman who beat Mark Andrew receives no jail time -- at his request". MPR News. Retrieved November 26, 2014.