{{Short description|American politician (born 1983)}} {{pp|small=yes}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Tara Mack | image = Tara Mack 2014 (cropped).jpg | prior_term = 37A (2009–2013) | term_start = January 6, 2009 | term_end = January 2, 2017 | preceded = Shelley Madore | succeeded = Erin Maye Quade | party = Republican | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1983|6|26}} | birth_place = Burnsville, Minnesota | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater = University of Minnesota | occupation = | spouse = Justin | children = 2| | office = Member of the Minnesota House of Representatives | constituency = District 57A (2013–2017)<br/ >District 37A (2009–2013) }} '''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.<ref name="state1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail.asp?ID=15308 |title=Minnesota Legislators Past & Present - Legislator Record - Mack, Tara Kay |publisher=Leg.state.mn.us |date= |accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?id=15308|title=Mack, Tara Kay|publisher=www.leg.state.mn.us|accessdate=January 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archives.ecmpublishers.info/static/TWL/2008/february/29mack2.29.08.html|title=APPLE VALLEY: Tara Mack seeks endorsement for House 37A seat|publisher= archives.ecmpublishers.info|accessdate=January 31, 2016}}</ref> 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.<ref name="leg.state.mn.us">{{Cite web|url=https://www.leg.state.mn.us/legdb/fulldetail?id=15308|title=Mack, Tara Kay - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present|website=www.leg.state.mn.us|language=en|access-date=2018-04-25}}</ref>
==Minnesota House of Representatives== Mack was first elected in 2008,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/StateRepresentative/63?districttype=LG|title=MN Election Results|website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref> defeating first-term Democrat Shelly Madore. She was re-elected in 2010,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/StateRepresentative/69?districttype=LG|title=MN Election Results|website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref> 2012,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/StateRepresentative/1?districttype=LG|title=MN Election Results|website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref> and 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://electionresults.sos.state.mn.us/Results/StateRepresentative/20?districttype=LG|title=MN Election Results|website=electionresults.sos.state.mn.us|language=en|access-date=2018-06-28}}</ref> 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.
{| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |'''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 |- | colspan="3" |Write-In |36 |- | colspan="3" |Total Votes |22,335 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |'''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 |- | colspan="2" |Write-In |.1% |14 |- | colspan="3" |Total Votes |15,990 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |'''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 |- | colspan="2" |Write-In |.17% |36 |- | colspan="2" |Total Votes | |21,397 |} {| class="wikitable" ! colspan="4" |'''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 |- | colspan="2" |Write-In |.04 |6 |- | colspan="3" |Total Votes |14,290 |} From 2015 to 2016, Mack served as chair of the House Health & Human Services Reform Committee.<ref name="leg.state.mn.us"/> As chair, she opposed the MNsure health insurance website.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/03/legislators-move-mnsure-changes/|title=Legislators move MNsure changes|last=Richert|first=Catharine|work=Capitol View|access-date=2018-04-25|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/counterpoint-mnsure-is-hurting-folks-not-helping-them/364448151/|title=Counterpoint: MNsure is hurting folks, not helping them|work=Star Tribune|access-date=2018-04-25}}</ref> Mack was a supporter of maintaining the Minnesota Sex Offender Program and opposed unconditional release of violent predatory offenders.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.twincities.com/2015/10/28/federal-judge-orders-changes-to-minnesota-sex-offender-program/|title=Federal judge orders changes to Minnesota Sex Offender Program|date=2015-10-28|work=Twin Cities|access-date=2018-04-25|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.kttc.com/story/33052714/2016/09/Thursday/first-sex-offender-to-be-freed-unconditionally-from-program|title=First sex offender to be freed unconditionally from program|last=Pope|first=Jason|access-date=2018-04-25|language=en}}</ref>
She worked for the Minnesota House as a legislative assistant to Rep. Matt Dean and Rep. Joe Hoppe prior to her election.<ref name="state1" />
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.<ref>{{cite news |author=Tad Johnson |title=Emails, deputy's full report released in Mack-Kelly case |url=http://sunthisweek.com/2015/09/11/emails-deputys-full-report-released-in-mack-kelly-case/ |date=September 11, 2015 |newspaper=Sun This Week |publisher=ECM Publishers |quote=New information in the public nuisance case involving state Reps. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley...}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Caught with pants down, lawmakers deny everything, blame park ranger |url=http://www.dl-online.com/news/3830604-caught-pants-down-lawmakers-deny-everything-blame-park-ranger |newspaper=Detroit Lakes Online |location=Detroit Lakes, Minnesota |date=September 2, 2015 |access-date=September 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_28741810/lawmakers-accused-making-out-eagan-park-strongly-deny|title=Lawmakers accused of 'making out' in Eagan park, strongly deny accusations|website=TwinCities.com|accessdate=September 15, 2015}}</ref> Mack and Kelly initially claimed the report was "completely false," and Mack continues to dispute certain "details of the park ranger's report."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.twincities.com/politics/2015/09/01/law-enforcement-cited-two-lawmakers-caught-making-parked-car/|title=Citation: two lawmakers caught 'making out' in park; lawmakers: 'completely false' and a 'lie' - The Political Animal|website=TwinCities.com|accessdate=September 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/09/mack-moves-on-disputes-making-out-allegations/|title=Rep. Mack moves on, disputes 'making out' allegations|last=Pugmire|first=Tim|work=Capitol View|access-date=2018-07-01|language=en-US}}</ref> On September 14, 2015, Mack apologized to law enforcement for her handling of the situation and resigned from the House Ethics Committee.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2015/09/ticketed-lawmakers-apologize-quit-ethics-panel/ |title='Making out' lawmakers apologize, quit ethics panel |last1=Pugmire |first1=Tim |publisher=Minnesota Public Radio News |date=September 14, 2015 |accessdate=September 14, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.fox9.com/news/politics/minnesota-reps-apologize-to-park-ranger-accused-of-lying|title=Indirect apology from Minnesota reps who accused ranger of lying|last=FOX|work=KMSP|access-date=2018-07-01|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Jacobson |first=Anne |date=September 17, 2015 |title=Lawmakers apologize, leave ethics panel |url=http://www.republican-eagle.com/news/politics/3839644-lawmakers-apologize-leave-ethics-panel |newspaper=Red Wing Republican Eagle |location=Red Wing, Minnesota |access-date=September 18, 2015}}</ref>
In February 2016, Mack announced her retirement from the Minnesota House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite news | last = Montgomery | first = David | date = April 2, 2016 | title = Minnesota legislative leader Rep. Tara Mack won't seek re-election | url = https://www.twincities.com/2016/04/02/minnesota-legislative-leader-rep-tara-mack-wont-seek-reelection/ | newspaper = St. Paul Pioneer Press | access-date = March 3, 2017 }}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=109148 |title=Project Vote Smart - Representative Tara Mack - Biography |publisher=Votesmart.org |date= |accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://taramack.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26 |title=Minnesota State representative | |publisher=Tara Mack |date= |accessdate=September 27, 2010}}</ref> She was named a 2014 Aspen Institute Rodel Fellow.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.minnpost.com/political-agenda/2015/01/hodges-begins-national-leadership-program-colorado|title=Hodges begins national leadership program in Colorado|website=MinnPost|date=January 30, 2015|accessdate=January 31, 2016}}</ref> Her husband, Justin Mack, is a pastor and they have two children.<ref>Mack, Tara. Speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Washington, DC, March 7, 2014.</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{MN-legdb|15308}} * [http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=109148 Project Votesmart - Rep. Tara Mack Profile] * [http://www.leg.mn/archive/legdb/Articles/15308SessionWeeklyProfile.pdf Session Weekly 1/30/2009: "A global view in St. Paul: Mack was page, intern, now member"]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mack, Tara}} Category:1983 births Category:Living people Category:University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts alumni Category:People from Apple Valley, Minnesota Category:Republican Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Category:Women state legislators in Minnesota Category:People from Burnsville, Minnesota Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Apple Valley High School (Minnesota) alumni Category:21st-century members of the Minnesota Legislature