Remembering Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman

​Over the weekend, Minnesota endured a devastating tragedy marked by acts of violence against our public servants. We are coping with the loss of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. Our thoughts and heartfelt prayers are also with Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, as they recover from the vicious attack they suffered early Saturday morning.

Melissa Hortman was an extraordinarily capable and dedicated public servant who devoted her career to the people of Minnesota. I had the distinct honor of working alongside her even before her election to the legislature in 2004. 

Melissa’s courage, intellect, and unwavering leadership inspired a generation of leaders, and I was proud to call her a colleague, mentor, and friend.​

As a credit union supporter in the legislature, she consistently made time to connect with our members - from one-on-one meetings with credit union constituents, to visiting high school branch workers, and speaking at our conferences and events. She was a true friend and advocate for Minnesota Credit Unions.

John Hoffman has been a shining light in the Senate since his election in 2012, and his resilience and compassion have been evident from the outset. He too is a strong supporter of credit union issues and financial wellbeing in our communities.

Several of our team members have worked closely with both Speaker Hortman and Senator Hoffman over the years and are mourning these heinous attacks on not only colleagues but dear friends. We are proud and grateful to have collaborated with such remarkable legislators—individuals who consistently placed the well-being of Minnesotans at the forefront of their work. In this heartbreaking moment for our state, we find solace in the unity and resilience of our communities and are even more dedicated to leveraging our work as a force for good.
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-Mara Humphrey, President & CEO, Minnesota Credit Union Network