 Neighbors and friends, It has taken me over a week to write these words; grief is weird that way. It is so very hard to lose a colleague and a friend. As Minnesotans, we have collectively gone through a horrific experience that no one should ever have to. Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were shot multiple times, and Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark were brutally murdered in the early hours of the morning on June 14. Minnesota is grieving the loss of a leader, and our legislative family is grieving the loss of our friend. I had the privilege of working with Melissa Hortman in the Minnesota House as a colleague, as minority leader, as Speaker, and finally as Speaker Emeritus. She was a brilliant negotiator, knew how to build a team, had a wicked sense of humor, loved to garden and bake cakes, was dedicated to the well-being of all Minnesotans, and clearly loved her family.  While she was a private person, Melissa still talked with pride about her children Sophie and Colin. My heart breaks at the loss that they have experienced, especially in such a public way. It was also very clear that Melissa loved her husband, Mark. Mark was at countless political events supporting Melissa. He was always quick to strike up a conversation, was a wonderful listener, and so very proud of his family. I remember an event I was at alone and Mark noticed that I was standing off to the side of the action. He came over, introduced himself, and asked how my family was doing and what legislation I was working on. He adapted to any situation with ease.  Melissa led our DFL caucus through many changes with tenacity and grace. She had an innate ability to see a person’s skill set and help them grow in their leadership capacity. While Melissa did not seek the limelight, she was able to rise to the occasion with humor and the ability to convey a message that reflected the heart of our caucus. As someone who personally appreciates a well-placed expletive, I loved her ability to get straight to the point. Melissa was a force of nature whether it was proclaiming “sorry, not sorry” on the House floor in reaction to colleagues playing cards in the retiring room instead of listening to a poignant floor debate or responding “LFG” to the press who asked “what’s next” when the DFL won the trifecta in November of 2022. Melissa was an incredible advocate for vulnerable Minnesotans and was always willing to stand side-by-side with her colleagues to cause “good trouble.” She left Minnesota a better place because of the work she did and because of who she was. I thank the Hortman family for sharing her with us. Her spirit will be our North Star for a very long time. I continue to do the work for the people in our communities of Hopkins, St. Louis Park, and Edina - please do not hesitate to reach out if you need assistance or help with our state government. Email is the quickest way to get in touch and I am available at rep.cheryl.youakim@house.mn.gov or via phone at 651-296-9889. In solidarity,  Cheryl Youakim
State Representative |