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Our Loss Is Your Loss, Melissa Hortman

 

You have heard of the assassination of Melissa Hortman, her husband, Mark and their dog on June 14.  

You may not know that she was a fair housing heroine as well as a humble, effective and respected leader in the Minnesota legislature.

In 1998 or '99 Legal Aid's Housing Discrimination Law Project, a FHIP program, had been operating for just a few years.  We were fortunate to hire a law clerk, Melissa, as she had a sterling resume and could have worked anywhere - maybe even at her family used auto parts business (junk yard).  She caught the fair housing bug.  

Our sister organization, Central MN Legal Services, soon hired her as a housing attorney.  

Melissa took the case of a CMLS tenant with severe repair problems.  Because she was the person she was, she didn't stop at investigating the lack of heat that brought the client to the office.  She learned that the owner of the property treated her with terrible disrespect and acted out racist, sexist prejudice and hatred for people needing public assistance.

The affirmative case went to trial in state court and resulted in the largest ever jury award for housing discrimination in Minnesota.

Sadly, the trial judge and later court of appeals decision in Harmon v Mattson and with callous disregard for the facts,significantly reduced the verdict.  When Melissa went into a stint in her own private practice, she took the case with her to try to collect the judgment for Ms. Harmon.  She took on other fair housing cases with positive outcomes while in that part of her career. 

As I observed her political career, I learned some things.  One person who works at the Legislature told me that she was a great legislator, more effective than Governor Walz, for example.  I think that is in part because once she was elected, she was about governance for the people of Minnesota.  Not so much about politics. Not about raising herself to some higher plane. But Melissa also chose to speak out forcefully for members of the House who were people of color and indigenous when they were treated with contempt by other members.  And refused to apologize for doing so.  

Her last vote probably was a for budget deal in a 50/50 split legislature that took away medical assistance for undocumented adults but preserved a lot of many good things. She cried because of this vote but did it to avoid the greater harm many, many more faced had the GOP shut down the state government. 

Governance for the people. 

I saw Melissa at a grocery store just before this deal and the assassination happened.  She looked very tired and was picking up bottled water to take into the final round of negotiations. We spoke for just a minute as she had the people's work to do.  I thanked her for her leadership. 

Oh that I could have said something more.

Always, always, when you see someone like Melissa, say something more.
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