# Senate Minority Leader *Title recorded differently for one former Minnesota state senator by a congressional tribute and by the Legislature's member database.* In the Minnesota record, the title Senate Minority Leader appears in one at-issue item. On July 25, 2024, the office of U.S. Representative [[Tom Emmer]] issued a House floor tribute that described former state senator David Kleis as "Senate Minority Leader."[^2] The [[Legislature]]'s own member database records a different post for him: Assistant Minority Leader, in the 82nd and 83rd Legislatures.[^1] The two government sources do not match. The record shows the discrepancy but does not establish how it arose. Where a congressional tribute and the State's legislative database differ, this article gives the title recorded in the database. That database is the Legislative Reference Library's own entry for the member.[^1] ## Who David Kleis served in the [[Minnesota]] Senate, according to the Legislative Reference Library's *Legislators Past & Present* record.[^1] That record lists his leadership post as Assistant Minority Leader in the 82nd and 83rd Legislatures.[^1] It does not record him as Senate Minority Leader.[^1] Emmer's office issued the 2024 tribute to Kleis as mayor of [[St. Cloud]].[^2] The release describes him as "Senate Minority Leader" and credits him with "nearly 30 years in public service."[^2] ## When - 1995–2002: Kleis represented Senate District 16.[^1] - 2003–2005: he represented District 15.[^1] - 82nd and 83rd Legislatures: the database records him as Assistant Minority Leader.[^1] - July 25, 2024: Emmer's office issued the House floor tribute using the title "Senate Minority Leader."[^2] ## How many The *Legislators Past & Present* record counts 3,969 legislative days for Kleis.[^1] The tribute gives a separate figure, "nearly 30 years in public service," without itemizing it.[^2] ## In the at-issue record The at-issue item pairs two dated government records. The first is the congressional tribute of July 25, 2024, which calls Kleis "Senate Minority Leader."[^2] The second is the Legislature's database, which records "Assistant Minority Leader" for the 82nd and 83rd Legislatures.[^1] Under the project's ranking of conflicting sources, the State's agency record is the governing source for the title held. The tribute's wording is noted here with its source.[^1][^2] ## In the Minnesota record ### Who - The database lists Kleis's committee assignments as including [[Crime Prevention and Public Safety]] and [[Children, Families and Learning]].[^1] - It records a B.A. from [[St. Cloud State University]].[^1] - It also records service in the [[U.S. Air Force]] and the Air Force Reserve.[^1] ## Notes [^1]: Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, *Legislators Past & Present*, record for David Kleis — Senate District 16 (1995–2002) and District 15 (2003–2005); Assistant Minority Leader, 82nd–83rd Legislatures; 3,969 legislative days; committee assignments; B.A., St. Cloud State University; U.S. Air Force and Air Force Reserve service. https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?id=10326 [^2]: Office of Rep. Tom Emmer, *House floor tribute* (July 25, 2024) — honors St. Cloud mayor Dave Kleis, describes him as "Senate Minority Leader," and cites "nearly 30 years in public service." https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmer-honors-st-cloud-mayor-dave-kleis-on-house-floor