Ernie Leidiger
Encyclopedia
Ernie Leidiger is a Minnesota
politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
who represents District 34A, which includes central and western Carver County
and part of Scott County
in the southern part of the state. A Republican
, he is also general manager and owner of Brothers Office Furniture.
Leidiger was first elected to the House in 2010. He currently serves on the Jobs and Economic Development Finance, the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance, the State Government Finance, and the Transportation Policy and Finance committees.
Leidiger graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
with a B.S.
in General Engineering. He subsequently received a M.S.
in Management from Salve Regina College in Newport, Rhode Island
, then went on to the U.S. Naval War College, also in Newport, where he earned his M.A.
in National Security and Strategic Planning. He served in the U.S. Navy and was an officer in Iraq
during the Persian Gulf War's Operation Desert Storm. He was co-founder of Operation Homefront
, a nonprofit organization serving military families of deployed service members.
In 2011, Leidiger brought controversy upon himself by inviting Bradlee Dean, a radical pastor and founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International
, to deliver the opening prayer of the May 20th session of the House. The rambling address ended with Dean implying that President Barack Obama
is not a Christian. Dean had previously been denounced for anti-gay rhetoric. Leidiger apologized for the invitation, saying that he had been attracted to Dean's message to "bring the Constitution back" to our schools, but that he had been unaware of Dean's views on homosexuality.
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
who represents District 34A, which includes central and western Carver County
Carver County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 70,205 people, 24,356 households, and 18,778 families residing in the county. The population density was 197 people per square mile . There were 24,883 housing units at an average density of 70 per square mile...
and part of Scott County
Scott County, Minnesota
Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It was organized in 1853 and named in honor of General Winfield Scott. As of 2010, the population was 129,928. Its county seat is Shakopee...
in the southern part of the state. A Republican
Republican Party of Minnesota
The Republican Party of Minnesota is the Minnesota branch of the United States Republican Party. Elected by the party’s state central committee in June 2009, its chairman is Tony Sutton, and its deputy-chairman is Michael Brodkorb.-Early history:...
, he is also general manager and owner of Brothers Office Furniture.
Leidiger was first elected to the House in 2010. He currently serves on the Jobs and Economic Development Finance, the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance, the State Government Finance, and the Transportation Policy and Finance committees.
Leidiger graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
with a B.S.
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in General Engineering. He subsequently received a M.S.
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Management from Salve Regina College in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, then went on to the U.S. Naval War College, also in Newport, where he earned his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in National Security and Strategic Planning. He served in the U.S. Navy and was an officer in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
during the Persian Gulf War's Operation Desert Storm. He was co-founder of Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront is a nonprofit 501 organization that provides emergency assistance for military troops, the families they leave behind, and wounded warriors when they return home. The organization raises funds to provide emergency, financial, and morale assistance to families while troops are...
, a nonprofit organization serving military families of deployed service members.
In 2011, Leidiger brought controversy upon himself by inviting Bradlee Dean, a radical pastor and founder of You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International
You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International
You Can Run But You Cannot Hide International is a Christian youth ministry that holds assemblies, including Christian rap/metal music and discussions with students, in public schools. Founded by Bradlee Dean, the ministry is based in Annandale, Minnesota...
, to deliver the opening prayer of the May 20th session of the House. The rambling address ended with Dean implying that President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
is not a Christian. Dean had previously been denounced for anti-gay rhetoric. Leidiger apologized for the invitation, saying that he had been attracted to Dean's message to "bring the Constitution back" to our schools, but that he had been unaware of Dean's views on homosexuality.