Meet Larry Kraft

I'm excited to bring my experience to the Minnesota Legislature.

My Story

In St. Louis Park we listen. We try things. We're welcoming. I'm excited to continue to bring the experience I gained through private sector and nonprofit careers, as well as the SLP City Council, to the Minnesota Legislature.

I spent 25 years working in the high-tech industry, solving problems, collaborating with a diverse workforce, and managing large budgets.  As my kids were growing up, I became increasingly concerned about how climate change is impacting the future we're leaving our children. 

So in 2013, I made a career change.  For five years, I ran a national nonprofit that helped young people advocate for tougher local climate policy.  Leaning into the work of reducing emissions and adapting to climate change touches every policy issue. It's what led me to run for office.  Now, as an elected official, I’m a believer in asking lots of questions, gathering input from all stakeholders, and working to build consensus.  

Being responsive is really important to me. I've learned there's value in every constituent interaction I have. At the state legislature I will continue listening to you, and learning together about how to address the complex issues that affect us here in 46A, and in the rest of the state.

 

Climate Action Starts Here

Local action is a powerful tool for combating climate change. During 2021, I organized city elected officials across the state to create the Minnesota Cities Climate Caucus.  In January, 2022, 16 local governments, in all regions of Minnesota, joined in declaring a Climate Emergency, calling for immediate action at all levels of government – local, state and federal – to address the climate crisis.

I also co-host the City Climate Corner podcast, exploring how small and mid-sized cities are tackling climate change.  It’s been a great way to gather ideas from other localities that are taking innovative steps toward a more equitable and sustainable future.

 

More About Larry

My wife Lauri and I moved here over 20 years ago. Our teenage kids, Jamie and Jason, were born here and educated in St. Louis Park public schools. We've loved being here since day one – and my work with cities across the country has given me even more of an appreciation for how special SLP is.

Involvement in SLP

  • Current State Representative

  • City Council Member At Large 

  • Environment & Sustainability Commissioner

  • Climate Action Plan Committee

  • Steering Committee for St. Louis Park Arts & Culture Strategic Framework Development

  • Youth Baseball & Basketball Coach

  • Mentor to SLP High School Roots and Shoots Environmental Club   

Climate Work

  • City Climate Corner podcast co-host 

  • Climate Generation Advisory Board 

  • Climate Reality Project Leader/Mentor​. Trained by Al Gore in 2013; mentored more than 75 other leaders.

  • Executive Director and Core Team Member at iMatter, a national nonprofit

  • Supported more than 300 youth leaders in 150 cities, as they urged their city and state governments to adopt aggressive climate policies.

  • Built financial backing from the McKnight Foundation, Patagonia, Clif Bar and a grassroots network of donors.

Business Experience

  • Senior VP Sales & Marketing for Digi International

  • Ran 200-person global organization with $35M budget.

  • Led significant revenue growth worldwide; launched more than 50 new products and services; and negotiated partnerships with major technology companies.

  • Previous management experience in startup, mid-size and large public companies, including 3Com/U.S.Robotics and Sprint.

Education

B.S. in Computer Science and M.B.A. from Cornell University

Other

I love to swim, bike, cross-country ski and travel — and am an ice cream fanatic!