Amy Koch
Member of the Minnesota Senate
from the 19th district
In office
January 5, 2006 – January 7, 2013
Preceded byMark Ourada
Succeeded byKathleen Sheran
Majority Leader of the Minnesota Senate
In office
January 4, 2011 – December 15, 2011
Preceded byLarry Pogemiller
Succeeded byDavid Senjem
Personal details
Born (1971-10-08) October 8, 1971
Buffalo, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseChristopher
Children1
ResidenceBuffalo, Minnesota
Alma materConcordia College
Defense Language Institute
St. Cloud State University
Occupationbusiness owner, legislator, veteran
AwardsJoint Service Achievement Medal
Military service
Branch/serviceUnited States Air Force
Years of service1992-1996
RankSenior Airman[1]
UnitNational Security Agency

Amy T. Koch (born October 8, 1971) is an American politician and a former majority leader of the Minnesota Senate, where she represented portions of Hennepin and Wright counties. Koch, the first female Senate majority leader in state history, is also a regular commentator for Minnesota local media.

Early life, education, and career

Koch grew up in Buffalo, Minnesota, graduating from Buffalo High School in 1990. After briefly attending Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, Koch joined the United States Air Force in 1992.[2] While serving in the military, Koch met her former husband, Christopher, and gave birth to her daughter, Rachel.

Koch studied Russian at the Defense Language Institute in California, before being assigned to the National Security Agency in Fort Meade, Maryland. She graduated with honors at all stages of her military training and received the Joint Service Commendation Medal for her contribution to the intelligence community.

After receiving an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1996, Koch returned to Buffalo, Minnesota and attended St. Cloud State University, where she earned a bachelor's degree in 1999.[3]

Koch has volunteered as an adult leader for 4-H and served as vice chair of the St. Francis Xavier Parish Council as well as liaison to the Education Advisory Board.

In 2016, Koch began working as a political strategist for Hylden Advocacy & Law in Minneapolis.[4]

Koch is a part owner of HBK Properties LLC in Buffalo.[5][6] In 2013, Koch bought Maple Lake Bowl, a bowling alley just north of her home in Buffalo, MN. Koch owned and operated the bowling alley until she sold it in the summer of 2016.[7]

Political career

After leaving the military and returning to Minnesota, Koch became active in local Republican politics. In addition to serving on her local party unit board, Koch actively volunteered for former Congressman Mark Kennedy and former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.[8]

Koch was first elected to the Minnesota Senate in a 2005 special election, replacing Mark Ourada, who resigned months earlier.[9] She was re-elected in 2006 and 2010. Koch, a former assistant minority leader, was the first woman to serve as majority leader of the Minnesota Senate, and the first Republican to do so since party affiliation.[10]

Relationship with staffer

On December 15, 2011, in a surprise announcement, Koch said she would resign from her post as majority leader of the Minnesota Senate.[11] Republican state senators indicated Koch had an "inappropriate" relationship with a staffer, whose identity would later be confirmed as former state Senate aide Michael Brodkorb.[12] Koch later apologized and did not seek re-election to another term in the Minnesota Senate.[13]

References

  1. ↑ "The Voter's Self Defense System". Vote Smart.
  2. ↑ "Koch, Amy T. - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present". www.leg.state.mn.us. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Amy Koch – Hylden Advocacy & Law". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  4. ↑ "Mixing Politics and Business: A Breakdown of the Minnesota House by Profession". Twin Cities Business. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  5. ↑ "Minnesota Legislators Past & Present – Legislator Record – Koch, Amy T". Leg.state.mn.us. Archived from the original on June 15, 2011. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Project Vote Smart – Senator Amy T. Koch – Biography". Votesmart.org. November 22, 2005. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  7. ↑ admin (August 24, 2016). "New owner revitalizes Maple Lake Bowl". Maple Lake Messenger. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  8. ↑ "New District 19 Senator Amy Koch will be on the job in 2006". Maple Lake Messenger. December 29, 2005. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  9. ↑ "Koch wins District 19 Senate seat". Annandale Advocate. November 23, 2005. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Koch To Lead Minn. Senate, First Woman Ever In Job". WCCO. November 5, 2010. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  11. ↑ Scheck, Tom. "State Sen. Amy Koch stepping down". www.mprnews.org. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  12. ↑ "Sen. Koch quit over 'inappropriate' relationship". Star Tribune. Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Amy Koch, former state Senate leader, breaks silence about her downfall". January 26, 2013.
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