Morrie Lanning

Who is Morrie Lanning?

Morris L. "Morrie" Lanning is a Minnesota politician and a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives representing District 9A, which includes portions of Clay County in the northwestern part of the state. A Republican, he is a retired vice president for student affairs and dean of students at Concordia College in Moorhead.

Lanning was first elected in 2002, and was re-elected in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010. He is currently a member of the House's State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Committee and the Taxes Committee. He also serves on the Finance Subcommittee for the Capital Investment Finance Division, on the State and Local Government Operations Reform, Technology and Elections Subcommittee for the Local Government Division, and on the Taxes Subcommittee for the Property and Local Sales Tax Division. He was appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty to the Minnesota Statehood Sesquicentennial Commission, serving from 2006-2008.

Prior to being elected to the legislature, Lanning was active in city government in his hometown of Moorhead, first on the city council from 1974–1979, and then as mayor for 21 years from 1980-2001. During his time as mayor, he served as president of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, as a founding board member of the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, as a board member of the League of Minnesota Cities, as founder and board member of the Rural Initiatives Coalition, and as president of the Minnesota Mayors Association.