About Shelley
Shelley Madore has called Minnesota home since 1991, when she was drawn to the region's excellent schools, strong economy, vibrant arts scene, and deep commitment to environmental sustainability. Most of all, Shelley was inspired by the community's dedication to serving one another—a value reflected in the words of Paul Wellstone: “We all do better when we all do better.”
She is a community organizer and former DFL state legislator who has extensive experience working with school districts, city, county, and state governments to bring about change. With a proven record of leadership, she spearheaded healthcare, transportation, and affordable housing reforms. Shelley also served as the director of an agency focused on improving state policy that supports people with disabilities.
Community Matters
For over twenty years, Shelley lived in Apple Valley, where she was a dedicated community leader and volunteer. She served on the City of Apple Valley’s Urban Affairs Committee for nearly 15 years, advising local leaders on issues facing the growing community.
Shelley’s dedication to her community led her to run for the Minnesota House of Representatives. Her experience working with local government, fostering business alliances, and improving transportation corridors propelled her to victory. As a State Representative, Shelley championed healthcare reform, supported the Minnesota Health Plan, and led efforts to improve services for people with disabilities. Her peers elected her to lead the Suburban Caucus, advocating for Minnesota’s growing suburban communities' unique needs.
Experience Matters
During her time in the Minnesota Legislature, Shelley never left a constituent concern unaddressed. She held monthly meetings in the community to gather feedback from residents, and then worked to immediately find solutions. Her commitment to improving Minnesota for all its residents inspired her to serve on committees that address a broad range of issues. She served as Vice Chair of the Transportation and Transit Subcommittee, focusing on issues related to transportation, including public transit systems and efficient mobility. Shelley also served on the Housing Policy and Finance and Public Health Finance Division, specifically concentrating on policies that affect the construction, maintenance, and affordability of housing. She also worked on economic development, promoting policies on job creation and small business development to support Minnesota’s economy while on the Jobs and Economic Development Committee. Shelley was also an outspoken advocate for the Minnesota Health Plan. Her commitment to health equity led her to help organize and participate in a campaign to educate communities all over the state on the Minnesota Health Plan.
After her legislative service, Shelley was appointed to serve as the Director of the Olmstead Implementation Office. In this role she led statewide efforts to improve the Minnesota Olmstead Plan, working across agencies to ensure people with disabilities have equitable access to resources and full participation in community life. Shelley received a Bush Foundation Fellowship Grant in 2017 for her work.
Minneapolis Matters
Since 2018, Shelley has lived in Minneapolis, where she finds inspiration in the city's neighborhood spirit and shared commitment to equity and inclusion. Over the past few years, she has witnessed the challenges of a city striving to redefine itself. The city needs leadership, experience, and a steadfast commitment to serve its residents, not individual interests. She believes a city thrives when everyone works together toward common goals and takes action to support all residents.
Shelley is the proud mother of two adult children, one of whom graduated from the University of Minnesota and the other from Augsburg College. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, gardening, and cooking for friends and family. When the weather allows, she enjoys taking her dog, Tomy, to local dog parks or walking around the beautiful park trails.
