Tell us a little about yourself, your family and your legal career.
I grew up in Austin, Minnesota, home of Hormel. And yes, I do eat Spam. I like Spam. I can't get my husband to eat it, though.
I had four siblings — now three. One passed away from cancer when she was 66. My parents have both passed away. My dad was a laborer for Hormel. He taught me to never give up. My mom was a homemaker who went back to work when I was in high school. She got a job at the local shoe store. I was so proud of her. I’d walk home from school and stop in to say hi. She taught me how to work hard.
I have two sons I’m most proud of. They make me a better person. One is 31, lives in Winona with his partner and just had a baby eight weeks ago — so I’m a new grandma! My other son lives in Connecticut and is getting his master’s degree in architecture.
I’ve been married to Jeff, my husband of 33 years, who is a lawyer in private practice in Minneapolis. We’ve lived on Newton Avenue for the last 35 years.
I graduated from St. Cloud State with a degree in criminal justice studies, then earned my law degree from Hamline. After law school, I got a job with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. I didn’t think the interview went well, so after it ended, I walked right back in and told them they had to hire me because I didn’t want to work anywhere else. Surprisingly, they did — in spite of, or perhaps because of, my brashness.
I started out enforcing the Fair Labor Standards Act, then moved to defending the state in civil lawsuits. Eventually, I prosecuted criminal cases involving environmental law violations.
My legal career ended when I went into pre-mature labor with my first child — just before I was scheduled to speak on Fourth Amendment seizure issues. I decided I wanted to stay home with him. It was tough to make it on Jeff’s income alone, but we made it work.
How and why did you end up so involved in community affairs? What are you currently involved with?
In 1990, two neighbors showed up at my door with a box of files for the Newton Avenue elm tree injection program, back when Dutch elm disease was decimating Minneapolis trees. Apparently, they saw “Can’t Say No” written on my forehead — and Jeff and I have been involved ever since.
Around the same time, the police department contacted me about becoming a volunteer crime prevention specialist. I trained with the department on how to keep neighbors safe and what to do in various neighborhood situations. Today, our Fifth Precinct has a dedicated crime prevention specialist, Faith Randall. She and the department do a great job keeping residents informed.
I also want to give a shout out to Aileen Johnson, who started neighborhood walking clubs. I’m part of the Kenwood walking club — you can spot us in bright orange shirts!
While the official volunteer program no longer exists, I’ve continued that role informally. For at least 30 years, I’ve been sending emails to about 185 households about public safety, community events and neighborhood news.
Any parting thoughts about our city and its future?
I know it sounds corny, but I love this city. I believe in owning the community we live in. By that, I mean get to know your neighbors, build relationships — and public safety will follow.
We need leaders who are committed to solving problems and who truly listen to their constituents. I believe our civic and business leaders are working hard to bring back down- town and Uptown, and after 35 years here, I’m sensing some real momentum.
Can neighbors contact you with questions, comments or how to get more involved?
Absolutely. I welcome any contact and can be reached at Lmittag@gmail.com.
