Marion Greene is a thoughtful and energetic progressive who believes that good government makes a positive difference in all our lives by protecting and investing in shared resources, and providing a safety net to those with fewer resources. Her background demonstrates commitment to these ideals, and provides the skills and perspectives to fight for these principles effectively.
Marion grew up outside the United States (her parents served in the U.S. Foreign Service), an experience which indelibly shaped her dedication to community and diversity. During her family’s final overseas post in Pakistan, Marion worked in the summers for the U.S. Agency for International Development, and saw first hand how the right investment on the right project can build a better future for generations.
After attending Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, Marion moved to Washington D.C. and joined the Center for Science in the Public Interest, leading a project to establish national organic standards, and coalition building for nutrition policy in health care reform. She left to work at the Friends Committee on National Legislation, the venerated Quaker lobby, focusing on constituent services and grassroots organizing on human rights issues.
Subsequent to the so-called “Contract on America” and the 1994 elections, Marion joined Clinton-Gore ’96 and eventually moved to New Mexico to work for the Democratic Party’s Coordinated Campaign. Initially she managed one of the country’s first voter files, and then served as Field Director, focusing on innovative partnerships in the Hispanic and Native American communities. Marion worked as a Democratic Caucus analyst assigned to New Mexico’s House Voters and Elections Committee.
After getting an M.B.A. at the University of Texas at Austin, Marion joined her extended family in the Twin Cities, attracted by Minnesota’s history of civic involvement and long-standing investment in education and the arts. She joined the Pillsbury Company and then General Mills in marketing. Moved by the emotional resonance of marketing devices that save lives, Marion shifted to the medical device industry, first working for Guidant (which became Boston Scientific) and then joining the team at St. Jude Medical. She analyzes health policy, with a focus on Medicare and payment systems.
Always active in the neighborhood, Marion volunteers at the Neighborhood Involvement Program’s evening clinic, and as a literacy tutor at the Little Canada YMCA.
As soon as Marion moved to Minnesota ten years ago, she began volunteering with the Senate District 60 DFL. She has served in a number of formal and informal roles, including a term as Associate Chair. Her passion is outreach and building the progressive network. A favorite success was co-leading a district-wide voter registration forum, which organized 80 volunteers to register voters in target demographics over the course of three months in the fall of 2004. In 2006 it was Marion’s honor to serve as Speaker Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s campaign manager.
In 2008 Marion married Bart Cannon and became a proud stepmom to his two fabulous daughters. Bart is a 15-year member of Education Minnesota and teaches 8th grade English at Maple Grove Junior High. Bart grew up in House District 60A, and together he and Marion make their home in the Uptown neighborhood. They love Minneapolis and Minnesota.