JOHN KAVANAGH
DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

john_kavanagh
John Kavanagh is Director of Government Affairs for Cook Hill Girard Associates. He is an attorney, has significant experience in the Minnesota legislative process and a vast network of contacts across the state. Before coming to Cook Hill Girard Associates, Kavanagh was employed by the Minnesota Senate as committee administrator to the E-12 Education Budget Division and as Executive Assistant to the Majority Leader. He brings a vast amount of experience and knowledge in a wide-range of legislative issues.

Earlier, as committee administrator for Senator LeRoy Stumpf, Kavanagh oversaw a budget accounting for over forty percent of Minnesota's general fund. Kavanagh was also very instrumental in the organization of the 2002 Special Session to assist flood-damaged Roseau and the surrounding communities.

While on Majority Leader Dean Johnson's staff, Kavanagh scheduled bills for the Senate floor, tracked Senate committees and counseled the Majority Leader on key policy issues, budgetary decisions and legislative process. After the 2006 election, Kavanagh arranged the re-organization of the Minnesota Senate and assisted with bi-cameral new member training.

Kavanagh, a graduate of the University of Minnesota and William Mitchell College of Law, was admitted to the Minnesota Bar in 2003. He taught and coached at Fergus Falls Public Schools for eight years and served on the Minnesota Education Association's Board of Directors. His diverse network of contacts from working within Minnesota's legal community, education community, unions, politics and legislature brings a unique perspective to the clients he assists. Kavanagh has worked on various political campaigns as an organizer and advisor and is well-known within the DFL Party.

Kavanagh was recognized as the Fergus Falls Teacher of the Year in 1998, a the recipient of the Minnesota State Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section's Outstanding Achievement in Labor Law award in 2002 and the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees' Legislative Staff Person of the Year in 2006.


Staff Profile Links

Judy Cook
Senior Partner

Todd Hill
Senior Partner

Jim Girard
Senior Partner

Dennis Egan
Dir. of Public Affairs

John Kavanagh
Dir. of Gov't Relations

Sarah Strong
Manager of Gov't Affairs