Sonnie A. Elliott
Principal - Faegre Drinker Consulting
Overview
Sonnie Elliott creates and executes government advocacy strategies for clients with interests before the Minnesota Legislature, state agencies and local units of government. She represents businesses, education entities, nonprofit organizations, and trade and professional associations. She provides government relations services on many issues. Sonnie has participated in every legislative session for almost 30 years. She is a current board member and former president of the Minnesota Government Relations Council; a professional trade association of 500 lobbyists and lobbying entities.
Sonnie is also a frequent contributor to local Minnesota publications, including Saint Paul BOMA News and the Minnesota Shopping Center Association’s newsletter.
Governmental Relations Services
Clients for whom Sonnie has provided government relations services — and the issues in which she has been involved — include:
- Financial Services Coordinating Council — Privacy regulations
- Greater St. Paul BOMA – Commercial Real Estate matters
- Medical Transportation Management— State and county contract issues
- Minneapolis Downtown Council — Transportation and transit issues
- Minnesota Private College Council — Funding for the state grant program
- Minnesota Public Radio — Legacy funding
- Minnesota Retailers Association —Recycling and sales taxes
- Minnesota Shopping Center Association — Property tax and transportation funding
- Minnesota Vikings Football Club — Stadium issues
- Ordway — Capital bonding appropriations
- Prime Therapeutics — Pharmacy audit procedures
- Teladoc – Legislative changes for telemedicine
- Ticketmaster —Anti-Bot and ticket legislation
- Unimin — Silica sand mining, regulatory issues
- Walker Arts Center — Funding for educational website
Minnesota Governor’s Senior Staff
Prior to joining the firm, Sonnie was deputy director for Cabinet Affairs in the office of Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson. As a member of the governor's senior staff, she advised the governor on legislative issues and lobbied legislators on behalf of the Carlson administration. Sonnie also worked at the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1990-95.
Sonnie is a consulting professional within Faegre Drinker Consulting, and does not act as a lawyer for clients. Learn more about the Faegre Drinker Consulting practice.
Services & Industries
Credentials
Education
University of Minnesota
B.A. in Speech and Communications (1990)
Experience
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2016 1 min readLive Nation Focuses on Minnesota Ticket RegulationsGovernment and Regulatory Affairs Lobbying and Public Policy Health and Biosciences Consulting
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2016 1 min readIndian Tribe Lobbies on Sovereignty and Gaming IssuesIndian Tribal Finance and Gaming Government and Regulatory Affairs Lobbying and Public Policy
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1 min readMinnesota Reforms Provide Commercial and Industrial Property Tax Relief
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- Minnesota Legislative Weekly Update
Co-author, Faegre Baker Daniels In-Session Updates, 2009-present - Chamber Town Talk: Legislative Predications - The 2016 Session
Northeast Minneapolis Chamber of Commerce, Feb. 11, 2016
Leadership & Community
Professional Associations
- Minnesota Government Relations Council — Board Member, Former President
- Hearth Connection – Board Member
Civic Activities
- Ramsey County Corrections Facility – Volunteer
- Lino Lakes Men’s Correctional Facility – Volunteer
- Ramsey County Detox Center – Volunteer
- Fairview Health Services – Lodging Plus Program Volunteer