Below are some pictures from the 2025 LEA Honors Banquet, Feb 24th 2025. Hover over the thumbnails for detail. Click on the thumbnail to view a larger, more detailed photo. The entire address by Mr Cuccinelli can be seen at youtube Here.
2025 Awards Banquet: Come join us Feb 24th

Annual LEA 2025 Awards Banquet
VIP registrations are available
On-line registration is closed.
Pay at the door
Event on Monday, February 24th, 2025 at the Mermaid Event Center, Mounds View 2200 County Hwy. 10, Mounds View, MN 55112
Check-in and Social Hour Begins at 5:00 P.M. — Dinner 6:30 P.M. — Program 7:00 P.M.
Featured Speaker: Ken Cuccinelli
“Fighting Against Illegal Immigration and for Election Transparency”
Our keynote speaker this year is Ken Cuccinelli. He is currently the National Chairman of the Election Transparency Initiative. From 2019-2021, Ken Cuccinelli served in the federal government, in the first Trump Administration as the acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, then as acting deputy secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. Ken has been a leading spokesman on immigration, election security and homeland security. He was appointed by President Trump to serve as an original member of the Coronavirus Task Force. In addition to practicing law for over 25 years, Ken also served in state government in the Virginia Senate from 2002-2010 and as Virginia’s attorney general from 2010-2014. Ken earned a mechanical engineering degree from UVA, a law degree from the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, and a master’s in international transactions from George Mason University.
Mr Cuccinelli has been blessed to be married to his wife Teiro for 33 years. They have 7 children and 4 grandchildren.
Ken has agreed to pose for photos and sign written works of his brought to the event by guests, before the dinner and official program. A donation is strongly encouraged to help defray costs associated with this rare opportunity to bring Mr. Cuccinelli to Minnesota for LEA. You can donate on this response form or at – https://lea-mn.org/donate
Reserve your dinner online below. Meals for guests are priced at $60 if paid by February 16th ($65 at the door – for registrations February 17th-21st). Those who wish to attend are asked to register by February 8th. Guests needing lodging to attend the event should call the adjacent AmericInn directly at (763) 786-2000. A block of rooms at a rate of $101 plus tax are reservable at least until February 8th.
LEA members will also hear from attending honorees and elect board members at this dinner meeting. If you have any questions, please contact us at (651) 234-0052 or info@lea-mn.org. We look forward to seeing you at the banquet.
If you are interested in serving on the LEA board or on our report research and preparation committee, please contact the LEA Nominating Committee by sending email to: info@lea-mn.org. Prospective LEA board candidates should contact us by February 8th.
Register At the Door:
LEA dues of $10 are required to participate in the brief business meeting during the banquet. Registration will be $65. VIP seating is an additional $60 (space limited). Questions: call 651-234-0052
Coming from Out of Town?
The Americinn Wyndham is adjacent to the Mermaid and is offering LEA banquet guests a discount rate of $101 plus tax, reservable at least until February 8th. Please call the AmericInn at 763-786-2000 if you want to make a room reservation.
OnlineRegistration is closed
2025 Awards Banquet Announced
The upcoming annual 2025 LEA awards banquet, where we recognize the top scoring legislators in the 2024 session, is set for February 24th, 2025 at the Mermaid in Mounds View.
Our keynote speaker will be Mr. Ken Cuccinelli, former Attorney General of Virginia and holder of several high offices in the first Trump administration. He is expected to address us on election integrity and immigration issues.
Details will be announced soon and will also be updated on our website at https://lea-mn.org.
Please save the date! We hope you can attend our event honoring select Minnesota legislators and our speaker.
2024 LEA Report on Minnesota Legislature Released
LEA reports on 2024 session, announces honorees
Download 2024 LEA Announcement Flyer (.pdf)
Download 2024 LEA Report (.pdf)
2024 Honorees:

Senators Bruce Anderson, Cal Bahr, Steve Drazkowski, Justin Eichorn, Steve Green, Je Howe, Mark Koran, Bill Lieske, Eric Lucero, Paul Utke and Nathan Wesenberg
2024 honorable Mention:
Honorable Mention Senate: Gene Dornink, Rich Draheim, Glenn Gruenhagen, Jason Rarick Honorable Mention House: Shane Mekeland
St. Paul, MN, October 18, 2024 — Legislative Evaluation Assembly of Minnesota (LEA) is releasing its report on the Minnesota legislature’s 2024 session. The 2024 LEA report rates the votes of all 201 legislators on 16 selected bills. The report summarizes these bills and analyzes them in more depth and detail than seen in the popular press. In 2024, LEA calls particular attention to many changes in Minnesota statute, including election laws, many insertions of discriminatory language, and statewide price controls, especially tennant/landlord regulations.
In 2024, LEA again felt the need to expand its printed report from 12 to 16 pages pages to adequately summarize and evaluate 16 bills. “The 2024 legislature continued to push the envelope with a large number of major, radical changes in policy, statutes and appropriations.” noted LEA President Don Lee.
LEA’s 2023 report: These Bills Not Scored That Still Deserve Scrutiny
Despite the LEA report in 2023 being the largest in decades, we did not have room to score some major legislation.by John Augustine Before LEA turns all its energy toward promoting the 2024 LEA Report (soon to be delivered to … Continue reading →
2024 St Croix Review Annual Dinner
The 2024 St Croix Review annual dinner is being held at the Lowell Inn October 25th, 2024. More details can be found Here.
LEA will be there. Come visit us and talk about the Minnesota Legislature’s performance in 2024.
2024 Awards Banquet: The Movie
Video of the Annual LEA 2024 Awards Banquet
The LEA annual awards banquet was held this year on March 7th at the Mermaid Event Center in Mounds View. Our speaker was nationally recognized author and podcaster Steve Deace. Video of the event can be found here:
Overview of the 2023 State Legislative Session and Comparison With 2013
Continue reading →Before the legislature returns to session for 2024, it is useful to review the massive changes passed by the legislature in 2023 that became law. A number of organizations have created lists; this comprehensive list was put together while doing research for the 2023 LEA Report.
– Compiled by – John Augustine – LEA board VP
2024 Awards Banquet: Come Join Us Mar 7th
Annual LEA 2024 Awards Banquet VIP registrations are SOLD OUT Full price after Feb 19th On-line registration ends 6 PM on March 6th. Thursday, March 7th, 2024 at the Mermaid Event Center, Mounds View 2200 County Hwy. 10, Mounds View, … Continue reading →
2023 LEA Report on Minnesota Legislature Released
LEA reports on 2023 session, announces honorees Download 2023 LEA Press release (.pdf) Download 2023 LEA Report (.pdf) 2023 Honorees: Senators Bruce Anderson, Cal Bahr, Steve Drazkowski, Justin Eichorn, Steve Green, Eric Lucero, and Jordan Rasmusson; Representatives Josh Heintzeman, Harry … Continue reading →