Leonard W. Levine & Associates, Inc.

Levine Can Help

GET TO KNOW LEN LEVINE SATISIFIED CLIENTS ROAD AND PROPERTY ISSUES TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT CONTACT

NEED HELP ON TRANSPORTATON RELATED ISSUES?

Len Levine Can Help

He has over 37 years experience working in and with government in a variety of positions.  He is neither a lobbyist nor a lawyer but is an expert on how to deal with government. He knows the ins and outs of dealing with government.

Len Levine can help you access the governmental system and deal with government in an appropriate and efficient manner. If you really need to cut through the governmental red tape, hiring Leonard W. Levine & Associates will be the best move you can make.

Len Levine travels extensively across the United States. He has built up quite a network of contacts. See some of the people he knows.

Leonard W. Levine

Contact Len Levine
Phone:  651-405-9330
Fax: 651-405-9331
e-mail: len@levinecanhelp.com

SERVED IN SOME OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN MINNESOTA FOR OVER 20 YEARS:

Secretary (Commissioner), Minnesota Department of Transportation

Secretary (Commissioner), Minnesota Department of Human Services

Vice Chairman, Metropolitan Airports Commission

Chairman, Metropolitan Transit Commission

Vice President, St. Paul City Council (elected 7 times, 3 times unopposed)

President, St. Paul Water Utility

 


View a short video on Len Levine which appears regularly on commercial television stations in Minnesota.
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Leonard W. Levine & Associates, Inc.
2136 Ford Parkway, #360
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116
Len Levine with Governor Rudt Perpich
Commissioner Levine ran the two largest agencies in Minnesota government and was a trusted adviser to Governor Rudy Perpich
Len Levine with Governor Rudt Perpich
Len Levine was considered for Secretary of Transportation in the first Clinton Administration

 


GET TO KNOW LEN LEVINE

Who He Is

Leonard W. "Len" Levine had a 20 year career in government.  In the Administration of Governor Rudy Perpich he was the Commissioner (Secretary) of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Commissioner (Secretary) of the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Prior to his eight years on the Governor‘s Cabinet, was elected (city-wide) seven times to the St. Paul City Council (Vice President), served ten years on the Metropolitan Airports Commission (Vice Chairman), and served nine years on the Metropolitan Transit Commission (Chairman).  He was a finalist for Secretary of Transportation in the first Clinton Administration.

Since leaving government, Mr. Levine has been the President of Leonard W. Levine & Associates, Inc., a national consulting firm which represents the private sector in its dealings with government and business.

His Accomplishments

SERVED IN SOME OF THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT IN MINNESOTA FOR OVER 20 YEARS

Minnesota Department of Transportation

The Minnesota Government Engineers Council and the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers recognized Len Levine with their first and only award, Administrator of the Year, for his leadership in running the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT).  

As the head of the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Len Levine was a frequent visitor to every area of the state. He's seen here speaking at a press conference in Duluth.

As the head of Mn/DOT he was responsible for the operation of eight district, state-wide offices, 5500 employees and an annual budget of over $1.3 billion.  He personally led the state-wide effort to increase transportation funding and after 17 months, Minnesota received the largest transportation funding package in the state’s history.  This was followed the next year by the second largest amount of funding.  There was not a stable source of funding before his time in office at Mn/DOT and there has not been a steady source of funding since.

Commissioner Levine was acknowledged for making Mn/DOT a national leader in traffic management, traffic safety and highway design. In 1988 and 1989, more than $200 million of highway discretionary funds poured into Minnesota. The successful funding package of 1988 contained $390 million over a three year period. He was responsible for initiating Minnesota’s highway beautification program which saw 3000 civic, business and family groups participating in the Adopt-a-Highway Program, covering more than 5000 miles of Minnesota’s roads.

 

Commissioner Levine established the first ever Mn/DOT Work Zone Safety Committee, developed a long-range plan to reduce highway fatalities by 50%, instituted a plan to increase visibility at railroad crossings, developed one of the most stringent truck inspection programs in America, established an air traffic controller school at Flying Cloud Airport, initiated the creation of a transportation curriculum for all Minnesota secondary schools, a first in the U.S., formed an international partnership with the Soviet Union to exchange transportation related ideas and conceived of the plan for a high speed train from Minneapolis to Chicago (in two hours) which developed into the current Midwest Rail Initiative.

Historic Event in Duluth, Minnesota

On October 29, 1987 the last section of the Interstate Highway system serving the City of Duluth, Minnesota opened to traffic. It was a very cold, windy day in Duluth but that didn’t stop Mn/DOT Commissioner Len Levine, Governor Rudy Perpich, Mayor John Fedo, State Senator Sam Solon and other officials from participating. There was a parade of vintage autos, a foot race across the 1.4 mile long stretch of new highway I-35, release of thousands of balloons and an official ribbon cutting. Hundreds of citizens attended.


Governor Perpich speaking with Commissioner Levine on his right.

Commissioner Levine speaking with Susan Latto, Assistant Director of the Duluth Greater Downtown Council, to his right.

Hundreds of citizens packed the Lake Superior Plaza to be a part of this historic occasion.

Bridge Collapses in Minneapolis, 13 Dead, Hundreds Injured

In one of many such interviews after the collapse of the
I-35W Bridge in Minneapolis, Len Levine is seen here being interviewed by KARE-TV (NBC).
On August 1, 2007 the I-35W Bridge over the Mississippi River in Minneapolis collapsed during the evening rush hour. Thirteen people died and hundreds were seriously injured. Within minutes of the collapse, every major news outlet in the Twin Cities turned to Len Levine for his insight on the possible reasons for the tragedy and his views on the transportation/infrastructure crisis facing Minnesota and the rest of the country. A little more than one hour after the collapse, he was being interviewed live on KSTP-TV (ABC) and KMSP-TV (Fox). The next day he was interviewed on WCCO-TV (CBS), KARE-TV (NBC) and WCCO Radio. He also appeared on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. In November 2007, KARE-TV did the most comprehensive in-depth story on Minnesota’s transportation problems and Len Levine was one of three (what they called “national experts”) who were interviewed.

Minnesota Department of Human Services

As the head of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Levine was responsible for changing the name and focus from the Minnesota Welfare Department to more accurately reflect what the Agency really did (overseeing the state’s social services system).  During his time in office, the Department of Human Services managed ten state hospitals, had overall responsibility for the administration of many separate disability groups such as mental retardation, mental health, and chemical dependency.  In addition, DHS had responsibility for enforcement of child protection laws, supervision of services for the blind and direct responsibility for programs for the elderly.  When he was Commissioner there were 7,500 employees in DHS with an annual budget of over $1.2 billion.

He was recognized by the legislature and the media for personally leading the effort to deinstitutionalize the state hospitals allowing mentally retarded and mentally ill residents to live in home-like facilities.  In addition, he was credited for legislation which allowed Medicaid funding to be used for home care rather than care only in nursing homes.

He designed  the first programs in Minnesota for assisted living facilities after personally visiting a variety of such programs nationally and taking the best parts of each and incorporating them into a Minnesota model.  Because of his personal efforts, today thousands of people, regardless of their disability or medical condition, are living more normal lives in home environments. 

In addition, under Len Levine's leadership the Department of Human Services achieved the following: increased the use of community-based services for persons with mental retardation, became a national leader in permanency planning for children, developed a major consolidation of chemical dependency funds which revamped the entire financing mechanism of the CD system, set into motion major reforms in mental health and developed prepaid health plans for people on Medical Assistance (MA) and General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC).

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Active in Many Ways

ORGANIZATIONS
Len Levine participates in many organizations that deal with government issues such as The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), ITS America, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, The National Governors Association (NGA), American Public Transit Association (APTA), Airport Operators International (AOI) and more.

SEVEN TERMS ON THE CITY COUNCIL

In 1970, Len Levine was elected to the St. Paul City Council, a city-wide, at-large position (the youngest person ever elected) and was reelected six more times (three times unopposed), serving until he was appointed to the Governor’s Cabinet.  

During his seven terms on the City Council, in which he was the Council’s Vice President, he was chairman of the City Development and Transportation Committee.  In the at-large elections (city population at the time of 270,000) he was one of the city’s biggest vote-getters.

The St. Paul City Council in action-1970- with Charlie McCarty, Mayor, presiding. On the left is Councilmembers Victor Tedesco, Bill Carlson (partially hidden) and Councilwoman Rosalie Butler. City Attorney Dan Klas, to her left, is sitting next to Mayor McCarty. City Clerk Al Olson is to the Mayor‘s left, sitting next to St. Paul Dispatch reporter Don Boxmeier. Councilmen Dean Meredith is to the left of Boxmeier and Len Levine is to Meredith’s left. The other person in the photo is an employee of the City’s Department of Public Works.
OTHER POSITIONS HELD
Len Levine was President of the St. Paul Water Utility for twelve years (an independent utility commission overseeing the operation of the St. Paul area’s water system), was the Commissioner of Public Utilities (department head), Commissioner of Libraries (department head) and a member of the St. Paul Port Authority. He is the only person in Minnesota history to have served simultaneously on two metropolitan commissions, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (nine years-Chairman) and the Metropolitan Airports Commission (ten years-Vice Chairman).

As a City Councilman representing the entire City of St. Paul and a member of the Metropolitan Transit Commission, Len Levine actively promoted the installation of bus shelters. He is seen here dedicating a new bus shelter on St. Paul Avenue in the western end of the city.
INVOLVED IN CIVIC AND COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
Len Levine has been active in a wide range of civic and community affairs, such as Chairman of the American Cancer Society--Statewide Crusade; state board member of the American Lung Association; board member of Sholom Community Alliance (nursing homes and assisted living facilities); vice president of N.O.I.S.E. (National Organization to Insure a Sound Controlled Environment); president of the University of Minnesota “M” Club (varsity letterman’s club); and board member in Minnesota of the American Israel Chamber of Commerce.
RECORD BREAKING TRACK STAR
Len Levine on the mile relay team
Len Levine was a record-breaking track athlete at the University of Minnesota.

While getting a degree in education, Len Levine established several records as a  member of the University of Minnesota track team. By the time he was a senior he earned three varsity letters and had developed into a world class runner.

Len Levine running out of the starting blocks One of his records, which stood for 17 years, was in the 60-yard dash which he ran in 6.2 seconds (1/10th of a second off the American record at that time). He was the silver medal winner in the 1960 Big Ten 300-yard dash Championship surpassing the record set more than twenty-five years earlier by the great Jessie Owens. His time that day, a blazing 31.6 seconds, was a University of Minnesota record that lasted for five years.

Len Levine on the Univertity of Minnesota Track Team
He was a member of the 1960 mile relay team that posted a 3:16.0 time at America’s Athletic Classic, the Drake Relays, establishing another University record that stood for six years. He covered the 440 yards  that day in 47.5 seconds.  
STILL INTERESTED IN SPORTS
Len Levine continues to be involved in athletic activities
and is in frequent contact with sports personalities
YOGI BERRA
Yogi Berra with Len Levine

He’s seen here with Yogi Berra, one of the best baseball players of all time. Berra, a fifteen-time All Star, won the American League MVP three times and played in 14 World Series.

 

MIKE TICE
Len Levine with Mike Tice
Mike Tice, a great college and pro football player is now on the coaching staff of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. During his fourteen seasons in the National Football League, Tice caught 107 passes for 894 yards and 11 touchdowns.  When this picture was taken he was the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. 
MUHAMMAD ALI
Muhammad Ali with Len Levine
Len Levine was with boxing great Muhammad Ali in New York City.  Ali is considered the greatest heavyweight in boxing history. He won the Gold Medal at the 1960 Olympics as an 18 year old and went on to become the only man in heavyweight boxing history to win the crown three times.
BOBBY BELL
Bobby Bell with Len and Carole Levine

The night Len Levine received the University of Minnesota “M” Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award, he and his wife Carole visited with their long-time friend, Bobby Bell.  As a linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs, Bell was named All-NFL seven years in a row and was the first Kansas City Chiefs player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

GEORGE MIKAN

George Mikan, was nicknamed Mr. Basketball. At 6 ft. 10 in., 245 lbs. he was one of the greatest basketball players of all time. After playing for a few different teams he gained his fame with the champion Minneapolis Lakers. He was known for his ambidextrous hook shot. Mikan was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1959 and was elected one of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players in 1996. Since April 2001, a statue of Mikan shooting his trademark hook shot graces the entrance of the Timberwolves' Target Center in Minneapolis . This picture was taken in his downtown Minneapolis office.


RECIPIENT OF MANY HONORS AND AWARDS

Len Levine has received many professional, community and national honors, such as Administrator of the Year (the first and only time that award was ever given by the Minnesota Government Engineers Council and the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers); Outstanding Young Educator of St. Paul; Humboldt High School distinguished alumni award, wall of fame; U.S. Environmental Quality Award; City of Hope (Medical Center) Spirit of Life Award (funds from this event went to the establishment of a retirement home in Haifa, Israel for retired workers of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim faiths) and the Justice Louis Brandeis Award.  The publisher and editors of McGraw Hill’s “Engineering News Record” honored Len Levine as a finalist for the prestigious “Construction Man of the Year” Award and the University of Minnesota “M” Club recognized his accomplishments by presenting him their Lifetime Achievement Award.

TELEVISION AND NEWSPAPER INVOLVEMENT

Len Levine hosted a television program called “Focus” on Channel 9, KMSP-TV (a commercial station with statewide coverage) for seven years. His co-host was then Ch. 9 news anchor Rod Grams, who later became a U.S. Senator from Minnesota. Their guest for this program was former Vice President Walter Mondale.

For 14 years Len Levine was the publisher of the University of Minnesota Sportsnews, the only statewide paper of its kind ever produced in Minnesota (reaching a circulation of 60,000 copies each issue).

PERSONAL LIFE

Len and his wife Carole were married in 1963.  They have three children and three grandchildren.

 


Leonard W. Levine & Associates, Inc.
2136 Ford Parkway, #360
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116
Phone: 651-405-9330 (rolls over to mobile)
Fax: 651-405-9331
e-mail: len@levinecanhelp.com

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GET TO KNOW LEN LEVINE | SATISIFIED CLIENTS | ROAD AND PROPERTY ISSUES | TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT | WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT | CONTACT