Dean Barkley

Dean Barkley
United States Senator from Minnesota
In office November 4, 2002 – January 3, 2003
Appointed by	Jesse Ventura
Preceded by	Paul Wellstone
Succeeded by	Norm Coleman
Personal details
Born	Dean Malcolm Barkley (1950-08-31) August 31, 1950 (age 66) Annandale, Minnesota
Political party	Independence
Children	Brooke
Alma mater	University of Minnesota (B.A.) University of Minnesota Law School (J.D.)
Occupation	Attorney
Religion	Lutheran (ELCA)

Dean Malcolm Barkley (born August 31, 1950) is a lawyer and politician who briefly served as a United States Senator from Minnesota from 2002 to 2003. A founder and chair of the Minnesota Reform Party (the predecessor of the Independence Party of Minnesota), he chaired Jesse Ventura's successful 1998 gubernatorial campaign; Ventura subsequently appointed him director of the state's Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning, and appointed Barkley to the U.S. Senate after the death of Paul Wellstone. Barkley ran as the Independence Party's candidate for the Senate in 2008, finishing third as Democrat Al Franken defeated the Republican incumbent Norm Coleman by 312 votes.

Barkley is now a legal partner at The Engel Firm in Minneapolis.

Barkley was born in Annandale, Minnesota, graduating from Annandale High School in 1968. He received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota in 1972 and J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1976. During his university years Barkley volunteered for George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign because of his opposition to the Vietnam War.

After graduating from law school, he practiced law and in 1988 became president of Dayton’s Furniture in Annandale, a position he held until 1991.

A founder of the Minnesota Reform Party, Barkley ran for the U.S. House in 1992, a run inspired by Ross Perot's presidential campaign, and received 16% of the vote, thanks in part to Perot voters. He was also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in 1994 and 1996.

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