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Bernhagen, John J.

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1969-72 (District 15A); Senate 1973-82 (District 22); Senate 1983-92 (District 21)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Counties Served: Hennepin, Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Stearns, Wright

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 3/19/1934

Birth Place: Hutchinson, Minnesota

Birth County: McLeod

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death: 9/26/2020

Gender: Male

Religion: Lutheran

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names:

City of Residence (when first elected): Hutchinson

Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

EDUCATION

Hutchinson High School; Secondary; Graduate, 1952
Metropolitan State College; B.A.;
University of Minnesota, Graduate School of Agriculture; Attended Graduate School;
Mankato State University; M.S.;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

State Board/Commission/Council: Mississippi River Parkway Commission; [Dates Unknown]

Military: United States Army (France, 2 years); 1954 to 08/04/1956

Municipal Government: Hutchinson, Minnesota (Economic Development Executive Director); 1984 to 1992

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Loretta "Letty" (married on October 28, 1956)
Children: Three children: Joel, Luann, Paul
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, energy, economic development, natural resources, taxes.

He was a member of the Republican Party.

His aunt, Mrs. Fred Bernhagen, was the sister of Sen. Harold R. Popp.

He served as the Midwest Representative on the Council of State Legislatures.

He was interred in the Oakland Cemetery in Hutchinson, Minnesota.

He was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975 and the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1977-78.

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Total Days Served: 8764

SESSIONS SERVED

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: Senate

District: 21

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Oath Date: 1/8/1991

Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Stearns

Occupation: Executive Director Community Development

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Economic Development and Housing
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Environment and Natural Resources: Public Lands and Waters
Local Government
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income, Sales, and Economic Development Division
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: Senate

District: 21

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Stearns

Occupation: Executive Director Community Development

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Economic Development and Housing
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division
Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax Division
Transportation
Transportation: General Policy, Rural and Commercial

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: Senate

District: 21

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Stearns

Occupation: Executive Director, Hutchinson Community Development Corporation/Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Economic Development and Housing
Environment and Natural Resources
Environment and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Capitol Renovation
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax
Transportation
Transportation: General Policy and Rural and Commercial

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1985

Body: Senate

District: 21

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/4/1983

Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Stearns

Occupation: Executive Director, Hutchinson Community Development Corporation

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Transportation
Transportation: Rural and Commercial

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1983

Body: Senate

District: 21

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/4/1983

Counties Represented: Kandiyohi, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Sibley, Stearns

Occupation: Consultant, Positive Concepts/Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Rules and Administration
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids
Transportation
Transportation: Rural and Commercial

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1981

Body: Senate

District: 22

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
Oath Date: 1/6/1981

Counties Represented: Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Wright

Occupation: Farmer/Business Counselor

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Energy and Housing
Energy and Housing: Energy
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Agricultural Property Tax
Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales and Property Tax

Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

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71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1979

Body: Senate

District: 22

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/4/1977

Counties Represented: Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Wright

Occupation: Farmer/Business Counselor

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wild Life
Energy and Housing
Energy and Housing: Energy
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Law
Judiciary: Law Revision
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales and Property Tax

Leadership Position: Minority Caucus Deputy Whip

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1977

Body: Senate

District: 22

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/4/1977

Counties Represented: Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Wright

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agriculture and Natural Resources: Fish and Wildlife
Energy and Housing
Energy and Housing: Housing
Judiciary
Judiciary: Criminal Law
Judiciary: Law Revision
Taxes and Tax Laws

Leadership Position: Minority Caucus Deputy Whip

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69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1975

Body: Senate

District: 22

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/2/1973

Counties Represented: Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Wright

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus

Committees:

Local Government
Natural Resources and Agriculture
Natural Resources and Agriculture: Agriculture
Natural Resources and Agriculture: Game and Fish

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1973

Body: Senate

District: 22

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/2/1973

Counties Represented: Hennepin, McLeod, Meeker, Renville, Wright

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Local Government
Natural Resources and Agriculture
Natural Resources and Agriculture: Agriculture
Natural Resources and Agriculture: Game and Fish

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67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1971

Body: House

District: 15A

Elected: 11/3/1970

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
Oath Date: 1/5/1971

Counties Represented: McLeod

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Crime Prevention
Education
Ethics
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Health, Welfare and Corrections
Regulated Industries

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1969

Body: House

District: 15A

Elected: 11/5/1968

Residence: Hutchinson

Term of Office: 1/6/1969 to 1/3/1971
Oath Date: 1/7/1969

Counties Represented: McLeod

Occupation: Farmer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Education
General Legislation, Veterans, and Consumer Affairs
Health and Welfare
Higher Education
Regulated Industries and Utilities

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OTHER INFORMATION

News Sources

The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Senator Doug Johnson, Senator Steve Novak, and Senator John Bernhagen during a tax conference committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987-1990. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator John Bernhagen and Senator Mel Frederick listen to testimony during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1987-1990. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

Senator John Bernhagen and Senator Mel Frederick listen to testimony during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1981-1984. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

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