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Day, Richard "Dick"

Sessions Served

Other Information

Senate 1991-1992 (District 30); Senate 1993-2002 (District 28); Senate 2003-2010 (District 26)

Party when first elected: Independent Republican

Counties Served: Dodge, Freeborn, Goodhue, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Waseca

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 3/9/1937

Birth Place: Rochester, Minnesota

Birth County: Olmsted

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Dick

City of Residence (when first elected): Owatonna

Occupation (when first elected): Printing Sales/Former Employee, IBM/Former Owner and Operator; Day and Associates, Commercial and Residential Real Estate

EDUCATION

Rochester Public Schools; Elementary School;
Rochester High School; Secondary; Graduate, Lettered in Football, Basketball, and Track; 1955
Winona State College; B.A.; Political Science and Business Administration, Basketball Scholarship

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: United States Navy; 195? to 195?

Municipal Council/Aldermen: Owatonna, Minnesota (City Council); 1976 to 1980 [Elected]

County Board/Commissioner: Steele County, Minnesota; 1980 to 1988

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Janet
Children: Four children: Dan, Steve, Debbie, and Julie
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: insurance, state and local government, transportation, taxes, education, agriculture.

He was born on a farm. He lived on the farm until he was six years old.

He ran unsuccessfully in the primary election, without the Republican Party's endorsement, for the 1st Congressional District seat in the United States House of Representatives in 2008.

Religion provided by the member, the Natural Resources Defense Council's State Directories 2005 and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.

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Total Days Served: 6941

SESSIONS SERVED

86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/8/2010 (unfinished term)

Counties Represented: Rice, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Retired, IBM

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Business, Industry and Jobs
Capital Investment
Finance
Finance: Transportation Budget and Policy Division
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Gaming
Transportation

Reason for unfinished term: Resigned

Session Notes: He resigned, effective January 8, 2010, to head Racino Now. The group is interested in lobbying for the establishment of casinos at Minnesota horse race tracks.

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85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/7/2006

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/3/2007 to 1/8/2010 (unfinished term)

Counties Represented: Rice, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Retired, IBM

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2007 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Business, Industry and Jobs
Finance: Transportation Budget and Policy Division
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight
State and Local Government Operations and Oversight: Gaming
Transportation

Reason for unfinished term: Resigned

Session Notes: He resigned, effective January 8, 2010, to head Racino Now. The group is interested in lobbying for the establishment of casinos at Minnesota horse race tracks.

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84th Legislative Session (2005-2006) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Rice, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Retired IBM

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2005 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2005 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming
Finance: Transportation Budget Division
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
State and Local Government Operations
Transportation

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

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83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 26

Elected: 11/5/2002

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/7/2003 to 1/2/2007

Counties Represented: Rice, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Legislator/Retired IBM

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2003 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author 2003 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Agriculture, General Legislation and Veterans Affairs-2003/Agriculture, Veterans and Gaming-2004 [He was a member in 2004 only.]
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
State and Local Government Operations

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

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82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 28

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/3/2001 to 1/6/2003

Counties Represented: Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Retired IBM Salesman

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Special Session Bills Authored: 2001 1st Sp.S. - Author
2002 1st Sp.S. - Author

Committees:

Finance
Finance: Transportation and Public Safety Budget Division
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Rules and Administration: Senate Budget
State and Local Government Operations
Transportation

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

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81st Legislative Session (1999-2000) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 28

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Real Estate Broker, Day and Associates/Retired IBM

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Insurance
Local and Metropolitan Government
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Taxes
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division
Transportation
Transportation/State Government Finance: Transportation Budget Division

Leadership Position: Minority Leader

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 28

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/7/1997 to 1/2/2001

Counties Represented: Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Director of Franchise Sales and Development for Century 21 Real Estate

Party: Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Insurance
Local and Metropolitan Government
Taxes
Taxes/Local and Metropolitan Government: Property Taxes and Local Government Budget Division
Transportation
Transportation/State Government Finance: Transportation Budget Division

Leadership Position: Minority Leader
Leadership Notes: The Republican caucus elected him Minority Leader on July 9, 1997.

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79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 28

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Franchise Sales

Party: Independent Republican

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance
Ethics and Campaign Reform
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government: Intergovernmental Relations
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income and Sales Tax
Transportation and Public Transit
Transportation and Public Transit: Transportation and Public Transit Finance Division

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 28

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/5/1993 to 1/6/1997

Counties Represented: Dodge, Goodhue, Olmsted, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Printing Sales

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Consumer Protection and Regulated Industries
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance
Health Care
Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division
Metropolitan and Local Government
Metropolitan and Local Government: Intergovernmental Relations
Taxes and Tax Laws
Taxes and Tax Laws: Income and Sales Tax

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details

Body: Senate

District: 30

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Owatonna

Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993

Counties Represented: Dodge, Freeborn, Mower, Steele, Waseca

Occupation: Printing Sales/Former Employee, IBM/Former Owner and Operator; Day and Associates, Commercial and Residential Real Estate

Party: Independent Republican

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development
Agriculture and Rural Development: Agriculture Resources
Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Consumer Protection/Regulated Industries (Liquor)
Health and Human Services
Health and Human Services: Social Services
Local Government

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OTHER INFORMATION

District Files

District File - 2000 District 28
District File - 2002 District 28
District File - 2001 District 28
District File - 2003 District 26
District File - 2004 District 26
District File - 2005 District 26
District File - 2006 District 26
District File - 2007 District 26
District File - 2008 District 26
District File - 2009 District 26
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.

Legislators Past & Present Home

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Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 645 State Office Building, Saint Paul, MN 55155