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    Dempsey, Terence M. "Terry"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1979-80 (District 28B); House 1981-92 (District 23A)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Brown, Cottonwood, Nicollet, Redwood

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 2/17/1932
    Birth Place: Henderson, Minnesota
    Birth County: Sibley
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 9/2/2023
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Terry
    City of Residence (when first elected): New Ulm
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

    EDUCATION

    Henderson High School; Secondary;
    College of St. Thomas; B.S.; Political Science, also listed as a B.A.
    University of California, Hastings College of Law; J.D.; 1963

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Governor's Crime Commission, Region 9 (2 years); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Air Force (Pilot, 3 years); 19?? to 19??
    Municipal Attorney: New Ulm, Minnesota (City Attorney, 10 years); 19?? to 19??
    State Public Defender/Office: 5th Judicial District, Minnesota (Public Defender, 2 years); 19?? to 19??
    Judge: Minnesota's Judicial District Court (Appointed by Governor Arne Carlson); 1992 to 2002 [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Board on Aging; 2002 to 01/04/2010 [Appointed]
    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Combative Sports Commission; 01/2010 to 20?? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Janet Helm (married in 1963)
    Children: One child (15 foster children): Matthew (son)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Jerome Richard Dempsey  - Brother

    GENERAL NOTES

    Religion reported by a family member.

    His funeral was held at St. Mary's Catholic Church, New Ulm, on October 14 at 11am.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 4878

    SESSIONS SERVED

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 5/11/1992 (unfinished term)
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney; Somsen, Dempsey, and Schade Law Firm
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax
    • Taxes: State Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    Leadership Notes: He resigned from the Minnesota Legislature on May 11, 1992 due to his appointment as a Minnesota Judge.
    Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office
    Session Notes: He was appointed to become a Minnesota Judicial District Court Judge.
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Law
    • Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division
    • Judiciary: Criminal Justice Division: Children's Justice
    • Judiciary: Privacy
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Air Transportation
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney; Partner in Somsen, Dempsey and Schade Law Firm
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Child Abuse/Child Protection
    • Judiciary: Crime and Family Law Division
    • Judiciary: Data Practices
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Property Tax Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Transportation Carriers
    • Ways and Means
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Budget
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil Laws and Administration
    • Rules and Legislative Administration: Select Committee on the Staten Case (Chair)
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Local Government Finance Division (Chair)
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Transportation
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 23A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Redwood
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Law Reform
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division: Property Tax Policy and Administration Subcommittee
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Commercial and Passenger Transportation
    • Transportation: Highway and Motor Vehicle

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Nicollet
    Occupation: Attorney; Partner, Somsen, Dempsey and Schade Law Firm
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Law Reform
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Local Government Financing
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Mineral Taxation
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Safety
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 28B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: New Ulm
    Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Brown, Cottonwood, Nicollet
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Judiciary Law Reform
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Division II - Property and Natural Resources Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Bridges and Highways

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    "Dempsey, Terence M. 'Terry'." Star Tribune, September 24, 2023.

    Price, Dave. "Members Leave House for New Experiences (Terry Dempsey)." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 17, 1992, p. 16.

    "IR Leader Uses 'Reason' to Keep Caucus In Line." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 28, 1992, p. 14.

    Price, Dave. "Dempsey Hopes to Avoid 'Arm-Twisting'." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, February 1, 1991, p. 11.


    Archive Collections
    Terry Dempsey Papers, 1978-1992 - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
    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.

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