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    Nelson, Tom A.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1977-86 (District 31)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Freeborn, Mower

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/??/1945
    Birth Place: Minnesota
    Birth County:
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Austin
    Occupation (when first elected): High School Social Studies Teacher, Austin

    EDUCATION

    Austin High School, Minnesota; Secondary;
    Mankato State College; B.S.;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Austin, Minnesota (City Council, Member); 19?? to 19??
    School Board/Administration: Jackson Hole, Wyoming (Superintendent of Schools); 199? to 199?
    State Agency: Minnesota Department of Education (Commissioner); 01/08/1990 to 199? [Appointed]
    School Board/Administration: Buffalo, Minnesota (Superintendent); 1994 to 2005
    School Board/Administration: South Washington County School District, Minnesota (Superintendent); 2005 to 2009
    School Board/Administration: Stillwater Area School District, Minnesota (Interim Superintendent); 08/16/2010 to 06/30/2011

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Margaret
    Children: Three children: Jeff, Connie, and Beth
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: local government, health care, education.

    He became a lobbyist for the University of Minnesota from 1988-1989.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 3654

    SESSIONS SERVED

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 31
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Austin
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Freeborn, Mower
    Occupation: High School Teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Education Aids
    • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
    • Employment
    • Employment: Workers Compensation
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Majority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 31
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Austin
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Freeborn, Mower
    Occupation: High School Teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Education Aids (Chair)
    • Education: Post-Secondary and Higher Education
    • Employment
    • Employment: Workers' Compensation
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Majority Whip

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 31
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Austin
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Freeborn, Mower
    Occupation: High School Social Studies Teacher, Austin
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Employment
    • Employment: Economic Development
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education (Chair)
    • Finance: Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    Leadership Position: Majority Whip
    term photo
    Click to view

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

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 31
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Austin
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Freeborn, Mower
    Occupation: High School Social Studies Teacher, Austin
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment
    • Employment: Economic Development
    • Finance
    • Finance: Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Civil Administration Regulatory Reform-1980
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel (Chair) [He became Chair after Eugene Stokowski died.]
    • Governmental Operations: Structure-1979 (Chair)
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources/Health, Welfare and Corrections: Nutrition

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 31
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Austin
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Freeborn, Mower
    Occupation: High School Social Studies Teacher, Austin
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Energy and Housing
    • Energy and Housing: Energy
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Metro Affairs
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Criminal Law
    • Judiciary: Privacy
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Senate Photos

    The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.

    Senator Tom Nelson speaks on the Senate floor, St. Paul, Minnesota.
    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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