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Samuelson, Donald B. "Don"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1969-72 (District 53B); House 1973-78 (District 13A); House 1981-82 (District 13A); Senate 1983-92 (District 13); Senate 1993-2002 (District 12)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Counties Served: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 8/23/1932

Birth Place: Brainerd, Minnesota

Birth County: Crow Wing

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Don

City of Residence (when first elected): Brainerd

Occupation (when first elected): Bricklayer

EDUCATION

Brainerd High School; Secondary;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Municipal Board/Commission: Brainerd, Minnesota (Brainerd Public Utiltites Commission); ? to 2???

State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Board of Aging (Chair); 05/29/2012 to ? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Nancy
Children: Four children: Steve, Chris, Paula, and Laurie
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: finance, health, health care, insurance, social services, corrections.

He ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsed candidate for the Minnesota Senate in the 2002 election. His opponent, Paul Koering, defeated him by so few votes that an automatic recount occurred. The recount confirmed that Paul Koering had won by 138 votes.

He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

He sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsement for Minnesota Governor in 1994. He dropped out of the race in July 1994.

Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

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Total Days Served: 11683

SESSIONS SERVED

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: Senate

District: 12

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Bricklayer/Union Representative

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Capital Investment
Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Insurance
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral
Rules and Administration: Committees
Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
Rules and Administration: Personnel
Taxes
Taxes: Property Tax Budget Division (Chair)
Transportation

Leadership Position: President of the Senate

Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: Senate

District: 12

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Bricklayer/Union Representative

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Insurance
Environment and Natural Resources
Health and Family Security
Health and Family Security/Human Resources Finance: Health and Family Security Budget Division (Chair)
Human Resources Finance
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: Senate

District: 12

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Bricklayer/Union Representative

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Insurance
Environment and Natural Resources
Health and Family Security
Health and Family Security/Human Resources Finance: Health and Family Security Budget Division (Chair)
Human Resources Finance
Rules and Administration
Rules and Administration: Bill Referral

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: Senate

District: 12

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Union Business Manager

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance
Family Services
Finance
Health Care
Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division (Chair)

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: Senate

District: 12

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Union Business Manager

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce and Consumer Protection
Commerce and Consumer Protection: Insurance
Family Services
Finance
Health Care
Health Care: Health Care and Family Services Finance Division (Chair)

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Union Business Manager

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Insurance
Elections and Ethics
Finance
Finance: Health and Human Services Division (Chair)
Gaming Regulation
Veterans and General Legislation

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Union Business Manager

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Insurance
Elections and Ethics
Finance
Finance: Health and Human Services Division (Chair)
General Legislation and Public Gaming

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Union Business Manager/Bricklayer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Commerce
Commerce: Banking
Commerce: Insurance
Elections and Ethics
Finance
Finance: Health and Human Services Division (Chair)
General Legislation and Public Gaming

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

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1985

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Union Business Manager

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Economic Development and Commerce
Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
Elections and Ethics
Finance
Finance: Health and Human Services (Chair)
Veterans and General Legislation
Veterans and General Legislation: General Legislation (Chair)

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1983

Body: Senate

District: 13

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Union Business Manager

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Economic Development and Commerce
Economic Development and Commerce: Insurance
Elections and Ethics
Finance
Finance: Health and Human Services (Chair)
Veterans and General Legislation

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1981

Body: House

District: 13A

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Bricklayers Business Manager

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division (Chair)
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Reapportionment and Elections
Rules and Legislative Administration

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70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1977

Body: House

District: 13A

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 12/31/1978
Oath Date: 1/4/1977

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Union Business Representative/Bricklayer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division (Chair)
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Transportation

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69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1975

Body: House

District: 13A

Elected: 11/5/1974

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/6/1975 to 1/2/1977
Oath Date: 1/7/1975

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Bricklayer

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Health, Welfare and Corrections Division (Chair)
Deinstitutionalization (Chair)
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Transportation

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1973

Body: House

District: 13A

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Brainerd

Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/5/1975
Oath Date: 1/2/1973

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Bricklayer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus

Committees:

Appropriations
Appropriations: Health, Welfare, and Corrections Division (Chair)
Environmental Preservation and Natural Resources
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Transportation

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67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1971

Body: House

District: 53B

Elected: 11/3/1970

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Bricklayer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Committees:

Appropriations
Claims
Commerce and Economic Development
Natural Resources
Transportation

66th Legislative Session (1969-1970)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1969

Body: House

District: 53B

Elected: 11/5/1968

Residence: Brainerd

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

Counties Represented: Crow Wing

Occupation: Bricklayer

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

Committees:

Cities of the Second and Third Class
Conservation
General Legislation, Veterans, and Consumer Affairs
Higher Education
Public Institutions

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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.

District News Files

2000 (12)

2001 (12)

2002 (12)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

Photographs

Senator Don Samuelson listens 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..

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