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    Valento, Donald J. "Don"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1979-82 (District 45A); House 1983-92 (District 54A)

    Party when first elected:  Independent Republican

    Counties Served:  Anoka, Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 2/22/1933
    Birth Place:
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Don
    City of Residence (when first elected): Little Canada
    Occupation (when first elected): Engineer/Contractor

    EDUCATION

    White Bear High School; Secondary;
    College of St. Thomas; Attended College;
    University of Minnesota; B.S.; Civil Engineering, 1960

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Mayor: Little Canada, Minnesota (5 years); 19?? to 19??
    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Little Canada, Minnesota (City Council, 8 years); 19?? to 19??
    Military: United States Marine Corps; 1952 to 1955

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Jan
    Children: Seven children: Jeff, Cindy, Dan, Bernie, Tim, Todd, and Gina
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 5117

    SESSIONS SERVED

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: House
    District: 54A
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Little Canada
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/8/1991
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Retired Civil Engineer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Housing
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: State Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Air, Rail, and Toll Roads
    term photo
    Click to view

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: House
    District: 54A
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Little Canada
    Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/3/1989
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Retired Civil Engineer/Self-Employed Contractor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Local Government and Structures
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Surface Transportation
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: House
    District: 54A
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Little Canada
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Civil Engineer/Contractor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Metropolitan Affairs
    • Metropolitan Affairs: Finance
    • Metropolitan Affairs: Government Structure
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Law Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Safety
    Leadership Position: Assistant Minority Leader

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: House
    District: 54A
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Little Canada
    Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/8/1985
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Civil Engineer/Contractor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Crime and Family Law
    • Crime and Family Law: Criminal Justice
    • Local and Urban Affairs (Chair)
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Local Government Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Metropolitan Affairs
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Local Government Finance Division
    term photo
    Click to view

    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: House
    District: 54A
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Little Canada
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Civil Engineer/Contractor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Governmental Administration and Structures
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: House
    District: 49A
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Little Canada
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
    Occupation: Engineer/Contractor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Criminal Justice
    • Criminal Justice: Law Enforcement and Corrections
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Economic Development
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Tax Laws Division
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: House
    District: 49A
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Little Canada
    Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/3/1979
    Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
    Occupation: Engineer/Contractor
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: General Law and Veterans Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs
    • Local and Urban Affairs: Social, Economic and Physical Development
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Division I - Income and Sales Tax Division

    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

    Portrait of Donald J. Valento. c. 1985. Photo credit: Minnesota House of Representatives.
    Portrait of Donald J. Valento. c. 1985. Photo credit: Minnesota House of Representatives.

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