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Wenzel, Stephen G. "Steve"

Sessions Served

Other Information

House 1973-82 (District 12B); House 1983-92 (District 13B); House 1993-2001 (District 12B)

Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus

Counties Served: Cass, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Morrison

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 12/7/1946

Birth Place: Little Falls, Minnesota

Birth County: Morrison

Birth Country: United States

Date of Death:

Gender: Male

Religion: Catholic

Reported Minority: None Reported

Other Names: Steve

City of Residence (when first elected): Little Falls

Occupation (when first elected): Educator

EDUCATION

Morrison County Country Schools; Elementary School;
Little Falls High School; Secondary;
St. Cloud State College; B.S.; 1968
St. Cloud State College; Attended Graduate School; Educational Administration
University of Minnesota; Attended Graduate School;

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Congressional Intern for United States Senator Walter Mondale); 1967 to 1967

U.S. Executive Branch: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Rural Development, Minnesota (State Director, Appointed by President George W. Bush); 08/2001 to 20?? [Appointed]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Single
Children:
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Mike LeMieur - Nephew

GENERAL NOTES

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

Steve Wenzel was a member of the DFL during his legislative tenure but became a Republican later in life, participating in the 2016 Republican National Convention and serving as a delegate to the 2020 Republican National Convention. (Star Tribune, August 25, 2020)

He ran as a Republican for Senate District 10 in the 2022 election, but lost the primary.

He was a member of St. Mary's Church in Little Falls, Minnesota.

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

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Total Days Served: 10442

SESSIONS SERVED

82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/2001

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/7/2000

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 8/3/2001 (unfinished term)
Oath Date: 1/3/2001

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

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

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes [He was a member in 2001 only.]
Agriculture and Rural Development Policy Minutes [He was a member in 2001 only]
Crime Prevention Minutes [He was a member in 2001 only]
Ways and Means Minutes [He was a member in 2001 only]

Reason for unfinished term: Appointed to other office

Session Notes: He was appointed State Director of Rural Development in the United States Department of Agriculture.

81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1999

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/3/1998

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
Oath Date: 1/5/1999

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Educator/Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture and Rural Development Finance Minutes
Agriculture Policy Minutes
Crime Prevention
Ways and Means Minutes

80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1997

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/5/1996

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
Oath Date: 1/7/1997

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Educator/Legislator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair) Minutes
Agriculture: Joint House/Senate Special Select Subcommittee on Agricultural Education (Chair) Minutes
Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture Finance
Financial Institutions and Insurance Minutes
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs

79th Legislative Session (1995-1996)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1995

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/8/1994

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
Oath Date: 1/3/1995

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Bills Authored: Chief Author Author

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
Agriculture: Dairy Policy and Soil and Water Conservation
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Labor-Management Relations
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs: Local Government
Rules and Legislative Administration
Rules and Legislative Administration: Administration

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78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/5/1993

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/3/1992

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
Oath Date: 1/5/1993

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
Environment and Natural Resources Finance
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
Labor-Management Relations

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1991

Body: House

District: 13B

Elected: 11/6/1990

Residence: Little Falls

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

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Farm Programs
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
Agriculture: Rural Development, Marketing, and International Trade
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
Appropriations
Appropriations: Environment and Natural Resources Division
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Labor-Management Relations

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76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1989

Body: House

District: 13B

Elected: 11/8/1988

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Oath Date: 1/3/1989

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Former Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance and Farm Programs
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
Agriculture: Soil and Water Resources
Education
Education: Higher Education Division
Insurance
Labor-Management Relations

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1987

Body: House

District: 13B

Elected: 11/4/1986

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/1/1989
Oath Date: 1/6/1987

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Former Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Agriculture: Agriculture Finance Division
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
Agriculture: Farm Programs and Policies
Agriculture: International Trade, Farm Commodities, Agri-Business and Marketing
Agriculture: Soil and Water Conservation
Education
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Insurance
Labor-Management Relations

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/8/1985

Body: House

District: 13B

Elected: 11/6/1984

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/7/1985 to 1/4/1987
Oath Date: 1/8/1985

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Insurance

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture
Agriculture: Agricultural Products Marketing
Education
Education: Education Finance Division
Financial Institutions and Insurance

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73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1983

Body: House

District: 13B

Elected: 11/2/1982

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/6/1985
Oath Date: 1/4/1983

Counties Represented: Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Insurance

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Agriculture: Agricultural Exports and Marketing
Agriculture: Dairy and Livestock
Agriculture: Farm Policies and Programs
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: Pensions and Investments

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/6/1981

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/4/1980

Residence: Little Falls

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

Counties Represented: Mille Lacs, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Life Insurance Representative/Former Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture (Chair)
Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
Agriculture: Farm Programs and Policies
Commerce and Economic Development: Oil Decontrol Task Force
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: Administration

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71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/3/1979

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/7/1978

Residence: Little Falls

Term of Office: 1/1/1979 to 1/4/1981
Oath Date: 1/3/1979

Counties Represented: Mille Lacs, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Life Insurance Representative/Former Educator

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture
Agriculture: Agriculture Products and Marketing
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
Governmental Operations
Governmental Operations: Personnel

70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/4/1977

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/2/1976

Residence: Little Falls

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

Counties Represented: Mille Lacs, Morrison

Occupation: Legislator/Life Insurance Sales Representative

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Agriculture
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Governmental Operations

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69th Legislative Session (1975-1976)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/7/1975

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/5/1974

Residence: Little Falls

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

Counties Represented: Mille Lacs, Morrison

Occupation: Life Insurance Representative

Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Committees:

Financial Institutions and Insurance
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
Governmental Operations

68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

Session Details Convened Date: 1/2/1973

Body: House

District: 12B

Elected: 11/7/1972

Residence: Little Falls

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

Counties Represented: Mille Lacs, Morrison

Occupation: Educator

Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus

Committees:

Agriculture
Education
Financial Institutions and Insurance
General Legislation and Veterans Affairs

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OTHER INFORMATION

Articles & Books About

Cook, Mike. "New Job, Same Focus." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, November 28, 2001, p. 18.

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 (12B)

2001 (12B)

2002 (12B)

These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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