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    Olson, Mary A.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 2007-2010 (District 4)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 5/23/1958
    Birth Place: Willmar, Minnesota
    Birth County: Kandiyohi
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Female
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    Former Name: Gandrud
    City of Residence (when first elected): Bemidji
    Occupation (when first elected): Attorney

    EDUCATION

    Bemidji High School; Secondary;
    Concordia College, Moorhead; Attended College;
    University of North Dakota; B.A.; English and Journalism
    University of North Dakota, Law School; J.D.;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    County Attorney: Crow Wing County, Minnesota (Assistant County Attorney); [Dates Unknown]
    Military: United States Air Force (March Air Force Base, California, Attorney/JAG Officer); 1985 to 1989

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: John
    Children: Four children: Michelle, Annalise, Alyson, and John
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Peter Anners Gandrud  - Great Great Grandfather

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: health care, higher education, economic development, environmental issues, judiciary issues, civil justice issues.

    She had some Norwegian ancestry.

    She moved to Bemidji, Minnesota in 1963, with her parents.

    She was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church.

    Birth city provided by her father.

    Religion provided by Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2007-2008 and Project Vote Smart, 2009.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 1463

    SESSIONS SERVED

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/2009
    Body: Senate
    District: 04
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Bemidji
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
    Oath Date: 1/3/2007
    Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection
    • Finance: Economic Development and Housing Budget Division
    • Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Data Practices (Chair)
    Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2007
    Body: Senate
    District: 04
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Bemidji
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/2/2011
    Oath Date: 1/3/2007
    Counties Represented: Beltrami, Cass, Crow Wing, Hubbard, Itasca
    Occupation: Attorney
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Consumer Protection
    • Finance: Economic Development Budget Division
    • Finance: Health and Human Services Budget Division
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Data Practices (Chair)
    term photo
    Click to view

    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

    2007 (04)
    2008 (04)
    2009 (04)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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