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    Ward, John

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2007-2012 (District 12A); House 2013-2014 (District 10A)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Crow Wing

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 8/2/1950
    Birth Place: Duluth, Minnesota
    Birth County: St. Louis
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Brainerd
    Occupation (when first elected): Educator; Teacher, Special Education Teacher, and High School Coach, Elementary to Senior High School, 33 Years

    EDUCATION

    Proctor High School; Secondary; Class President, Graduate, 1968
    University of Minnesota, Duluth; B.S.; Physical Education and Health; Coaching and Driver’s Education Certification, 1973
    University of Minnesota, Duluth; M.A.; Special Education, 1982
    University of Wisconsin, Superior; E.B.D.; Emotional Behavior Disorders, 1984

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Proctor, Minnesota (City Council); 1982 to 1983 [Elected]
    Municipal Mayor: Proctor, Minnesota (City Mayor); 1984 to 1987 [Elected]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Sally Gfrerer (married on April 27, 1974)
    Children: Four children: Amy, Eric, Ryan, and Shannon
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He grew up in Proctor, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the 2006 WCCO TV Voters' Guide.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2926

    SESSIONS SERVED

    88th Legislative Session (2013-2014)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2013
    Body: House
    District: 10A
    Elected: 11/6/2012
    Residence: Baxter
    Term of Office: 1/7/2013 to 1/4/2015
    Oath Date: 1/8/2013
    Counties Represented: Crow Wing
    Occupation: Licensed Insurance Agent/Retired Educator/Coach
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2013 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment Minutes
    • Jobs and Economic Development Finance and Policy Minutes
    • Legacy Minutes
    • Public Safety Finance and Policy Minutes
    • Rules and Legislative Administration Minutes
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader
    Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election
    term photo
    Click to view

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/2011
    Body: House
    District: 12A
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Brainerd
    Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
    Oath Date: 1/4/2011
    Counties Represented: Crow Wing
    Occupation: Retired Educator, Teacher
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2012 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Capital Investment Minutes
    • Education Finance Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    86th Legislative Session (2009-2010)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/2009
    Body: House
    District: 12A
    Elected: 11/4/2008
    Residence: Brainerd
    Term of Office: 1/5/2009 to 1/2/2011
    Oath Date: 1/6/2009
    Counties Represented: Crow Wing
    Occupation: Retired High School and Elementary Teacher/Licensed Insurance Agent
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2010 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Finance: Early Childhood Finance and Policy Division Minutes
    • Finance: K-12 Education Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Public Safety Finance Division Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    85th Legislative Session (2007-2008)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2007
    Body: House
    District: 12A
    Elected: 11/7/2006
    Residence: Brainerd
    Term of Office: 1/1/2007 to 1/4/2009
    Oath Date: 1/3/2007
    Counties Represented: Crow Wing
    Occupation: Educator; Teacher, Special Education Teacher, and High School Coach, Elementary to Senior High School, 33 Years
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • E-12 Education Minutes
    • Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: Education Finance and Economic Competitiveness Finance Division: Early Childhood Learning Finance Division Minutes
    • Finance: State Government Finance Division Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    Session Interviews

    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 (12A)
    2008 (12A)
    2009 (12A)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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