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Relph, Jerry

Senate 2017-2020 (District 14)

Party when first elected:  Republican

Counties Served:  Benton, Sherburne, Stearns

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/4/1944
Birth Place: Boston, Massachusetts
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 12/18/2020
Gender: Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected): Saint Cloud
Occupation (when first elected): Retired

EDUCATION

Carleton College; B.A.; Philosophy, 1966
William Mitchell College of Law; J.D.; 1974

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

Military: Marine Corps (Vietnam); ? to 1970
Municipal Attorney: St. Charles, Minnesota (City Attorney); [Dates Unknown]

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Colette (married in 1972; she died in 1999); Remarried Pegi Broker-Relph in 2002
Children: Two children (Kerry and Dana) and four stepchildren (Laura, Carl, Steven, and Eric)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

He died of COVID-19 while in office.

Total Days Served: 1447

SESSIONS SERVED

91st Legislative Session (2019-2020) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/2019
Body: Senate
District: 14
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 12/18/2020 (unfinished term)
Oath Date: 1/3/2017
Counties Represented: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns
Occupation: Retired
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Capital Investment
  • Family Care and Aging
  • Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
  • Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
  • Local Government
Reason for unfinished term: Death
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

90th Legislative Session (2017-2018)

  Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2017
Body: Senate
District: 14
Elected: 11/8/2016
Residence: Saint Cloud
Term of Office: 1/2/2017 to 12/18/2020 (unfinished term)
Oath Date: 1/3/2017
Counties Represented: Benton, Sherburne, Stearns
Occupation: Retired
Party: Republican
Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
Committees:
  • Aging and Long-Term Care Policy
  • Capital Investment
  • Human Services Reform Finance and Policy
  • Judiciary and Public Safety Finance and Policy
  • Local Government
Reason for unfinished term: Death
Session Notes: His margin of victory over Dan Wolgamott was only 148 votes so an automatic recount occurred. After the recount he was declared the winner by 141 votes.
Ran in next election? Yes. Defeated in general election

Articles & Books About

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