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Frank, Donald Joseph "Don"

Senate 1981-82 (District 46); Senate 1983-92 (District 51)

Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

Counties Served:  Anoka, Ramsey

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Date of Birth: 9/28/1937
Birth Place: Minnesota
Birth County:
Birth Country: United States
Date of Death: 10/13/1995
Gender: Male
Religion: Catholic
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names: Don
City of Residence (when first elected): Spring Lake Park
Occupation (when first elected): Businessman/Consulting Engineer

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota; Bachelors Degree; Geology, 1960

OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

County Board/Commissioner: Anoka County, Minnesota (County Joint Law Enforcement Committee, 2 years); 19?? to 19??
County Board/Commissioner: Anoka County, Minnesota (County Task Force for Battered Women); 19?? to 19??
County Board/Commissioner: Anoka County, Minnesota (County Mass Transit Advisory Committee); 19?? to 19??
Municipal Board/Commission: Spring Lake Park, Minnesota (Variance Committee, Member); 19?? to 19??
Municipal Board/Commission: Spring Lake Park, Minnesota (City Health Commissioner); 19?? to 19??
Municipal Board/Commission: Spring Lake Park, Minnesota (Planning and Zoning Commission); 19?? to 19??
Municipal Council/Aldermen: Spring Lake Park, Minnesota (Council Member); 1972 to 1980
Municipal Board/Commission: Spring Lake Park, Minnesota (Liquor Commission); 1972 to 1973

FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

Spouse: Frances Mary (she was involved in a car accident in 1972 that left her in a coma for 7 days)
Children: Four children: Peter, Andy (he was involved in a car accident in 1972 and received 210 stitches in his face), Paul, and Mark (sons)
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

GENERAL NOTES

Special Legislative Concerns: finance, taxes, education, highway safety, utilities.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press obituary, the Minnesota Secretary of the Senate, and the Minnesota Historical Society's copy of his death certificate all indicate that he died on October 13. The Star Tribune obituary lists October 12.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Minnesota Senate in the 1976 election.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsement for the Minnesota Senate in the 1992 primary election.

He ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Spring Lake Park, Minnesota in the 1973 election.

He died from a heart attack, at work in Brooklyn Park, Hennepin County, Minnesota.

He was a member of St. Timothy's Catholic Church in Blaine, Minnesota.

Religion provided by the Minnesota Legislative Manual, 1981-82, and his obituary.

Total Days Served: 4382

SESSIONS SERVED

77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/6/1990
Residence: Spring Lake Park
Term of Office: 1/8/1991 to 1/4/1993
Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Employment
  • Metropolitan Affairs (Chair)
  • Rules and Administration
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division
  • Transportation
  • Transportation: Transportation Safety (Chair)

76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Spring Lake Park
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
Occupation: Businessman
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Economic Development and Housing (Chair)
  • Employment
  • Public Utilities and Energy
  • Public Utilities and Energy: Utilities
  • Rules and Administration
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax Division

75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Spring Lake Park
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/7/1991
Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
Occupation: Businessman/Consulting Engineer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Economic Development and Housing (Chair)
  • Employment
  • Public Utilities and Energy
  • Public Utilities and Energy: Deregulated Industries
  • Rules and Administration
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales Tax

74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Spring Lake Park
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
Occupation: Businessman/Consulting Engineer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Employment
  • Employment: Unemployment Insurance (Chair)
  • Energy and Housing
  • Energy and Housing: Energy (Chair)
  • Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries
  • Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries: Gaming and Investigations (Chair)
  • Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries: Public Utilities
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids

73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 51
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Spring Lake Park
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
Occupation: Businessman/Consulting Engineer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Employment
  • Employment: Unemployment Insurance (Chair)
  • Energy and Housing
  • Energy and Housing: Energy (Chair)
  • Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries
  • Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries: Gaming and Investigations (Chair)
  • Public Utilities and State Regulated Industries: Public Utilities
  • Taxes and Tax Laws
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
  • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids

72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

  Session Details
Body: Senate
District: 46
Elected: 11/4/1980
Residence: Spring Lake Park
Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
Counties Represented: Anoka, Ramsey
Occupation: Businessman/Consulting Engineer
Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Committees:
  • Commerce
  • Commerce: Insurance
  • Commerce: Publicly Regulated Industries (Chair)
  • General Legislation and Administrative Rules
  • Governmental Operations
  • Governmental Operations: Structure
Articles & Books About
Coffman, Jack B. "Former Sen. Don Frank, DFLer, Dies at 58 (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 14, 1995.

Whereatt, Robert. "Former State Sen. Don Frank, Author of Seat-Belt Law, Dies (Obituary)." Star Tribune, October 14, 1995, p. 6B.

Beal, Dave. "Here's One Ousted Legislator Who Needs a Break." St. Paul Pioneer Press, July 12, 1993, p. 1F, 8F.


These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

The Minnesota Legislative Reference Library has collected newspaper articles on legislators since 1973. They are available in the Library.