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    Otis, Todd H.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1979-82 (District 58B); House 1983-90 (District 59B)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 6/??/1945
    Birth Place:
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Former Government Affairs Representative/Former Small Business Advocate and Urban Development Officer, First Minneapolis Bank

    EDUCATION

    Harvard University; A.B.; American History, 1967
    Columbia University, New York; M.S.; Journalism, 1970

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Board/Commission: Minneapolis, Minnesota (Charter Commission); 19?? to 19??
    U.S. Executive Branch: United States Peace Corps (Senegal); 1967 to 1969

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Caren Dewar (married in 2007)
    Children: Three children: Philip (son, died in 1995); Katherine "Katie", and Madeline (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He unsuccessfully sought the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party endorsement for Minnesota Governor in the 1994 election. He dropped out of the race in March 1994.

    He ran unsuccessfully as the Democratic-Farmer-Labor endorsed candidate for Minnesota State Auditor in the 1994 primary election. He lost the primary election to Donald Moe.

    He was the son of Minnesota Supreme Court Associate Justice James C. Otis.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 4388

    SESSIONS SERVED

    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 59B
    Elected: 11/8/1988
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 1/7/1991
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Marketing
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Economic Development (Chair)
    • Economic Development: Community Stabilization and Development Division
    • Economic Development: Enterprise Development
    • Economic Development: International Trade and Technology Division
    • Economic Development: Job Training and Retraining
    • Economic Development: Rural Resource Development Division
    • Education
    • Education: Education Finance Division
    • Financial Institutions and Housing
    • Financial Institutions and Housing: Banking

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 59B
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Director of Marketing
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Economic Development and Housing (Chair)
    • Economic Development and Housing: Business Finance
    • Economic Development and Housing: Housing and Community Development
    • Economic Development and Housing: Job Development and Training
    • Economic Development and Housing: Rural Development
    • Education
    • Education: Education Finance Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance: Financial Institutions
    • Higher Education
    • Rules and Legislative Administration
    Leadership Position: Assistant Majority Leader

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 59B
    Elected: 11/6/1984
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Writer/Legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Division
    • Financial Institutions and Insurance
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 59B
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Writer/Legislator
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Energy
    • Energy: Energy and Economics (Chair)
    • Environment and Natural Resources
    • Environment and Natural Resources: Environment
    • Regulated Industries
    • Regulated Industries: Special Projects
    • Taxes
    • Taxes: Economic Development Division

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 58B
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Writer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Commerce and Economic Development
    • Commerce and Economic Development: Economic Development (Chair)
    • Education
    • Education: Discipline (Chair)
    • Energy
    • Regulated Industries
    • Regulated Industries: Rates Under Bond-Interim Rates
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 58B
    Elected: 11/7/1978
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/3/1979 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Former Government Affairs Representative/Former Small Business Advocate and Urban Development Officer, First Minneapolis Bank
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Education: Higher Education Division
    • Energy and Utilities
    • Energy and Utilities: Utilities Regulation and Pricing
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: Elections and Campaign Practices
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs: General Law and Veterans Affairs
    • Transportation
    Session Notes: His opponent, Ann O'Loughlin, contested his election due to charges of unfair campaign practices. It was dismissed by the courts due to the fact that she failed to follow proper notification procedures.

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books By
    Otis, Todd H. A Review of Nuclear Energy in the United States: Hidden Power. Greenwood Press, 1981.


    Articles & Books About
    Wetzel, Matt. "Otis Stays in Public Service Mode, Calls House 'a Great Place to Be'." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 3, 1998, p. 4.

    "House Bids Farewell to Five Members." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 13, 1990, p. 11.


    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.

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