Abrams, Ronald L. "Ron"
House 1989-2002 (District 45A); House 2003-2006 (District 43B)
Party when first elected: Independent Republican
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
4/27/1952
Birth Place:
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Birth County:
Hennepin
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Jewish
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
Ron
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minnetonka
Occupation (when first elected):
Attorney
EDUCATION
St. Louis Park High School; Secondary;
University of Minnesota; B.A.; Interdepartmental Studies (Economics, History, and Political Science Departments), Summa Cum Laude, 1974
Harvard University, Law School; J.D.; 1977
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission:
United States House of Representatives (Summer Intern for United States Representative Bill Frenzel, 4 summers);
1972 to 1975
State Legislative Staff:
Minnesota House of Representatives (Committee Administrator);
1985 to 1986
Judge:
Hennepin County District Court/4th Judicial District, Minnesota (Appointed by Governor Tim Pawlenty);
2006 to 20??
[Appointed]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Joanne Rogin-Abrams
Children:
Two children: Benjamin (son), and Alexander
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
Religion provided by the Jewish Community Relations Council and Politics in Minnesota the Directory, 2005-2006.
Body:
House
District:
43B
Elected:
11/2/2004
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/3/2005 to 6/21/2006
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Republican
Leadership Position:
Speaker Pro Tempore
Leadership Notes: He officially resigned on June 21, 2006.
Reason for unfinished term:
Appointed to other office
Session Notes:
He was appointed by Governor Pawlenty to be a Judge with the Hennepin County District Court/4th Judicial District. He officially resigned on June 21, 2006; a special election was not held to fill the seat.
Body:
House
District:
43B
Elected:
11/5/2002
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Republican
Leadership Position:
Speaker Pro Tempore
Body:
House
District:
45A
Elected:
11/7/2000
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Republican
Leadership Position:
Speaker Pro Tempore
Body:
House
District:
45A
Elected:
11/3/1998
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs
Minutes
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
Minutes
-
Taxes (Chair)
Minutes
-
Taxes: Property Taxes Division
Minutes
-
Ways and Means
Minutes
Leadership Position:
Speaker Pro Tempore
Body:
House
District:
45A
Elected:
11/5/1996
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Republican
Committees:
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
Minutes
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Taxes
Minutes
-
Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division
Minutes
-
Ways and Means
- Ex Officio Member
Leadership Position:
Assistant Minority Leader
Body:
House
District:
45A
Elected:
11/8/1994
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/2/1995 to 1/5/1997
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Rules and Legislative Administration: Administration
-
Taxes
-
Taxes: Property Tax and Tax Increment Financing Division
-
Ways and Means
-
Ways and Means: Government Efficiency and Oversight Division
Leadership Position:
Assistant Minority Leader
Body:
House
District:
45A
Elected:
11/3/1992
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/4/1993 to 1/1/1995
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Elections
-
Rules and Legislative Administration
-
Taxes
-
Taxes: Property Tax
-
Ways and Means
Leadership Position:
Assistant Minority Leader
Body:
House
District:
45A
Elected:
11/6/1990
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance
-
Financial Institutions and Insurance: Banking Division
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs, and Gaming: Elections Division
-
Redistricting
-
Taxes
-
Taxes: State Taxes and Tax Laws
Body:
House
District:
45A
Elected:
11/8/1988
Residence:
Minnetonka
Term of Office:
1/2/1989 to 1/6/1991
Counties Represented:
Hennepin
Occupation:
Attorney
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Appropriations
-
Appropriations: Computer
-
Appropriations: State Departments Division
-
Financial Institutions and Housing
-
Financial Institutions and Housing: Banking
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Elections Division
-
Labor-Management Relations
Articles & Books About
-
Janovec, Patty. "A Place on the Bench: Abrams Moves On to a Different Branch of Government." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, May 5, 2006, p. 17.
-
Lonergan, Tom. "Running the Show: Sviggum Re-Elected as House Speaker, Olson Joins Abrams and Boudreau as Speaker Pro Tempore." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, January 10, 2003, p. 9.
Session Interviews
District Files
2001 (45A)
2002 (45A)
2003 (43B)
2004 (43B)
2005 (43B)
These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.
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.