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    Ashbach, Robert O. "Bob"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1963-66 (District 43); Senate 1967-72 (District 49); Senate 1973-82 (District 48)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Ramsey

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 7/18/1916
    Birth Place: Waconia, Minnesota
    Birth County: Carver
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 10/23/1990
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Bob
    City of Residence (when first elected): Arden Hills
    Occupation (when first elected): President, Ashbach Construction Company

    EDUCATION

    Lake Owasso; Elementary School;
    Bethel Academy High School, St. Paul; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Minnesota; Attended College; Forestry, Until the Last Quarter of His Senior Year

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Municipal Council/Aldermen: Arden Hills, Minnesota (City Council/Town Board Member); 1950 to 1952
    Municipal Mayor: Arden Hills, Minnesota (City Mayor); 1952 to 01/1963
    School Board/Administration: Mounds View School District, Minnesota (Finance Task Force); 09/1985 to 12/1985 [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Marjorie
    Children: Three children: Gerald and Daniel (sons), Kathryn (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Thomas Earl Emmer, II  - Nephew-in-Law

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: finance, taxes, education, environment, crime.

    He was raised in Roseville, Minnesota.

    He was a member of the Republican party.

    He was an unsuccessful candidate for the Independent Republican party endorsement for Minnesota Governor in 1982.

    He served as King Boreas XXXVI in the 1972 St. Paul Winter Carnival.

    He was a member of the New Brighton Area Historical Society.

    He died from complications related to an aortic aneurysm at United Hospitals in St. Paul, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Christ the King Lutheran Church in New Brighton, Minnesota. He was buried in Roselawn Cemetery.

    Religion provided by his obituary.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 7301

    SESSIONS SERVED

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/6/1981 to 1/3/1983
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Banking; Board Chair, Roseville State Bank
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Commerce: Publicly Regulated Industries
    • Finance
    • Finance: Semi-States/DOT
    • Finance: State Departments
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Structure
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    term photo
    Click to view

    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Banking; Chairman of the Board, Roseville State Bank
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Commerce: Publicly Regulated Industries
    • Finance
    • Finance: Semi-State and Transportation
    • Finance: State Departments
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Civil Administration Regulatory Reform-1980
    • Governmental Operations: Metropolitan Government-1980
    • Governmental Operations: Structure-1979
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
    • Rules and Administration: Personnel
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Saint Paul
    Term of Office: 1/4/1977 to 1/5/1981
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Banking; Chairman of the Board, Roseville State Bank
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Commerce
    • Commerce: Insurance
    • Commerce: Publicly Regulated Industries
    • Finance
    • Finance: Semi-State and Transportation
    • Finance: State Departments
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Structure
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Committees
    • Rules and Administration: Late Bills (Joint Rule 2.03)
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent and Joint Rules
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    term photo
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    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Arden Hills
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/3/1977
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: Chairman of the Board, Roseville State Bank/President, Ashbach Construction Company
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
    Committees:
    • Committees
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: State Departments I
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Government Structure
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Joint Rule 20 (Deadlines)
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent Rules
    Leadership Position: Minority Leader
    Leadership Notes: He became Minority Leader after Harold G. Krieger resigned.

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 48
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Arden Hills
    Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/3/1977
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: President, Ashbach Construction Company
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Finance: Administrative State Departments
    • Finance: Education
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Government Structure
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Rules and Administration: Permanent Rules
    term photo
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Arden Hills
    Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: President, Ashbach Construction Company
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Finance
    • Local Government (Chair)
    • Natural Resoures and Environment
    • Urban Affairs

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Arden Hills
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: President, Ashbach Construction Company
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Metropolitan Problems Division
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • General Legislation
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways
    term photo
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    65th Legislative Session (1967-1968)

      Session Details
    Body: Senate
    District: 49
    Elected: 11/8/1966
    Residence: Arden Hills
    Term of Office: 1/3/1967 to 1/4/1971
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: President, Ashbach Construction Company
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs
    • Civil Administration and Metropolitan Affairs: Metropolitan Problems Division
    • Election and Reapportionment
    • General Legislation
    • Public Domain
    • Public Highways

    64th Legislative Session (1965-1966)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 43
    Elected: 11/3/1964
    Residence: Arden Hills
    Term of Office: 1/5/1965 to 1/2/1967
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: President, Ashbach Construction Company
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Financial Institutions and Securities
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Motor Vehicles
    • University

    63rd Legislative Session (1963-1964)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 43
    Elected: 11/6/1962
    Residence: Arden Hills
    Term of Office: 1/8/1963 to 1/4/1965
    Counties Represented: Ramsey
    Occupation: President, Ashbach Construction Company
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Financial Institutions and Securities
    • Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
    • Motor Vehicles
    • University
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About
    Dornfeld, Steven. "Minnesota's Political Scene Could Use More Ashbachs (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 28, 1990.

    Lewis, Dorothy. "Former Sen. Ashbach, Minority Leader, Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, October 25, 1990, p. 1D.

    Whereatt, Robert and Pat Pheifer. "Ex-State Sen. Robert O. Ashbach of Arden Hills Dies (Obituary)." Star Tribune, October 25, 1990, p. 6B.

    Blake, Laurie. "Ex-Legislators/Where Are They Now?" Star Tribune, March 14, 1988.


    Archive Collections
    Robert O. Ashbach Papers, 1971-1982 (bulk 1978-1980) - Available in the Minnesota Historical Society's Collections
    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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