Bennett, Tony L.
House 1971-72 (District 44B); House 1973-74 (District 66B); House 1983-90 (District 53A)
Party when first elected: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Counties Served:
Ramsey
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
3/11/1940
Birth Place:
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Birth County:
Ramsey
Birth Country:
United States
Date of Death:
9/26/2022
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: None Reported
Other Names:
City of Residence (when first elected):
Saint Paul
Occupation (when first elected):
St. Paul Police Officer
EDUCATION
Johnson High School, St. Paul; Secondary; Graduate
St. Thomas College; Attended College; Business Management
University of Minnesota; Attended College;
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
State Board/Commission/Council:
Minnesota Commission on the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution;
19?? to 19??
State Board/Commission/Council:
Metropolitan Mosquito Control Board, Minnesota (Chair, 2003-2004);
19?? to ?
Municipal Government:
St. Paul, Minnesota (Police Officer);
1964 to ?
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Marshals Service, District of Minnesota (United States Marshal, Appointed by President George Bush);
08/07/1990 to 1994
[Appointed]
County Board/Commissioner:
Ramsey County, Minnesota (County Commissioner; Chair, 2006);
1997 to 2012
[Elected]
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Patricia "Pat"
Children:
Three children: Chris, Steve, and Pam
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
GENERAL NOTES
He was a member of the Republican Party.
He was the son of a Sicilian immigrant.
He ran unsuccessfully for the House district 44B in 1968.
"During two stints in the Legislature, Bennett was instrumental in passing such measures as right-turn-on-red, the creation of the Minnesota lottery and mandatory seat belt use." (Star Tribune obituary)
Body: House
District: 53A
Elected: 11/8/1988
Residence: Shoreview
Term of Office: 1/3/1989 to 8/13/1990
(unfinished term)
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Police Officer
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Consumer Affairs
-
Commerce: Tourism
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Gaming Division
-
Regulated Industries
-
Taxes
-
Taxes: Property Tax
Reason for unfinished term:
Appointed to other office
Session Notes:
He resigned after he was appointed by President Bush to the position of United States Marshal for Minnesota.
No special election was held for this seat.
Body: House
District: 53A
Elected: 11/4/1986
Residence: Shoreview
Term of Office: 1/6/1987 to 1/2/1989
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Police Officer, City of St. Paul
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce
-
Commerce: Tourism
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Gaming
-
General Legislation, Veterans Affairs and Gaming: Veterans Affairs and Miscellaneous Legislation
-
Regulated Industries
-
Taxes
-
Taxes: Property Tax Division
Body: House
District: 53A
Elected: 11/6/1984
Residence: Shoreview
Term of Office: 1/8/1985 to 1/5/1987
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Police Officer
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development (Chair)
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Commerce and Regulation
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Housing and Consumer Protection
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Liquor (Chair)
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Small Business, Economic Development and Tourism
-
Governmental Operations
-
Transportation
-
Transportation: Special Subcommittee on Department of Transportation
Body: House
District: 53A
Elected: 11/2/1982
Residence: Shoreview
Term of Office: 1/4/1983 to 1/7/1985
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: Police Officer
Party:
Independent Republican
Committees:
-
Commerce and Economic Development
-
Commerce and Economic Development: Consumer Affairs and Tourism
-
Governmental Operations
-
Governmental Operations: Jobs Creation and Unemployment Issues
-
Regulated Industries
-
Regulated Industries: Beverage
Body: House
District: 66B
Elected: 11/7/1972
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/2/1973 to 1/6/1975
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: St. Paul Police Officer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
Crime Prevention and Corrections
-
Governmental Operations
-
Metropolitan and Urban Affairs
-
Transportation
Body: House
District: 44B
Elected: 11/3/1970
Residence: Saint Paul
Term of Office: 1/5/1971 to 1/1/1973
Counties Represented:
Ramsey
Occupation: St. Paul Police Officer
Party:
Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
Committees:
-
City Government
-
Commerce and Economic Development
-
Crime Prevention
-
Insurance
-
Regulated Industries
-
Transportation
Senate Photos
The photos in this collection were scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer
with the generous help of the Minnesota
Digital Library.
Articles & Books About
Melo, Frank. "Tony Bennett, 82: Ex-Commissioner was Known as a Bipartisan Dealmaker." Pioneer Press, September 29, 2022.
Prather, Shannon. "Former Ramsey County Commissioner Tony Bennett, Who Spent Decades in Public Service, Dies at 82." Star Tribune, September 28, 2022, P. B3.
"Marshall Nomination." Session Weekly, St. Paul: Minnesota House of Representatives Information Office, April 06, 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.