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    Biernat, Len Francis "Leonard"

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1997-2004 (District 59A)

    Party when first elected:  Democratic-Farmer-Labor

    Counties Served:  Hennepin

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth:
    Birth Place: Minnesota
    Birth County: Hennepin
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion: No Religious Affiliation
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names: Leonard
    City of Residence (when first elected): Minneapolis
    Occupation (when first elected): Professor of Law, Hamline University

    EDUCATION

    Mankato State University; B.S.; English, 1968
    St. Thomas University; M.A.; Education, 1978
    New York University, School of Law; LL.M.; 1985
    Hamline University School of Law; J.D.; 1975

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: United States Army (1st Lieutenant); 1969 to 1972
    School Board/Administration: Minneapolis, Minnesota (School Board Member); 1989 to 1996

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Christine Jax (she was Education Commissioner under Governor Jesse Ventura, divorced in 2006)
    Children: One child: Shelley(daughter); Three stepchildren
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
    Thaddeus Lewis Biernat  - Father

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was of Polish ancestry on his father's side.

    Religion provided by the member.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 2919

    SESSIONS SERVED

    83rd Legislative Session (2003-2004)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/2003
    Body: House
    District: 59A
    Elected: 11/5/2002
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/2003 to 1/2/2005
    Oath Date: 1/7/2003
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Professor of Law, Hamline University
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:     2003 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    term photo
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    82nd Legislative Session (2001-2002)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/2001
    Body: House
    District: 59A
    Elected: 11/7/2000
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/1/2001 to 1/5/2003
    Oath Date: 1/3/2001
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Professor of Law, Hamline University
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Policy Minutes
    • Governmental Operations and Veterans Affairs Policy Minutes
    • K-12 Education Finance Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    81st Legislative Session (1999-2000)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1999
    Body: House
    District: 59A
    Elected: 11/3/1998
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/4/1999 to 12/31/2000
    Oath Date: 1/5/1999
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Professor of Law, Hamline University
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:

    80th Legislative Session (1997-1998)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1997
    Body: House
    District: 59A
    Elected: 11/5/1996
    Residence: Minneapolis
    Term of Office: 1/6/1997 to 1/3/1999
    Oath Date: 1/7/1997
    Counties Represented: Hennepin
    Occupation: Professor of Law, Hamline University
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Education Minutes
    • Education: Facilities Minutes
    • Education: K-12 Education Finance Division Minutes
    • Judiciary
    • Judiciary: Civil and Family Law Division
    • Judiciary: Data Practices

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    News Sources

    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.

    District News Files

    2000 (59A)
    2001 (59A)
    2002 (59A)
    2003 (59A)
    2004 (59A)
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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