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    Chmielewski, Sr., Florian W.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1971-72 (District 25); Senate 1973-92 (District 14); Senate 1993-96 (District 8)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Aitkin, Carlton, Chisago, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Sherburne, St. Louis

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 2/10/1927
    Birth Place: Sturgeon Lake, Minnesota
    Birth County: Pine
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 4/23/2024
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Catholic
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Sturgeon Lake
    Occupation (when first elected): Manager; Chmielewski Brothers TV, Radio and Recording Orchestra

    EDUCATION

    Willow River High School; Secondary; Honor Graduate, 1945
    University of Minnesota, School of Agriculture; Attended College; Extension, 3 years
    Fort Benning, Georgia; Postsecondary; Honor Graduate, 6 month Business Course
    LaSalle Law Extension University; Attended Law School; 2 years

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    State Board/Commission/Council: Minnesota Indian Affairs Intertribal Board (Senate Appointee); 19?? to 19?? [Appointed]
    Military: United States Air Force (Korean War); 1950 to 1954
    County Board/Commissioner: Pine County, Minnesota (County Commissioner); 1960 to 1970

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Patricia "Pat" Stolquist (married on September 15, 1956; she died on September 16, 2003)
    Children: Four children: Patty, Florian Jr., Jeffry "Jeff", and Mark
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: employment, health care, housing, veterans.

    He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.

    A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, May 6th with visitation from 5-7pm at Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home in Moose Lake, MN and May 7th with visitation from 10-11am and Mass at St. Isidore's Catholic Church in Sturgeon Lake, MN.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 9499

    SESSIONS SERVED

    79th Legislative Session (1995-1996) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1995
    Body: Senate
    District: 08
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    Counties Represented: Aitkin, Carlton, Pine, St. Louis
    Occupation: Television Network President/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Committees:
    • Jobs, Energy and Community Development
    • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Employment
    • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Jobs, Energy and Community Development Finance Division
    • Rules and Administration
    • Transportation and Public Transit (Chair)
    • Transportation and Public Transit: Transportation and Public Transit Finance Division
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore - He served as President Pro Tempore until January 16, 1996.
    term photo
    Click to view

    78th Legislative Session (1993-1994)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1993
    Body: Senate
    District: 08
    Elected: 11/3/1992
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/4/1993 to 1/5/1997
    Oath Date: 1/5/1993
    Counties Represented: Aitkin, Carlton, Pine, St. Louis
    Occupation: Television Network President/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Jobs, Energy and Community Development
    • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Employment
    • Jobs, Energy and Community Development: Jobs, Energy and Community Development Finance Division
    • Rules and Administration
    • Transportation and Public Transit (Chair)
    • Transportation and Public Transit: Transportation and Public Transit Finance Division
    • Veterans and General Legislation
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/8/1991
    Counties Represented: Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Pine
    Occupation: Television Network President/Farmer
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment (Chair)
    • Local Government
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Property Taxes and Local Government Aids Division
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Public Transportation
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Pine
    Occupation: Television Network President
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment (Chair)
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Welfare Reform
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax Division
    Leadership Position: President Pro Tempore

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Pine
    Occupation: Farmer/President, Chmielewski Brothers Orchestra and Television Network
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment (Chair)
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: Welfare Reform Division
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    Leadership Position: President of the Senate - He served as President of the Senate during the 1987 Extra Session because Jerome M. Hughes was absent.

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Pine
    Occupation: President, Chmielewski Television Network
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment (Chair)
    • Employment: Workers Compensation: Medical Monitoring
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: State Institutions
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Veterans and General Legislation
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Aitkin, Carlton, Kanabec, Pine
    Occupation: President, Chmielewski Television Network
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment (Chair)
    • Employment: Workers' Compensation
    • Health and Human Services
    • Health and Human Services: State Institutions
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Economic Development
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Income Tax
    • Veterans and General Legislation

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Carlton, Chisago, Pine, St. Louis
    Occupation: Farmer/President, Chmielewski Television Productionsand Chmielewski Brothers Orchestra and Television Network/Former Band Director, Willow River High School
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • Employment (Chair)
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Natural Resources Tax
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Sales and Property Tax
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: General Policy
    • Veterans' Affairs
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Carlton, Chisago, Pine, St. Louis
    Occupation: Farmer/President, Chmielewski Television Network/Chmielewski Television Productions and Chmielewski Brothers Orchestra/Former Band Director, Willow River High School
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • General Legislation and Administrative Rules
    • General Legislation and Administrative Rules: General Legislation
    • Local Government
    • Rules and Administration
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Taxes and Tax Laws: Inheritance, Estates and Trusts
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Highways and Bridges
    • Transportation: Rural and Commercial Transportation
    • Veterans' Affairs (Chair)

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Carlton, Chisago, Pine, St. Louis
    Occupation: President, Chmielewski Television Productions and Chmielewski Brothers Orchestra and Television Network/Farmer/Former Band Director, Willow River High School
    Party: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
    Committees:
    • General Legislation and Veterans Affairs
    • Local Government
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation
    • Transportation: Highways and Bridges
    term photo
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    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Carlton, Chisago, Pine, St. Louis
    Occupation: Chmielewski Television Productions/Chmielewski Brothers Orchestra and Television Network
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Local Government
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Veterans Affairs and General Legislation (Chair)

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: Senate
    District: 14
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Carlton, Chisago, Pine, St. Louis
    Occupation: General Manager, Chmielewski Television Production and Chmielewski Brothers Orchestra
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Democratic-Farmer-Labor Caucus
    Committees:
    • Local Government
    • Taxes and Tax Laws
    • Transportation and General Legislation
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Highways
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Joint Fuel Oil
    • Transportation and General Legislation: Veterans Affairs (Chair)
    term photo
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: Senate
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Sturgeon Lake
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    Counties Represented: Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine, Sherburne
    Occupation: Manager; Chmielewski Brothers TV, Radio and Recording Orchestra
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Health and Welfare
    • Local Government
    • Public Highways

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • "Polka legend and former Minnesota Sen. Florian Chmielewski has died." WDIO, April 24, 2024.
    • Raatsi, Hayley. "Longtime Northland musician, former State Senator dies at 97." Northern News Now, April 24, 2024.

    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.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Photographs

    Senator Florian Chmielewski speaks in committee, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1983-1986. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
    Senator Florian Chmielewski speaks during a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1981-1984. Photo credit: This image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library.
    Portrait of Florian W. Chmielewski. c. 1973. Photo credit: Minnesota Senate.

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